Blog – Grace Evangelical Society

The Problem of Basing Your Religion on Feelings: Hannah Whitall Smith’s Story, Part 2

August 2, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Assurance, emotions, Feelings, Hannah Whitall Smith, legalism, Quakerism, works salvation

When Hannah Whitall Smith grew up among the Quakers of Philadelphia in the 1830s, she found that their legalism and emphasis on inward feelings and impressions combined to make a perfect formula for religious doubt: The sort of introspection I had imbided from my Quaker teaching was calculated to lead to constant self-examination of the

The Problem of Basing Your Religion on Feelings: Hannah Whitall Smith’s Story, Part 1

July 30, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - emotions, Feelings, Hannah Whitall Smith, legalism, Quaker, Quakers, works salvation

Some brands of legalism are focused on obeying external rules. Think of the Pharisees trying to obey all the laws of Moses plus all the additional rules, regulations, and applications of the oral law. But other types of legalism are inwardly focused and highly subjective. An example of that is described in Hannah Whitall Smith’s

Why Do We Make It So Difficult to Be Saved?

July 29, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Justification by faith alone, The promise of life

Hal and Wanda ask this provocative question: I guess this is more a philosophical question than a theological one. Why do you think individuals want to make it so difficult to be saved?  You would think they would be eager to embrace faith alone as the saving message.  I guess the spirit of the Pharisees

What Can Eternally Secure Believers Lose? Reigning with Christ

July 28, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Eternal Security, Once saved always saved, rewards, Ruling with Christ

What can an eternally secure believer lose due to sin? Jesus once told the Parable of the Minas, in which a nobleman went to a far country to receive a kingdom (guess Who that is?). And before he went, he left his servants (guess whom they represent?) with some money to invest, charging them to

Free Grace Theology: Standing in the Breach

July 27, 2021 by Kenneth Yates in Blog

Evangelical conservative Christians, and even just older conservative people, all understand that there is a cultural battle going on. The battle is often described as being against postmodernism. Whatever name it goes by, we see what is going on. We live in a day when many believe there is no ultimate source of truth. Things

Why Is Faith in Christ Confusing for So Many?

July 26, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - faith as persuasion, saving faith

Hundreds of people send us questions about what it means to believe in Jesus. We answer these questions often in our blogs, podcasts, and videos. John 3:16 says that “whoever believes in Him” will not perish but has everlasting life. Yet the simple words whoever believes in Him are incomprehensive to many, for some reason.

Do the Numbers 1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 Mean Something to You?

July 23, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1290 days, 1335 days, Daniel 12:11-12, pre-Millennialism

In a follow-up to one of my earlier blogs, Wendy asks this question related to the time between the Tribulation and the start of the Millennium: Hi Bob, thank you for the sharing. I enjoyed reading it. Question for you: When I read Daniel 12:12, it mentioned the 2nd half of the Tribulation will last

What Can Eternally Secure Believers Lose? Their Joy

July 22, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - discipline, Eternal Security, joy, Once saved always saved

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh 8:10). I have spoken with hundreds of people who were

Did Jesus Give the Woman at the Well the Right Saving Message?

July 21, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - John 4:1-25, the woman at the well

WB raises an important question: In the story of the woman at the well, Jesus told the woman essentially that she had to believe in Him to have everlasting life. Since His death and resurrection had not occurred yet, everlasting life seemed to be independent of believing in the work of Jesus on the cross. The two

The Walls Have Ears

July 20, 2021 by Kenneth Yates in Blog

There is a phrase that I have heard, but I am not sure everybody uses it. The phrase is, “The walls have ears.” The meaning of the phrase is that adults need to be careful what they say. Children not only can hear what adults say, but they are listening. This is true even when