Jesus is the Beginning and the End. All things were made through him and for him. He is the Centerpiece of civilization, the Hero of history, the Savior of sinners and the King of kings.
C.S. Lewis said “reality is something you couldn’t have guessed.” You could not have guessed that God was going save you before you were aware of your need for saving. You could not have guessed that he would exchange your sin for his righteousness, his wounds for your healing, his death for your life. You don’t deserve this and neither do I. But he did it anyway.
Why do I write? To tell people that the gospel is 100% good news and that life without Jesus is like a frame without a picture. He is the Masterpiece worth writing about.
About Paul Ellis
For 10 years I led a multicultural church in Hong Kong called Island City Church. Growing up I never planned to be a pastor. In fact, I could think of no job I wanted less. But God ambushed me and my wife in 1999 and so began the adventure of our lives.
Recently we handed over the church and I stopped preaching from the pulpit. But the urge to tell people the good news of God’s grace is still strong, hence this blog. I’ve written briefly about my own grace journey here.
What else? Up until the middle of 2011 I was a professor at Hong Kong’s largest university. I taught research methods to bright PhD students. I’m a born and bred Cantabrian although I grew up in the great state of Western Australia. I’ve lived briefly in California and I now live in Auckland. If you’re interested, you can keep up with my news on Facebook – just send me a friend request – or see what I’m reading on Goodreads.
Camilla is my first, best and last wife. We were married in 1999 and each year has been better than the last. We have three great kids.
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About Escape to Reality
E2R went live on 5 February, 2010. Every article posted on E2R can be found in the archives. The easiest way to navigate the archives is to use the search box at the top of this site.
Published articles are indexed by subject and people. So if you’re interested in what I have to say about “repentance” or “Joseph Prince,” you can also search for relevant posts using the subject index.
What has Paul written lately? Read the latest post to find out. You can also browse the Top Posts.
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Hey Paul, glad to hear you are still alive and kicking. Can you believe Bill Johnson is coming to Cardiff (45 mins from here) on Monday and I have no ticket and no time off work and it is sold out:-( but hey now i can hear him, thankyou! Love to you all, Christine
Hey Paul,
What a surprise to click on my spam box (where i seldom go) and find you in it. And then to track your blog and find you have indeed returned to NZ. Excellent musings…….i too am a Pastors Son ambushed by God, never had the intention of ministry in fact far from it :)
Discovering what God had in mind before time began brings nobility to human existence (2 Tim 1:9). It is indeed God’s glory to conceal a matter but the honor of man to seek it out. Regards from our family to yours.
Paul,
I was sent your blog (teaching by Derek Prince) by a friend. I am amazed to find the good stuff you have on your site. I haven’t read all the articles but really like the ones I have. I too was leading a church (in the midlands in the UK) up until 2 years ago. Now doing trans local stuff so we have recently built our web site. Still need to add teaching material. The stuff I have recorded in the past is really poor sound quality so we will do new stuff. We too have a passion to see people free from the spirit of religion, condemnation and sin consciousness. What a pleasure to find a like-minded crusader.
Keep the good stuff coming.
Regards
John Alcock.
Dear Paul,
Thanks VERY much for this blog!! I found it via Facebook. I know the bitter results of when you think you have to DO something in order to have peace with God. I ended up far away from God, guilty, depressed, tired, confused and very rebellious. Now I’m close to God again and more mature (less dependent on what others might say) and I am convinced (because of the Bible and my own experiences) that it’s all about Jesus and what HE has done for us (“it is accomplished”)! Very interesting what you write about the Corinthians, that Paul didn’t put them under the Law when they were messing up… I think also the fight against sin comes down to knowing who you are in Christ and letting His Spirit fill you. And when you do stumble (as we all do every day), you can rest in Him. Anyways :) I love the blog and will read the rest too. Thanks!! :)
Hi Paul,
I am also a believer in the perfect work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The teachings of JP have reassured me of this fact and also brought back the fullness, freedom and joy I had when I first recommitted my life to Christ. I recently noticed something which almost appeared like a contradiction in the New Testemament which I hope you can explain a bit better to me: when comparing the writings of Paul in Romans and those of James, where James writes in James 2v14-26 that we need to have works to perfect our faith and then he refers to Abraham taking Isaac to the alter, an act which together with Abraham’s faith made him righteous. Paul again in Rom4 teaches us that Abraham was made righteous by faith alone. Can you please shed some light on this?
God Bless
Muller – South Africa
Hi Muller,
Good to meet you! I’ve just started a series unpackaging James 2 in light of Romans 4. I hope it helps.
Hi Paul,
I was just searching the web to find some background information for a sermon on the Church of Laodicea. So blessed to come across your articles and discover someone who views things from a GRACE position.
