Journal of the GES – Spring 2021
Jesus Will Baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8)
Kenneth W. Yates Editor I. INTRODUCTION “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). In Mark 1, John the Baptist comes to the nation of Israel. His ministry is one of preparation. He paves the way for the coming Messiah. Part of that ministry involved baptizing
An Exegetical Analysis of Dillow’s View of Jesus’ Kingdom Entry Sayings
Robert N. Wilkin Executive Director Grace Evangelical Society I. INTRODUCTION Final Destiny1 is a major expansion of Jody Dillow’s earlier work, The Reign of the Servant Kings. Chapters 18-22 deal with the Lord Jesus’ kingdom entry sayings. The author has been a friend of mine for thirty years. He has written for our publications and
The Table of the Lord: Part 1
Eric Svendsen1 I. CHAPTER 1: PAUL’S CONCERN FOR UNITY IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11 First Corinthians 11 has long been the standard Lord’s Supper text used by Protestants in their communion services to recite the words of institution; and rightly so. The Pauline version of the Last Supper is the only one which we may be
Those Who Are Counted Worthy (Luke 20:35)
William Fiess Richlands, VA I. INTRODUCTION In Luke 20:34-38, the Lord responds to a question by the Sadducees regarding the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees denied the bodily resurrection and gave an example of how absurd it is to believe in it. Jesus answers them: The sons of this age marry and are given
Breaking Bread: The Centrality of Eating to New Testament Church Life
Shawn Lazar Associate Editor Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society What role did eating play in the NT church? While that may not seem like a particularly interesting question, my growing conviction is that theology should emphasize what the Bible emphasizes, and there are at least eight important connections between eating and a healthy NT
God Has Chosen: The Doctrine of Election Through Christian History
In the last issue of the JOTGES we ran a review of Ron Merryman’s book Understanding Biblical Election. We wrongly indicated that the price of the book is $17.95. Actually, Merryman Ministries has the policy that “All materials are distributed without charge on a grace basis.” They add that, “At the request of a number
The House Church in the Writings of Paul
The House Church in the Writings of Paul. By Vincent Branick. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1989, 2012). 144 pp. Paper, $20.00. Where and how did the early churches meet? In this slim volume, Vincent Branick summarizes the academic literature on house churches in Paul’s writings. Along the way, he also explains the many different
Not Afraid of the Antichrist: Why We Don’t Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Not Afraid of the Antichrist: Why We Don’t Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. By Michael L. Brown and Craig S. Keener. Minneapolis: Chosen Books, 2019. 236 pp. Paper, $15.99. Michael Brown is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, NC, and host of the daily radio program The Line of Fire.
40 Questions About Calvinism
40 Questions About Calvinism. By Shawn D. Wright. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2019. 303 pp. Paper, $24.99. On my bookshelves, I have several books in the Kregel Academic “40 Questions” series and find the format very practical, even if I don’t fully agree with all of the answers given to every question. However, 40
Without a Doubt: How to Know for Certain That You’re Good with God
Without a Doubt: How to Know for Certain That You’re Good with God. By Dean Inserra. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2020. 79 pp. Paper, $7.99. Great title. Great subtitle. But then I read the book. There are some Calvinists like David Engelsma who believe in the certainty of everlasting life. Calvinists like Engelsma base assurance
The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel
The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel. By Dean Inserra. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2019. 203 pp. Paper, $14.99. I have often said and written that most Evangelicals need evangelizing. So, I agree in principle with Inserra. However, there is a major difference in how he and I identify an Evangelical who is
Grace, Faith, Free Will—Contrasting View of Salvation: Calvinism & Arminianism
Grace, Faith, Free Will—Contrasting View of Salvation: Calvinism & Arminianism. By Robert E. Picirilli. Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2002. 245 pp. Paper, $19.99. Normally we do not review books that were published more than a few years ago. However, I just came across this book. It is by someone who calls his view Reformation Arminianism
Forged From Reformation: How Dispensational Thought Advances the Reformed Legacy
Forged From Reformation: How Dispensational Thought Advances the Reformed Legacy. Edited by Christopher Cone and James I. Fazio. El Cajon, CA: Southern California Seminary Press, 2017. 582 pp. Paper, $39.95. In addition to an introduction and conclusion, this book is made up of 16 essays by various writers (Thomas Ice, Patrick Belvill, James I. Fazio,
The New Christian Zionism: Fresh Perspectives on Israel & the Land
The New Christian Zionism: Fresh Perspectives on Israel & the Land. Edited by Gerald R. McDermott. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2016. 349 pp. Paper, $22.55. This book is made up of twelve articles by ten different authors. These articles are in four parts: theology and the history of Christian Zionism; theology and the Bible;