Sex and Salvation

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As the saying goes, “Now that I’ve got your attention…” I came up with an illustration about the role of good works in the Christian life. Maybe it will help you explain it to your congregation, friend, or family member who is struggling with the grace message. It’s a little risqué, but I think it
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Faith Alone Saves, But the Faith That Saves Is Never Alone—A Dangerous Contradiction?

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I received an email pointing me to a video by Dr. Wayne Grudem entitled, “Salvation without Repentance from Sin: A Critique of the Free Grace Gospel.” You can see that 45-minute video here. I’ve written a book responding to Dr. Grudem’s book Free Grace Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel. So I won’t cover
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What Does Paul Mean When He Says That Jesus Will Give the Kingdom to His Father? — 1 Corinthians 15:24, 28

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“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power” (1 Cor 15:24). “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that
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Justification and Identity Politics

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Although we’re told that belief in God is on the wane in Western society, I think one of the oldest forms of religion is on the rise, i.e., State worship. The ancients worshipped the Pharaohs, Caesars, chieftains, and emperors as divine. Isn’t that how most young people see the State? Instead of looking to God
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Gracious Listening

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Are you a good listener? Are you a loving listener or a selfish one? When you’re having a conversation, does your flesh show through? I was convicted by this passage from Paul Zahl: A prime example of original sin is the way people listen, or rather do not listen, to each other. When you are
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Help From Unexpected Sources (Mark 6:3)

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Have you ever been helped in your spiritual walk from an unexpected source? Maybe the person who explained the gospel of eternal life to you was an “ordinary” person. Maybe someone like that has helped you understand a certain passage in the Bible, and maybe that has happened on more than one occasion. Probably most
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The Rose Bowl Queens of Ephesus?

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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:1-2). Ephesus was a city of idolatry and filth. Or was it? Our 2019 National
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