Grace in Focus – July/August 2022

When Assurance of Salvation is Fleeting*
By Bob Wilkin Several years ago, I received an email from a friend. He gave me a link to an article entitled “When Assurance of Salvation Is Fleeting.”2 It was a Feb 15, 2017, blog by Jason Helopoulos at The Gospel Coalition. The first two headings of the blog give you a good idea of
Robert Sandeman (1718-1771)
By Michael D. Makidon1 BIOGRAPHY For most, the Lordship controversy began in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s. However, in an article entitled “History Repeats Itself,” J. I. Packer correctly noted, “The view that saving faith is no more than ‘belief of the truth about Christ’s atoning death’ is not new. It was put forward
Blessings or Curses—Which Do You Want?
By Ken Yates INTRODUCTION A reader recently sent in a question to GES: “Could you point me to Bible references in which the blessings for the obedient Christian and the curses for the disobedient Christian are listed? Thanks, T.V.” I will attempt to answer that question in this article. The Bible is crystal clear that
Is That True?
By Kristah Kitchen It was a warm morning at the flea market, so I headed for the section of the open-air trading grounds nestled under the grove of towering oaks. After a full day of setup, it was the first morning the market was open to shoppers. Many vendors were taking it easy in their
Top 5 People You Need in Your Life
By Summer Stevens If the pandemic taught us anything, we don’t quite function properly without people. Even simple face-to-face interactions, like saying good morning to a security guard or tipping the barista, contribute to a sense of well-being. Turns out, there are a lot of people we need in our lives. For the Christian, those
Book Review—Harmony with God: A Fresh Look at Repentance
Harmony with God: A Fresh Look at Repentance by Zane Hodges was originally published in 2001. As the title suggests, it is about the important topic of repentance. When people proclaim the gospel today, they often say that repentance is a part of that gospel. Others say that the word repentance means to change your
Trials Are a Normal Part of Christian Growth (James 1:12)
By Chuck Deveau “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas 1:12). DO TRUE CHRISTIANS EVER SUFFER? It never ceases to amaze and perplex me when I hear a professing Christian suggest
Let’s Make Every Month “Free Grace Pride” Month (Romans 1:16)
By Ken Yates INTRODUCTION June has been designated LGBTQ+ Pride Month. It is a time when we are called upon to recognize the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer citizens have made in our country. We are to support them as they express their pride in their lifestyles. The month will be filled
Did the Woman at the Well Need to Repent to Have Everlasting Life?
By Bob Wilkin J. D. asks an important question: I became a believer in Free Grace two years ago, but my family still believes in Lordship Salvation and goes to a Lordship Salvation church. Their pastor said that when Jesus is talking to the woman at the well and calls her out about having five
Clothed with Humility (1 Peter 5:5-11)
By Shawn Lazar Humility is not a favorite virtue, especially in American culture. We much prefer pride, self-aggrandizement, and the ruthless promotion of our personal “brand.” But that is not how Christianity works. Someone said we have an “upside-down spirituality.” I agree. That is part of the pattern and offense of the cross. As Harold