Blog – Page 61 – Grace Evangelical Society

Remembering the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

August 23, 2023 by Ken Yates in Blog - Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy

One lesson from the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matt 18:21-35 is that as believers, we have received grace from God. When we come down hard on others who sin, it is often true that we have been guilty of the same sin. We need to look at ourselves before being quick to judge

Major Ian Thomas: Correction and Follow-Up

August 22, 2023 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Major Ian Thomas on 1 John 1:9 and saving faith

On August 3, I wrote a blog about 1 John 1:9 and Major Ian Thomas (MIT). See here. In that blog, I said that MIT said that 1 John 1:9 is a salvation verse, that believers are always in fellowship with God, and that there is a difference between faith in Christ and genuine faith

Putting on the Right Glasses (Romans 8:11)

August 21, 2023 by Ken Yates in Blog - Abundant Life, context, Resurrection, Rom 8:11

I had been a chaplain in the Army for only about a week when I was told that I needed to inform a soldier that a close family member had died. I was at Ft. Bragg, NC and the soldier was with his unit out in the woods. I had a driver take me in

Are Most Parables about Salvation or Discipleship?

August 18, 2023 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Jesus’ parables

Andrew asks a good question about parables: My friend says most parables are about salvation and that the main theme in the NT is salvation. I think most parables are about Fellowship lost. What is the main theme, in your opinion? An internet search shows that there is great diversity about how many parables people

Grace in Unexpected Places

August 17, 2023 by Ken Yates in Blog - evangelism, sovereignty, Suffering

Georgie and her husband Oscar live in Spain and translate some of our writings into Spanish, their native language. Recently, Oscar translated a book I wrote for GES about my daughter Elisabeth. In the book, I wrote about what the Free Grace message can do for people going through hard times. I also tried to

Spiritual Gaslighting

August 16, 2023 by Kathryn Wright in Blog - 1 Pet 3:14-17, gaslight, Matt 5:11-12, rewards, Suffering

In 1944, the movie Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman, was released. The movie centered around a woman who marries a seemingly kind and loving man. However, as the movie progresses, it becomes increasingly evident that the husband is not what he appears. He secretly moves objects in the house from one place to another, as well

Don’t We All Doubt Our Salvation?

August 15, 2023 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Assurance of the essence of saving faith

Paul asks, You say having assurance is the essence of saving faith. This leaves no room for doubt if it’s based on assurance. How do you know you’ve really believed? Assurance seems relative. It comes and goes like emotions. Experientially we all have doubt. If you tell me the essence of saving faith is to

The Habit of Bible Reading

August 14, 2023 by Ken Yates in Blog - 2 Tim 4:13, Acts 17:11, Bereans, Bible study

I think many readers of this blog can relate to my church background. The churches I attended when growing up did not really teach the Bible. I never heard a sermon in which the speaker looked at the context and explained the meaning of the verses that were read. Once the Bible passage for that

Looking Out for Others (Hebrews 13:17)

August 11, 2023 by Ken Yates in Blog - asleep, awake, leaders, love

The author of Hebrews exhorts his readers to obey their spiritual leaders, because “they watch out for your souls.” In other words, these leaders were looking out for, or keeping an eye on, them. This would include warning them about the dangers of the false teaching they were facing. A leader has the extra burden

Did the Lord Jesus Ever Teach Justification by Faith Alone? (Luke 18:9-14)

August 10, 2023 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Luke 18:9-14, The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican

“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). In church this past Sunday, I heard a fine sermon on Luke 18:9-14, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. The preacher