Sometimes people will say that saving faith is trust in a person. What does that mean, exactly? Here is John W. Robbins explaining when that expression makes sense, and when it does not: “Long before the neo-orthodox theologians thought of saying that faith is an encounter with a divine person rather than assent to a

Preachers and Theologians Sometimes Make Up Stuff Preachers and theologians tend to be careful when explaining fundamental Biblical truths like the deity of Christ, substitutionary atonement, Jesus’ bodily resurrection on the third day, the Second Coming of Christ, and the inerrancy of Scripture. By careful, I mean that they will quote Scriptures to back up

“How can you be so stupid???” We were talking about doing evangelism, when David and Anna [names changed] explained to me how David came to faith in Jesus. They started dating while David was an unbeliever (don’t do that, folks, cf. 2 Cor 6:14). As the relationship progressed, Anna confronted David about his lack of

In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus Christ said that we should not lay up treasure on earth. Why not? Because “moths and rust destroys” earthly treasure and because “thieves break in and steal” it. I’ve been a bit of a gold bug going back to the mid 80s, when I was in

We aren’t a big ministry. Bob and I are the only full-time people. Bethany and Mark are both in the office, but part-time. Ken and Brad are offsite, and both part-time. But despite being small, I think we are productive. Six 48 page Grace in Focus issues a year. Two 100+ page Journal of the

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) has done much good, teaching people the Bible. But I hope, like any other ministry, they are open to some constructive criticism. This past semester they went through the Gospel of John. I was disappointed to read how often the Notes changed the promise of life from a message of salvation

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). How does the truth make us free? Jesus was speaking to new believers (cf. John 8:30-31). He told them that if—if, not when!—they continued (or abided) in His teaching they would be genuine disciples. And then the truth of His

John Gerstner (1914-1996) was a Reformed theologian who strongly believed that doing good works are necessary in order to be justified. Here is an article called “The Antinomian Way of Justification,” where Gerstner criticizes Charles Ryrie, as well as Zane Hodges, for being “antinomian” because both denied that saving faith must necessarily be accompanied by

Saturday, July 15, I flew into Tampa, FL, arriving at 3 PM. After checking into my hotel, which is near Bayshore Boulevard and the Bay, I walked the quarter mile down to the Bay and then walked a few miles along the waterfront. It was a great walk. What a beautiful place this is. Arriving