Blog – Page 90 – Grace Evangelical Society

The Race to the Bottom (Jeremiah 30:6)

September 7, 2022 by Ken Yates in Blog - coming judgment, Jeremiah 30:6-7, the time of Jacob’s trouble

Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s

What Part Do Works Play in Assurance of Salvation?

September 6, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Assurance of Salvation, introspection, The promise of life

B. P. asks, “Is evidence of a changed life an important indication of whether a person is truly born again?” Most Evangelicals say that their assurance of salvation requires an ongoing self-examination of our works. They reason in this way: Major premise: Only those who persevere in faith and good works will gain final salvation.

Trying Something New (Acts 10:14)

September 5, 2022 by Ken Yates in Blog - Cornelius, Galatians, Gentiles, Peter, serving

Except for people with serious mental problems, nobody likes to exercise. However, I was in the military for the majority of my life, so I didn’t have a choice. Exercise usually involved running. To make it as painless as possible, I incorporated certain things into the routine. Sometimes I would run with fellow soldiers and

Who Is Free Grace, According to GES?

September 2, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Free Grace Theology, John 4:10, the gift and the Giver

Another good question that resulted from a recent post at the GES Facebook page was this: “Who, according to GES, can be termed Free Grace?” The GES view of what Free Grace Theology (FGT) is and who holds to it is different from the views of many who use that same terminology. I will compare

Let’s Hear It for the Little Guy (Mark 15:43-47)

September 1, 2022 by Ken Yates in Blog - Doubts, Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene, Servant

Americans love heroes. We love to root for people who succeed in the face of adversity. Our love for sports superstars is an example. But the Bible points out that the unknown little guy is often more deserving of our admiration. Three little guys are found at the end of Mark 15. If we were

Can We Believe in a Promise If We Do Not Know What Is Promised?

August 31, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Believing in Jesus for everlasting life, one gospel or multiple gospels?

A theologian who does short-term missionary teaching made an interesting suggestion in a 2018 article. He wrote: If eternal security must be the object of one’s belief, why is it spoken of as a result in passages designed to assure those who believe? In John 5:24 the object of belief is “Him who sent Me” and the

Don’t Leave Out a Word (Jeremiah 26:2)

August 30, 2022 by Ken Yates in Blog - Assurance of Salvation, Jeremiah 26:2, Standing firm on the essentials

One of the areas all Christians struggle with is how to determine what issues we should fight for and which ones we can let go. Specifically, how should we deal with other believers when we disagree on points of theology? All of us agree that Christians can, and often do, fight over trivial issues. These

Another Follow-up Question on Matthew 16:16-19 Binding and Loosing

August 29, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - I will build My church, Matthew 16:18, The mystery of the church

Brad asks a great question about a recent blog on binding and loosing (see here and the follow up, here): Good blog! One question, though. The church was nowhere in sight (it was still a secret) when Jesus spoke those words to Peter. The word translated church could be translated gathering or assembly. It was

Current Issues in Salvation, Part 3: Changing Saving Faith into Saving Work

August 26, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - John 3:16, saving faith

Many schools and pastors teach that saving faith is not mere persuasion. They call that easy believism or cheap grace. Many teach that saving faith includes turning from sins, surrender, commitment to serve Christ, and even perseverance in obedience that must follow the commitment. The words “whoever believes in Him” in John 3:16 thus become

Current Issues in Salvation, Part 2: Various Rejections of ECT

August 25, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - conditional immortality, eternal conscious torment, universalism

Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) is the teaching of Scripture (cf. John 3:14-18; Heb 9:27; Rev 14:11; 20:15). However, many schools and many pastors are now rejecting ECT in light of various other views. Those other views include universalism (everyone will eventually be saved), conditional immortality (= annihilationism), and unconscious torment (like an eternal coma). Back