Journal of the GES – Autumn 2015
The Role of Good Works in Justification:
A Review of Chapter 16 of Thomas Schreiner’s Faith Alone-The Doctrine of Justification Robert N. Wilkin Associate Editor Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society Corinth, TX I. INTRODUCTION Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament and the Associate Dean of Scripture and Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological
Keys to Kingdom Greatness: An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount
Keys to Kingdom Greatness: An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount. By Steve Elkins. Coppell, TX: Allie Grace Publishers, 2014. 428 pp. Paper, $19.95. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is the longest extended discourse given by Jesus in all of the Gospels. Over the centuries, it has generated more diversity of interpretation
An Exegetical Study of the Lord’s Logion on the “Salvation of the Psyche”
Jerry Pattillo1 Minister of Administration Northwest Bible Church Dallas, TX I. INTRODUCTION In Matt 16:25–26 Jesus is speaking to His disciples and makes the following statement:2 For whoever wants to save his psychē will lose it; but whoever loses his psychē for My sake will find it. For what will a man be profited if
2 Corinthians. Revised edition
2 Corinthians. Revised edition. By Colin G. Kruse. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2015. 287 pp. Paper, $18.00. When I checked various Free Grace hotspots in this commentary on 2 Corinthians, I came away very impressed. This is an outstanding commentary that most JOTGES readers will find very helpful. 2 Corinthians 3:18. Excellent discussion (pp.
The Pentecostal Response (Acts 2:27-47)
H.A. Ironside1 …Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
Faith in His Name: Listening to the Gospel of John
Faith in His Name: Listening to the Gospel of John. By Zane C. Hodges. Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2015. 149 pp. Paper, $15.00. The author of this book, Zane Hodges, died in November 2008. He was in the process of writing this commentary on the Gospel of John. At the time of his death,
“Jesus For You”- Gerhard Forde on Proclaiming the Promises of God
Shawn C. Lazar Associate Editor Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society Corinth, TX I. INTRODUCTION It is no secret that Western society has become increasingly secular.1 The world has become disenchanted.2 The ancient cathedrals are empty. Many churches, especially mainstream ones, are slowly dying. And there are even calls to banish theology—once considered the queen
Is Our Understanding of Baptism All Wet?
Brad Doskocil Board Member Grace Evangelical Society Long Beach, CA I. INTRODUCTION Recently, Bob Wilkin wrote a book that looked at how many words in the Bible are misunderstood.1 Perhaps another Bible word that is often misunderstood is baptism and its cognates: baptize and baptist. We will look at the use and meaning of this
Are You Saved? The Orthodox Christian Process of Salvation
Are You Saved? The Orthodox Christian Process of Salvation. Fifth Edition. By Barbara Pappas. Westchester, IL: Amnos Publications, 2006. 63 pp. Paper, NP. Evangelicals often ask questions like, “Are you saved?” “What is meant by salvation?” and “What must I do to be saved?” But these questions are not normally asked by Eastern Orthodox parishioners.
Bewitched: The Rise of Neo-Galatianism
Bewitched: The Rise of Neo-Galatianism. By David R. Anderson. N.P.: Grace Theology Press, 2015. 384 pp. Paper, $15.95. The back cover of the book says that this book “proposes that all serious Christians struggle with legalism in one form or another, although they may not be aware of it. Whether Catholic, Arminian, Calvinistic, or otherwise,
Keeping Your Cool When Your Anger Is Hot
Keeping Your Cool When Your Anger Is Hot. By June Hunt. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009. 296 pp. Paper, $12.99. Author June Hunt is a well-known Christian counselor and speaker. I have heard her on radio and in person and have been impressed with her graciousness, humility, and Biblical knowledge. She is also a
The Gospel of Grace and Truth: A Theology of Grace from the Gospel of John
The Gospel of Grace and Truth: A Theology of Grace from the Gospel of John. By Michael D. Halsey. Duluth, MN: Grace Gospel Press, 2015. 339 pp. Paper, $15.95. Halsey, as the subtitle suggests, is writing a Biblical theology of John’s Gospel. As such what he aims to do is discuss the way in which
Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World
Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World. By Emily P. Freeman. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing, 2015. 256 pp. Paper, $14.99. Emily Freeman is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author. Her writing is personal and gracious. She uses charming stories from her own life and home, and is not afraid to laugh at herself
A Gospel of Doubt: The Legacy of John MacArthur’s “The Gospel According to Jesus”
A Gospel of Doubt: The Legacy of John MacArthur’s “The Gospel According to Jesus.” By Robert N. Wilkin. Corinth, TX: Grace Evangelical Society. 305 pp. Paper, $22.00. John MacArthur wrote The Gospel According to Jesus (TGAJ) in 1988. It has been very well received in the evangelical world. A new edition was published in 2008.
The Swedish Pietists: A Reader
The Swedish Pietists: A Reader. Edited and trans. by Mark Safstrom. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2015. 237 pp. Paper, $28.00 From the early 1880s to the beginnings of the 20th century, the Lutheran state churches in Scandinavia experienced a spiritual awakening comparable to those in America. Two of the most important leaders in that movement
Should Christians Fear Outer Darkness?
Should Christians Fear Outer Darkness? By Dennis Rokser, Tom Stegall, and Kurt Witzig. Duluth, MN: Grace Gospel Press, 2015. 503 pp. Paper, $19.95. Though the title suggests this book is about the expression the outer darkness—found only in Matt 8:12; 22:13; and 25:30—in reality the book more broadly discusses Should Christians Fear the Judgment Seat
Knowledge and Christian Belief
Knowledge and Christian Belief. By Alvin Plantinga. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2015. 144 pp. Paper, $16.00. Alvin Plantinga explains there are two kinds of objections to Christianity: de facto and de jure. The first kind of objection says we shouldn’t believe in Christianity because it is factually false. The second kind of objection says we
Salvation and Discipleship Continuum in Johannine Literature: Toward an Evaluation of the Faith Alone Doctrine
Salvation and Discipleship Continuum in Johannine Literature: Toward an Evaluation of the Faith Alone Doctrine. By Sujaya T. James. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2014. 283 pp. Paper, $179.95. I met the author in the late 90s while he was working on his doctorate at Dallas Theological Seminary on this very subject. I found
Second Peter: Shunning Error in Light of the Savior’s Return
Second Peter: Shunning Error in Light of the Savior’s Return. By Zane C. Hodges. Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2015. 142 pp. Paper, $15.00. This commentary is a compilation of writings on Second Peter that were published in Zane Hodges’s newsletter, The Kerugma Message. Hodges spends very little time on introductory matters. But it is