Journal of the GES – Spring 2023
Mark 16: Unbelieving Believers and a Baptism Which Saves
James F. Myers1 JFM Ministries I. INTRODUCTION Advocates of baptismal regeneration and the continuation of sign gifts for the post-apostolic church often turn to Mark 16:16-20 for a proof text: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who
A Literary and Theological Analysis of Ruth
Philippe R. Sterling1 Pastor Vista Ridge Bible Fellowship Lewisville, TX I. INTRODUCTION This article aims to unfold the theological message of the Book of Ruth by means of a broad literary study of its narrative, rooted in exegesis. The composition includes a literary analysis of the narrative, a comparison with literary parallels in Scripture, and
Is Jesus’ Evangelistic Message Still Valid?
ROBERT N. WILKIN1 Executive Director Grace Evangelical Society I. INTRODUCTION In the years 2000 and 2001, we published two articles by Zane Hodges on how to evangelize.2 In Free Grace circles, those messages caused much interest in the evangelistic ministry of Jesus. Some Free Grace people feel that the evangelistic ministry that Jesus preached was
The Lord’s Eating With Sinners in Luke 5
By Kathryn Wright I. INTRODUCTION In the Gospel of Luke, a consistent theme is found in the Lord’s encounters with various groups of people. Luke presents Him as sitting at a table and eating with them. While the other Gospel writers speak of the Lord’s participating in certain meals (e.g., Matt 26:6-7; Mark 14:3ff.), Luke
Who Are Those on the “Outside”? (Mark 4:11)
KENNETH W. YATES Editor I. INTRODUCTION In Mark 4, Jesus begins to speak in parables to the Jews who come to hear Him. When the disciples ask Him why He has begun this practice, the Lord says that those on the “outside” will hear everything in parables, but that He will explain the meaning of
The Book of Romans. Ariel’s Bible Commentary
The Book of Romans. Ariel’s Bible Commentary. By Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum. San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries; 2022. 408 pp. Hardcover, $19.00. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum is founder and head of Ariel Ministries in San Antonio, Texas. Ariel is a ministry that evangelizes and also produces discipleship resources from a Messianic Jewish perspective. The ministry emphasizes taking
Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries That Bring the Bible to Life
Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries that Bring the Bible to Life. By Titus Kennedy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2020. 254 pp. Paper. $22.99. Titus Kennedy is a professional field archaeologist and an adjunct professor at Biola University, as well as a research fellow at Discovery Institute. He draws upon archaeology and documentary artifacts to
The Believer’s Payday: Why Standing Before Christ Should Be Our Greatest Moment
The Believer’s Payday: Why Standing Before Christ Should Be Our Greatest Moment. By Paul N. Benware. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2002. 209 pp. Paper, $17.99. “One of the current myths in the Church of Jesus Christ is that all believers are the same and will always be the same. This is only partly true and
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight. By Mark Hitchcock. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2019. 183 pp. Paper, $14.99. Hitchcock is an associate professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. The book’s title immediately caught my eye, due to my interest in the doctrine of eternal rewards. The book begins with many outstanding statements about this
Where Do We Go From Here? How Tomorrow’s Prophecies Foreshadow Today’s Problems
Where Do We Go from Here? How Tomorrow’s Prophecies Foreshadow Today’s Problems. By David Jeremiah. Nashville, TN: W Publishing, 2021. 243 pp. Hardcover, $26.99. David Jeremiah is an extremely popular author and speaker. This book is easy to read and deals with ten events that Jesus prophesied. Jeremiah believes that in today’s news we are
The Word Made Flesh: A Theology of the Incarnation
The Word Made Flesh: A Theology of the Incarnation. By Ian A. McFarland. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019. 249 pp. Paper, $18.49. McFarland is a professor at the University of Cambridge. This book is a scholarly treatment of the Person of Christ. It deals with how the human and Divine natures come together
When Children Come Out: A Guide for Christian Parents
When Children Come Out: A Guide for Christian Parents. By Mark Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022. 173 pp. Paper, $20.00. This book gives advice to Christian parents who are confronted by a child’s announcing that he or she is homosexual. Most of the book deals with same-sex attraction, but the
1 Peter: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching
1 Peter: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching. Kerux Commentaries. Timothy E. Miller and Bryan Murawski. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2022. 294 pp. Cloth, $32.99. Miller is an Associate Professor of NT at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. He handles the exegetical portions of this commentary. Murawski teaches Bible and ministry courses at Cairn