Blog – Page 169 – Grace Evangelical Society

Faith Is Futile If Jesus Did Not Rise from the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:17)

May 3, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 Corinthians 15:17, Easter, Faith, Resurrection, saving faith

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” Alternative history novels explore what life would be like today if a major event in human history turned out differently. For example, Harry Turtledove’s Southern Victory explores what the United States would have been like if the South had

Justification by Faith Alone and Yet by Repentance Too

May 2, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Justification by faith alone, Justification by faith plus repentance, The role of repentance in justification

A reader sent me a famous sermon by John Wesley entitled, “The Scripture Way of Salvation.” You can read the sermon here. It is well worth reading. I was thrilled when I found a fantastic statement by Wesley on justification by faith alone. He wrote: Faith is the condition, and the only condition, of justification.

Old Testament Sacrifices Did Not Come as a Package Deal

May 1, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - atonement, cross

In trying to rethink the debate between Calvinists and Arminians over the limited or unlimited nature of the atonement, I suggested we should rethink the assumption that the benefits of the cross come as a package deal. Maybe, just maybe, the cross has different benefits for different people, under different conditions. But is there any

The Big Assumption Behind Limited and Unlimited Atonement Theories

April 30, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - atonement, cross

Evangelical views of the atonement are broadly divided between two camps. Calvinists believe that Jesus died only for the elect. Hence, their view is popularly known as limited atonement, because the benefits of the atonement are limited to whomever God has predestined to be saved. Arminians believe that Jesus died for the world. Their view

What Adam and Eve Knew on Their First Day

April 29, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Genesis 2-3, Literal Adam, The creation account

Most people do not believe that the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis is historically true. Among Evangelicals, some think that there was no actual Adam and Eve. But many if not most Evangelicals believe that Adam and Eve existed. Yet a growing number of Evangelicals believe that they were born like any other

Can You Jump Out? (John 10:28-29)

April 26, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Eternal Security, John 10:28-29

Question Most of our pastors say a believer can jump out of God’s hand, based on John 10:28. How can I refute such a claim? Answer I’m sorry to say your pastors are wrong (or, actually, I’m happy to say they’re wrong): 1.) John 10:28-29 does not say anyone can jump out of the

We Are All Looking for a Sign (Mark 8:11-13)

April 25, 2019 by Ken Yates in Blog - generation, heavens, Second Coming, sign

I was recently studying Mark 8 in which the Pharisees ask Jesus for a “sign.” They wanted it to come from “heaven” (8:11). They wanted Him to do something that would show He was the Christ. I have to admit that I am not really sure what they were looking for. Jesus had performed many

Figurative Versus Literal Uses of Circumcision in the Bible

April 24, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - circumcision, Judaizers, Justification by circumcision, Those of the circumcision

A reader asked, For a long-time circumcision in the Scriptures has annoyed me—not because it’s there—but because I don’t think I fully understand its meaning, though I’m clear on the meaning in relation to the anatomy. Am I correct to think that in some places, it is referring to the literal/physical procedure only? Am I

Fellowship with God and One Another

April 23, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 John, Biblical separation, Fellowship, Lord’s Supper

Fellowship with God depends, in part, on fellowship with other believers. Let me offer two short proofs for the claim, one positive and one negative. First, the positive proof is that John says that fellowship with the apostolic circle implies fellowship with God: “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that

Pastors Who Give Several Different Salvation Messages

April 22, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - evangelism, Evangelistic preaching

The good questions keep on coming. One reader asks, “Have you ever come across pastors who are well known that give differing salvation messages? It seems that sometimes they’ll give the correct, Biblical salvation, but at other times they will give salvation by works. I don’t understand. If they give the Biblical, faith-alone salvation, why