Blog – Page 6 – Grace Evangelical Society

Did You Know That in the New Testament, Perishing Rarely Refers to Eternal Condemnation?

November 25, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 2 Pet 3:9, Apollumi, Luke 13:3, Perish

In my book The Ten Most Misunderstood Words in the Bible, I discuss the word lost, from the Greek word apollumi. The NKJV translates it as lost thirteen times. However, it is translated as perish more than twice as often (twenty-nine times) and is translated as destroy/destroyed twice as often (twenty-six times). Other translations include ruined–three times, lose–fourteen times, and die–once. In Ten Words, I demonstrated that apollumi refers to eternal condemnation only 10% of the time. However, I was speaking of 10% of

The Bible’s First Parable

November 24, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - 1 Pet 5:1-4, elder, Judg 9:7-15, Parable, Servant

Many say that the first parable in the Bible is found in Judges 9:7-15. Some say it is a fable, but I’m not smart enough to know the difference, so I’ll call it a parable. It was given by a man named Jotham. He was the only survivor from a family of seventy sons. The

Morally Blackmailed

November 21, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - doctrine, Forgiveness, guilt, Jude 3

Political figures are sometimes morally blackmailed by handlers who attempt to force them to renounce an ally who has offended part of the electorate. These handlers try to guilt the politician into doing what they say. They tell them that they no longer want their political organization to be associated with the former ally. If

Does the Third Soil in Luke 8:14 Represent Persevering Believers?

November 20, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Luke 8:11-15, Parable of the Four Soils

I’ve been interacting with a friend about who the third soil in Luke 8:14 represents. We both agree that it represents believers. But we disagree on whether the believers in view represent believers who persevere or believers who fail to endure. My friend thinks that the third soil represents believers who lay up treasure in heaven

At the Feet of the Lord

November 19, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - Discipleship, John 11:32, john 12:3, Luke 10:39, Mark 14:8-9, rewards, Rom 8:23

Mary, the sister of Martha, is mentioned three times in the NT. Each time, the Scriptures say she is at the feet of the Lord. The first mention is in Luke 10:39. The Lord had come to Martha’s home and was teaching. Luke says that Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” While

Have You Saved Any Wandering Sinners Lately? James 5:19-20

November 18, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - James 5:19-20, John 11:26, Repentance, Salvation

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. Jesus saves those who believe in Him. That is a bedrock principle in the

Words to Live By

November 17, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - 1 Cor 12:7, Gal 6:10, Luke 10:30-37, Rev 22:20, rewards, Rom 5:8, Samaritan

In the Gospel of Luke, the Lord presents the Parable of the Good Samaritani (Luke 10:30–37). In that story, a man lies dying on the side of the road. He represents the unbelieving lawyer to whom Jesus is speaking (v 25). The man needs to be saved. He needs eternal life. He is helpless on

Seven Reasons Why We Cannot Be Saved By Opening the Door to Our Life— Revelation 3:20 Reconsidered

November 14, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Fellowship, receiving Christ, Revelation 3:20, Salvation

I was surprised. I went on YouTube looking for videos that presented Rev 3:20 as an evangelistic verse. Many, if not most, of the videos said it wasn’t an evangelistic verse. Then I went online looking for articles suggesting that Rev 3:20 is an invitation to everlasting life. Again, most of the articles indicated that

Theological Big Brothers

November 13, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - 1 John 5:13, Assurance, John 11:25-26, John 4:1-14, sound doctrine

There is a quote attributed to George Orwell. Many say there is no evidence that he said these exact words, but the ideas expressed in them are found in his famous book, 1984. The quote says, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it hates those who speak it.” 1984 describes the

Was Paul Talking about Sanctification When He Wrote about Salvation in 1 Corinthians?

November 12, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 Corinthians 15:2, 1 Corinthians 3:15, 1 Corinthians 5:5

Paul uses the word save (sōzō) nine times in 1 Corinthians (1:18, 21; 3:15; 5:5; 7:16 twice; 9:22; 10:33; 15:2). He does not use the noun salvation (sōtēria) at all in the epistle. Commentators are not in agreement as to what save means in 3:15; 5:5; and 15:2. I believe, along with some commentators, that