John 5:39-40 – Grace Evangelical Society

Does Easy Believism Really Teach Works Salvation?

March 14, 2023 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Faith as a gift, John 5:39-40

L. A. writes: Hi Bob, I have heard James White say non-Calvinists or people who don’t believe in election to eternal life, are really saying it is not all of God saving, because their faith is contributing to their salvation. I was a little surprised to hear John MacArthur agrees. He gave a sermon on

Widespread Confusion in Evangelicalism Today: Is Faith Plus Works a Saving Message?

September 6, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Are Arminians saved?, Gal 1:6-9, John 5:39-40, works salvation

Works salvation is the view that justification is not by faith alone, but is by faith plus works (e.g., baptism, turning from sins, and perseverance in obedience). Many who call themselves Evangelicals today believe that works salvation is a saving message. That obviously includes those who believe in works salvation themselves. One denomination teaches that

When Did Faith in Jesus Become Necessary?

May 7, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - faith in the coming Messiah vs faith in Jesus, John 5:39-40

At our recent national conference, Colby wrote this excellent question, but there simply was not time to get to it, so I will now: Did people prior to the introduction of Jesus in Matthew 3:17, who previously believed in the coming Messiah for everlasting life, have to now believe in Jesus who has been revealed

Works Salvation and the New Birth, Part 1

February 10, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Galatians 1:6-9, John 5:39-40, John 6:28-29, works salvation

Back in 2006, a Free Grace theologian presented a message at a conference in which he argued that believing in Jesus for the promise of irrevocable everlasting life cannot be a requirement for the new birth since no one believed that between AD 100 and AD 1500. That article was published in the Spring 2008

The Greatest Commandment and the Promise of Life (Matthew 22:37 and John 3:16)

December 18, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - John 3:16, John 5:39-40, Matthew 22:37, The promise of life

A. S., a reader, asks this fascinating question: In relation to Matthew 22:37 and John 3:16—in your own understanding what is the right interpretation of the two verses in relation to each other? Thanks, and stay blessed in Jesus’ name! The Lord was often asked about the greatest commandments in the OT. The reason was

The Role of the Will in Believing in the Lord Jesus for Everlasting Life

October 23, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - John 1:12-23, John 5:39-40, Matthew 23:37-39

Paul asks this excellent question: We have had a debate on whether a person has to “will” to believe. Does John 1:13 disagree with that, or am I taking it out of context? Would like to know what you folks believe this verse is saying. John 1:13 is saying that the new birth is not

Six Questions Regarding Assurance of Salvation, Part 4

October 16, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - assurance is of the essence of saving faith, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 1:6-9, Galatians 5:4, John 5:39-40

The fifth objection is that if “assurance is of the essence of saving faith” were true, then from AD 100 until 1517, almost no one was born again. This is not a Biblical argument. If we based our theology on this type of reasoning, then we certainly would not believe that only people who profess

Why Don’t Lordship Salvationists Who Pray for Guidance Find the Truth?

September 27, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Heb 11:6, John 5:39-40, Lordship Salvation, openness, seekers, teachability

Last week I wrote a blog on the role of prayer in Bible interpretation (see here). I quoted three women who said in various ways that we should ask God to open our eyes to His Word. Yet at least two of the three, or more likely, all three, hold to Lordship Salvation. So far