Grace in Focus – January/February 2016
Universalism: Will God Save Everyone?
What Is Universalism? Universalism is the belief that every person who has ever lived or who will ever live will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ in His kingdom. In this view the lake of fire will have only fallen angels and demons as its residents. No humans will live there. That, of course,
A Man Approved by God (Acts 2:22-26)
In considering Peter’s message to his audience, one can find not only an explanation of the career of Christ—this is its basic thrust—but one can also find the underlying principles of that career which can be applied to Christian experience. From the Bad Part of Town 2:22. Jesus of Nazareth. This is the first recorded
The Building Block of Knowledge
When Newsweek magazine published an article several years ago lamenting the lack of knowledge among the youth of the United States, there were 1,274 two-year colleges in the United States that collectively enrolled nearly five million students. Dr. James M. O’Neill taught English composition at four of those colleges in two different states. During his
“Are You a Christian?”
Voice from the Past By J. Wilbur Chapman I was studying for the ministry, and I heard that D. L. Moody was to preach in Chicago. I went down to hear him. Finally I got into his aftermeeting. I shall never forget the thrill that went through me when he came and sat down beside
Don’t Base Your Assurance on Feelings
I was recently teaching a class on Genesis 1 when I read this question in the leader’s guide: “Ask: How does knowing that God created everything make you feel?” I remember when teachers used to ask, “What do you think about that?” Or “what do you believe about that?” Now it’s all about feelings. You’d
The Power of Christ’s Obedience (Hebrews 10:5-7; Psalm 40)
When I study the New Testament, I like to see how it deals with Old Testament quotes. It is always interesting to go back and study the original context. For example, take Heb 10:5-7: Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have
Confession in the New Testament
The word homologeō, often translated confess, is found quite regularly (23 times in the Majority Text) in the New Testament, but it may be surprising in what sense it is used most often. We are accustomed to thinking of confession in relation to confessing sins. But surprisingly confession of sins is mentioned only three times
Pursuing Grace
I grew up in a “black-and-white” world, where “right” and “wrong” was ingrained in me by parents, church, and culture. It’s not a bad thing, generally speaking. The moral vacuum that people grow up with today is far worse, resulting in many destroyed lives. But thinking you have right and wrong all figured out is
Our Citizenship Is in Heaven (Philippians 3:17-21)
What do you think about politics in the United States today? Are you encouraged by the work of the Supreme Court, the House, the Senate, and the President? Do you find that our leaders are doing a good job of promoting godliness in our country? What about the politics in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the
Assurance by Works: My Road to Ruin
By Paul Carpenter On a late winter night in the spring semester of my senior year in 1975 at Miami Christian College, in Miami, Florida, my world came crashing down around me. I had been postponing a dreaded assignment: write a major paper on the meaning of Heb 6:4-6. The text reads, “For in the