The Call of Christ
Every person hears the call of Christ. None is excluded. Even small children will hear the call as they approach accountability. Every person is called; none are excluded. Because they are called, they can, indeed must, respond. Salvation awaits all who listen and obey the gospel call of Christ. The words of Jesus himself: Come […]
Jesus as Propitiation: A Gift for All
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Are the Disobedient Saved?
We recently wrote of the alleged clash between grace and works. Our conclusion was that a man cannot be saved apart from God’s grace. We also affirmed that there is a response, an obligation on the part of man which is also essential. Today, I want to pursue that idea a bit further. It is […]
The Paucity of Belief
paucity – smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness: There is very little real belief left in Christendom and what little there is seems to be decreasing. That is a weighty charge given that much of Christianity teaches that only belief, that is, a mental agreement in some fact, is all that is necessary for salvation. […]
Luke 17:7-10: The Unworthy Servant
Truth comes in all sizes in Scripture. Some truths are pleasant and enjoyable while others are terrifying. It is true that the righteous will live eternally in heaven; that is a pleasant truth. Likewise, eternal damnation is a truth most horrifying. Consider the truth of Luke 17:7-10: “Will any one of you who has a […]
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
To ask, what must I do to be saved, is to ask the greatest question ever uttered. It shows an interest in something far beyond this world and priorities shaped by eternal needs. You have asked a great question! The answer is not complicated, but it does have many facets so let’s get started. What […]
Justification: The Other Side of Condemnation
Condemnation and justification are two key concepts in our faith. They are opposites; different sides of a coin. One is very good; the other is very bad. Let’s look at both and bring the contrast into a sharp focus. We start with the bad one. Condemnation Mankind has been condemned since Eden. When God […]
The Thief on the Cross
Many have asked how it is possible that the thief on the cross was saved apart from baptism. Some use the thief as proof that baptism is unnecessary in salvation. Their thinking is in error as the thief proves nothing concerning baptism. The story of the thief is found in some form in all four […]
The Struggle
Almost everything in life is a process. Our physical growth is a process occurring over decades. Education is a process spanning years and years. In the same way, spiritual development is a process. It takes time to purge the bad habits and develop new, godly habits. Sometimes we become impatient with ourselves and with others […]
What Is Sin and Why Should I Care?
Preachers are fond of saying that sin is the universal scourge of mankind. We talk a lot about sin and its impact on our world. We remind listeners that sin condemns. But it may be that some people, especially those fresh to thinking about spiritual matters, may not understand the entire idea of sin and […]
