Blog – Page 48 – Grace Evangelical Society

Portland, Oregon, Regional Conference

April 16, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - regionals

GES conducted a regional conference April 5-7, at the First Baptist Church of Portland, OR. The theme was “Christ, the Righteous Rewarder.” As the title indicates, we discussed what the NT has to say about rewards for the faithful believer. There were three speakers at the conference: Dave Janssen, Kathryn Wright, and me (Ken Yates).

Why Did Paul Compare the Christian Life to a Fight?

April 15, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Fighting in the Christian life

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air (1 Cor 9:26, emphasis added). Fight the good fight of faith… (1 Tim 6:12, emphasis added). I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for

Why I Don’t Drink

April 12, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Drinking wine and alcohol

When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and

Different Voices in the Crowd

April 11, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - eternal life, Luke 19:38, Mark 11:9, Psalm 118

When someone in the NT speaks to a crowd, who do you think is in that crowd? For example, when Paul, in the Book of Acts, speaks in a synagogue over a period of weeks, do some of the people come to faith over time, or do they all remain unbelievers and eventually run him

If Church History Is Contrary to Focused Free Grace, Then Why Believe It?

April 10, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - The Majority Is Rarely Right

There is no question. Church history does not agree with Focused Free Grace (FFG). The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches reject FFG. It may be true that, at least for a time, both Luther and Calvin held to FFG. However, Calvinism and Lutheranism quickly diverged from the early views of the Reformers. Neither Calvinism

A Perversion of Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)

April 9, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - Grace, Phil 2:12, Sanctification, Works

One of the greatest NT passages about grace is Eph 2:8-9. In these verses, Paul says that we have been saved by grace. It is all through faith–a person’s believing in Jesus Christ for eternal life. It was a gift of God. Paul specifically says that works played no part whatsoever in it. As a

What about Charles Templeton?

April 8, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Charles Templeton

Nearly everyone on earth has heard of Billy Graham. But did you know that he and Charles Templeton were vying to see who would be the lead spokesman for conservative Christianity? Both men, along with Torrey Johnson, founded Youth for Christ. Sadly, Templeton fell away. He became an agnostic, then an atheist. When I speak

Sin and the Fear of Hell

April 5, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - Acts 16:31, Conviction, evangelism, John 3:16, Repentance

Those who oppose Free Grace Theology often say that it does not emphasize the sinfulness of the unbeliever in an acceptable way. We are told that when we evangelize, it is not enough to tell unbelievers that Jesus offers them eternal life if they will believe in Him for it. The unbeliever must first “admit

Why Do We Have to Hold Fast to the Gospel to Stay Saved?

April 4, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Holding fast to the gospel

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain (1 Cor 15:1-2, emphasis added). I’ve written blogs on 1 Cor 15:1-2

The Arrogance of Lordship Salvation (2 Corinthians 13:5)

April 3, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - Humility, Luke 18:9-14, pride, Works

I recently heard a sermon by a proponent of Lordship Salvation. His name is not important because what he said applies to any proponent of that theology who speaks on the topic of eternal salvation. You have probably heard the same things I heard in this sermon, even if they were stated in different ways.