Blog – Page 510 – Grace Evangelical Society

Big Business, Little Service (Gal 5:14)

November 29, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Galatians, love, neighbors, spirituality

Religious superstition is a huge industry. Who knows how many billions of dollars are spent every year on amulets, statues, candles, medallions, icons, relics, special foods, holy water, special breathing techniques, anointed oil, prayer cloths, grave soaking, and pilgrimages? I’ve been watching Leah Remini’s documentary on Scientology, and I was shocked to find out how

What Type of Salvation Is James Talking About?

November 28, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Salvation in James; James 1:21; James 2:14; James 2:17; James 4:12; James 5:15; James 5:20

Earlier today I read a blog someone wrote criticizing GES and me for our stand on the Free Grace message. Among other things, the author said that our view that salvation in James refers to deliverance from temporal judgment is so ridiculous that by itself it repudiates our position. I’ve read books and articles which

Created and Re-Created Freely

November 27, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Creation, Martin Luther, Oswald Bayer

“Luther’s doctrine of justification has frequently been attacked for being monotonous, empty, and even obsessive.” So notes Oswald Bayer in his article, “Justification as the Basis and Boundary of Theology.” Sound familiar? GES’s emphasis on the promise of everlasting life has faced the same criticism. Bayer continues to explain that Emmanuel Swedenborg caricatured Lutherans in

Can We Be Sure That We Will Persevere in Faith and Good Works?

November 26, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Perseverance of the saints; Eternal security; Warning passages; Assurance

Recently I ran across a quote by a Calvinist. He said that he was sure he was born again and eternally secure “without a doubt.” He went on to say that he was sure he would persevere, going so far as to say that even if he tried to walk in rebellion against Christ, he

Are you a Joy or a Burden to Your Pastor? (Heb 13:17)

November 23, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - burden, Hebrews, pastoral theology

I belong to a Facebook group for small church pastors (see here). It includes pastors from every denomination. Theologically it is all over the place. But I still find it very helpful to see what other people are dealing with. I can tell you that, based on that group, there are many discouraged pastors out

Institutionalized in Galatia (Galatians 5:1, 6)

November 22, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - circumcision, Galatians, legalism, Shawshank Redemption

There’s a scene in The Shawshank Redemption in which an old inmate named Brooks is about to be paroled after fifty years of incarceration. But he’s scared of getting out. Prison is all he knows. So he attacks another inmate in order to stay. Some of the other prisoners think that Brooks has gone crazy.

Dr. Wayne Grudem Says that John 2:23 Refers to “Genuine Trust in Christ”

November 21, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - John 2:23-25; Believing in His Name; Jesus did not entrust Himself to them

Today I received a call asking me about something Dr. Wayne Grudem said in his book Free Grace Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel. In a footnote on page 110 (note 14), Grudem writes, “It seems to me that there is room for disagreement over the meaning of ‘many believed in his name’ in

Why Preaching Doesn’t Scare Me Anymore

November 20, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - preaching, public speaking

There was a time when I’d rather face a firing squad than speak in front of a crowd. Public speaking terrified me. But God has a sense of humor. I remember in high school history class, we did a re-enactment of the Estates-General during the French Revolution. I played the role of a Catholic priest.

Recording Radio Programs Has Been Fun and Challenging

November 19, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Christian radio, faith and trust

For the last three days Shawn and I have been recording 15-minute radio programs. We’ve had the help of a producer and post-production specialist, Danny. It has gone well. We recorded twenty-nine shows in three days. There are twenty-one shows in an average month, so we have a good start. We plan to get sixty-three

Gentleness Can Reach the Unreachable (1 Thessalonians 2:7)

November 16, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - evangelism, gentleness, Thessalonians

I know a man who used to be a pastor, but over time he became bitter towards God and left the faith. I find it difficult to talk to him. We’ve tried talking, but it quickly turned into debate about philosophy, politics, Christianity, where we are polar opposites. It was unpleasant for both of us.