Blog – Page 118 – Grace Evangelical Society

Ten Is a Good Round Number (The Word “Called” in Romans)

April 27, 2021 by Ken Yates in Blog

One could argue that there is no need to write this blog. Shawn Lazar wrote a great book on the subject, called Chosen to Serve. But I decided to write it because I have done a number of blogs on how certain words are used in the Book of Romans. I have done nine words

What Does God Specifically Call Good Works?

April 26, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 Timothy 5:10, Acts 9:36-39, good works, Matthew 26:10

Today while reading Matthew 26, I came across the words good work. See Matt 26:10. A woman anointed Jesus’ head with “costly fragrant oil.” Interestingly, Jesus own disciples “were indignant” and indicated that they considered this act a very bad deed. But after they railed against what she did, the Lord Jesus told them not

How Many People Did Jesus Lead to Faith in Himself?

April 23, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 Corinthians 15:6, John 1:11, John 14:12

In a recent blog I mentioned in passing that the Lord Jesus only led around 500 people to faith in Himself. Brett then emailed in this follow-up question: “Can you tell me where you came up with the figure that 500 were saved during Christ’s ministry? Had you written that about 5,000 came to Christ

Don’t Put Your Brother Down (James 4:11)

April 22, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, James, one another commands, tongue, wisdom

George Harrison once passed a church billboard that read, “Gossip: The Devil’s Radio… Don’t Be a Broadcaster.” That message hit home. Because he was a Beatle, the press gossiped about him constantly, and it hurt. It inspired Harrison to write the song “Devil’s Radio.” Isn’t it interesting that even a non-Christian can understand and be

How Does Eternal Security Relate to Christian Leaders Who Renounce the Faith?

April 21, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Dr. Paul Maxwell renounces Christianity, Eternal security and apostasy

A friend of Sharon and me and of GES, Diane Boring, sent me an article from Christianheadlines.com entitled, “‘It Feels Really Good’: Former Desiring God Writer Renounces Christianity.” You can read the article here. Diane asked me if I knew the writer in question, Dr. Paul Maxwell, and then she concluded with this insightful comment

Lenient Lordship Salvation is the Real “Cheap Grace”

April 20, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Cheap Grace, Lordship Salvation

The Free Grace position is often mischaracterized as “cheap grace.” That’s totally false. To say something is “cheap” implies it costs something, no matter how little. But eternal life does not cost you anything. The only condition to have everlasting life is to simply believe in Jesus for that free gift (cf. John 3:16; Eph

How Do I Know If I Am Saved or Not?

April 19, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Assurance, works salvation undercuts assurance

P.J. asks that very question in a handwritten letter from prison. He says: I am writing in response to your article, “Works Salvation Does Not Work” in the March-April 2021 issue of Grace in Focus Magazine. I am kind of confused. How do I know I am saved or not? Maybe I have believed the

Is Salvation by Faith + Desire?

April 16, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - belief, believing, Desire, Faith, Salvation

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to deny or to confuse the message of faith alone in Christ alone for everlasting life that cannot be lost. I recently heard a new one. Someone who identifies as Free Grace recently told me this (I am paraphrasing): You can believe that John 3:16 is true

Can False Teachers Keep People from Being Born Again? (Matthew 23:13)

April 15, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Matthew 23:13, those who are entering

Brett has a great question that I’ve not ever been asked: I am hoping someone there can help resolve a problem passage that is found in Matt 23:13. In this verse the surface level seems to teach that people who desire to go to heaven can be prevented by unbelievers. How can it be that unbelievers

Should Christians Kiss One Another? (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14)

April 14, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, ecclesiology, kiss, kissing, one another commands, spirituality

I grew up in a French city where it was customary to greet people with a double-cheeked kiss. At least, that was normal among my French relatives. Meanwhile, my British/English circles preferred a firm handshake or nod of the head—or, if they felt especially informal, a quick hug. I have been studying the many “one