Page 533 – Grace Evangelical Society

What Should We Learn from the Rich Man’s Preaching in Hell? — Luke 16:19-31

April 2, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Repentance

A friend at church told me that he has been asked to explain the rich man and Lazarus. Another friend overhead and said that he too has been asked about that passage several times. Summary of the account: A rich man and a poor man named Lazarus both die. Lazarus ends up in the

Is Eternal Security the Gospel?

March 30, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Eternal Security, Once saved always saved, promise of life, Yankee Arnold

Bob and I were discussing the centrality of eternal security to the saving message. I have heard Yankee Arnold say “The gospel is eternal security.” He’s right. As readers of this blog know, Jesus promised believers eternal life: This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life (1 John 2:25). Paul urged

Does Fire Always Consume? — Revelation 19:20 and 20:10

March 29, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hell

The unhappy flipside of the promise of life is that if you do not believe in Jesus, you will perish (John 3:16). In fact, Jesus said unbelievers are condemned already (John 3:16, 18). Traditionally, that is known as “going to hell.” Most of what we think concerning hell comes to us from Roman Catholic art

Is the Object of Faith Jesus or His Promise?

March 28, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Faith, object of faith, promise of life, saving faith

A week ago (March 20) I received this excellent email question: I am re-reading The Ten Most Understood Words in the Bible. I am having a problem reconciling a statement you make in the book with the stance you have on grace alone for everlasting life. On page 22 you state, “If people have never

Is Free Grace Universalist?

March 27, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Faith, kowalowski, pentecostal, Sandeman, Works

A Grace in Focus reader alerted us to the following bad quote. It comes from an Assemblies of God pastor named David Kowalowski. He wrote it for a website called www.apologeticsindex.org. As a Pentecostal, his main concern seems to be the hyper-grace movement. But along the way, he says this about Free Grace Theology: “Though

Is the Gift of Faith Necessary for People to Become Open to God’s Word?

March 26, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog

In a recent blog about the broken-record approach to evangelism, I said that “the truth of God’s Word will win out to anyone who is open.” I then received the following question via email, “Now, to be open doesn’t one have to be first given the gift of faith? What about 1 Cor 2:14,

Where Is Omniscience Taught in the Bible?

March 23, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog

I received the question that is the title of this article from a blog reader. He indicated he leans toward Open Theism. After I responded to that, he asked, “Where is omniscience taught in the Bible?” Good question. While the term omniscience is not found in the Bible, the concept is found in many

The Anti-Altar Call

March 22, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog

Someone asked whether we should practice altar calls. It’s a question I’ve asked myself, especially since starting to pastor a new Baptist church plant. Do I continue the tradition of doing altar calls? I am inclined against it. Asking people to come up front for prayer, or to join the church, is a good thing.

What Is the Will of the Father Regarding Kingdom Entrance? — Matthew 7:21

March 21, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog

I recently received this email question: How do you interpret Matthew 7:21? This has always been a stumbling block for me. If I had a nickel for every time I’d been asked about Matt 7:21-23, I’d have a lot of nickels. The will of the Father is to believe in His Son. That should be

Introduction: Ruth and Redemptive History

March 20, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog

At first glance, Ruth seems to be a very personal story about a struggling widow and her daughter-in-law trying to survive in the world. It’s a relatable story, about real people, facing real trials, who go through a tragedy. We all know a story like that. You read about them in the papers. See them