Blog – Page 2 – Grace Evangelical Society

Redeemed From Futility (1 Peter 1:18-19)

June 25, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 Peter, atonement, holiness, the cross

I am slowly chipping away on my book on the Free Grace alternatives to the five points of Calvinism and Arminianism. I’ve been working on the chapter about the atonement, arguing that it is neither limited nor unlimited but has different benefits for different people under different conditions. It’s so encouraging to read about the

Assurance and a Past Experience

June 24, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - altar calls, Assurance, Eternal Security, John 20:31, John 6:35

Sometime short questions powerfully capture the problem many people face. This question in my email, from someone we will call David, is a perfect example: Dear Bob: When I was in my teens, I think, or a little younger, I went forward in an invitation. I do not remember quite what happened there. I went

Knowledge Precedes Holiness (1 Peter 1:15-19)

June 23, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - holiness, Peter, Sanctification

It has often been noted that for the Apostle Paul, practical sanctification begins with your mind. Your life is renewed as your mind is renewed (see Rom 12:1-2; Eph 4:22-24). The same principle is taught by Peter. Here is a relevant passage: But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in

J.K. Rowling and the Pressure to Exchange the Truth for a Lie (Romans 1:23-25)

June 22, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Creation, homosexual, J. K. Rowling, LGBTQ, Roman, transsexual, truth

J.K. Rowling, famed author of the Harry Potter series, was recently attacked (again) by members of the transsexual movement. She shared a headline that read: “Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.” To which Rowling commented, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help

The Importance of an Error-Free Bible

June 19, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Bibliology, inerrancy, Titus 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:16, Verbal plenary inspiration

Today I received a very brief question: Thank you for your amazing discussions! Would you please discuss how we know that the Bible is inerrant, and why it is so important that it is inerrant? I will answer those in reverse order. First, why is it so important that the Bible is inerrant (without error)?

Is Christendom Sick or Dead?

June 18, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Biblical separation, Christendom

In response to a blog about the need for missionaries to Christendom, a reader wrote: Shawn, I must admit I was quite taken aback by your words. You are just a year younger than I am, and from your books, blog posts and radio podcasts I’ve listened to that you share with Bob, I know

Sins Are Not the Issue in Regeneration

June 17, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16, John 1:29, John 6:28-29, Repentance and Salvation

An interesting question came from someone who happened to see one of my blogs: I came across Bob’s Sept 1, 2019, article. While I appreciate much of what Bob says, his statement in the last paragraph was puzzling to me: “Because of the cross of Christ, our sins and our works are not the issue.”

The Image of God and Ruling with Christ

June 16, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - anthropology, Heiser, image of God, Ruling with Christ, the doctrine of man

What is the image of God? I have read just about every different theory you can imagine trying to identify the nature of the image of God. I have seen candidates such as being self-aware, or intelligent, or capable of speech, or capable of love, or having a soul, or (as Karl Barth suggested) being

The Doctrine of God: Essence and Existence

June 15, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - doctrine of God, existence of God, theology proper

Are you ready to learn a basic theological distinction? What is the difference between Jesus, the Easter Bunny, and a square circle? One way to think of the difference is between what older theologians called essence and existence. Essence is what something is. What is its nature? What do we know about it? If you

Job’s Limited Mind and the Problem of Evil (Job 13:15)

June 12, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Job, problem of evil, wisdom

The world is and has long been full of evil. As I write this, the COVID-19 pandemic has been sweeping the globe, and there are riots across the country in response to what appears to be a case of police brutality. Many people are dying. Even more are suffering. I don’t think evil is a