God bless you and keep blogging. Richard
Hi Richard,
Good to meet you and thanks for the feedback. I’m glad you got something out of the Laodicean series. Writing can often be a hard slog, but it was such a thrill putting that series together. Definitely a case of writing out of the overflow! God bless!
Paul,
Your material is excellent and very timely,since the church today seems to be growing ever more “religious”. The pendelum appears to have swung the other way for now,but thank The Lord,sites like yours are sprouting up to offset the ‘leaven’. Please keep the articles coming!
I would love to see some material geared towards evangelism-especially of the open air variety,as many are being influenced by materials emanating from certain sites such as The Way of The Master etc.(Ray Comfort/kirk Cameron) which seem to preach/teach a mixture. Stay blessed!
I just got on your sight via Jeff Pate. I am elated!!!…Looking forward to reading more and more of your posts. THANK YOU!!!!!
Bertha Harmon
Hello Paul
I am part of a small fellowship that believes in the Grace of God and the finished work of Jesus on the cross. I love what you have written about communion and I pray that many people in established churches start to hear to true gospel. Other people in our church read your blog and it is because of our pastor that it has been brought to my attention. I will continue reading what you write and sharing it whenever I can. Thank you so much and nay God’s blessings lift you and reveal to you just how perfect you are in God through Jesus.
Hello Anne – good to meet you!
Hi Paul,
My son found your site when he googled after hearing his dad make a comment on a verse from a song being sang at a memorial service. You guessed it , the phrase ‘ He gives and takes away’. My husband noticed that the verse doesn’t make sense. I am so glad men ( I generally believe so) are so not religious because we found your site because of that observation !!! For 2 years now, the Lord has been opening our eyes to see how religious the church as we know it has become and He has been teaching us about His love and it has been exciting as well as lonely at times because we can’t find too many who could understand what we are seeing that sometimes I couldn’t help wondering if we’re off the truth. I’m so glad we found your site. You outline the points you are trying to make so well. Thank you for taking time to write.
It’s so encouraging to hear that I’m not the only one who notices when lyrics in some Christian songs are not true/based on the Bible, the living Word of God. I always find it curious that someone – the worship leader certainly – didn’t catch it and choose a song that was congruent with Yeshuah/Jesus.
I heard Joseph Prince say years ago that the Holy Spirit can’t witness with lies – only Truth: Jesus, the Word. His power is released when we speak Truth/Him. Words are vehicles and we are instruments – of the corruption of sin or of God’s glory. His Word is so rich, His wealth so vast, we can draw on it forever and never reach the end of it! Feed on the Word and drink its living water, indeed!
So much of church is formulaic, without soul. No matter how loud the band is or how many times the worship leader and minister say “Praise the Lord” or “Glory to God”, the absence of Holy Spirit power is palpable and leaves me, too, often feeling sad and lonely. It’s good to hear you have experienced the same. Thank God that things are changing: the light is dawning on our hearts, one by one, more and more. Soon it will be daylight! Maranatha!
I am so blessed by your posts and just had to let you know how much they touch my heart and encourage me. THANK YOU so much for taking time to share your heart and the true Gospel through your blog! Very few times, if ever, have we heard this message in a “normal” church service, but praying that this revelation of our LIFE IN OUR SAVIOR will sweep through the people of God!Having lived most of my life striving to live the Christian life, the wonderful Gospel thrills me more and more! Praising our wonderful Lord! In Him,
Dear Paul, what a blessing youre site is, I can only see the work of the Holy Spirit here and I gobble up every morsel and then…. I share across Africa VIA email, what a God given gift email is. I think sometimes – what is my diploma in theology worth when the true Gospel message was not the message I was taught, It is so sad, hence I point everyone I can to your site because it is free and accessable to people in Africa. Joseph Prince and Wommack are great, but there is a lot in your site so take a bow.Lastly PAUL, when the Bible talks about the heart of man, I know it is not about the heart that pumps blood. My thinking is leaning toward a “mans understanding” – Hagen said it was the spirit which does not make sense. I would appreciate to know your thoughts. PS 5:12
KEITH
You can find verses in the Bible suggesting that the heart is the part of us that thinks, feels and understands. I’m not sure you can feel with your spirit but then there’s a lot about the spirit we don’t understand. You might say our spirit is that part of us that accesses the spirit realm but Jesus said we’re to love God with our hearts. We love Him with all our heart but worship Him in spirit. Does that mean we don’t worship Him with our heart? Does that mean I relate to God in love with one part of me but worship Him with another part? I think not. This is probably one of those times where it does more harm than good to chop a man into separate bits.
Keith and Paul, thanks for the conversation. Questions and thought of the component of the soul and spirit. I’ll just not chop man into separate bits. Navigated to your site this morning, thank God! Thanks,
I found you looking for stuff about our sinful nature, or lack of it. :) I am from Christchurch, NZ, so very surprised when I read you are a Cantabrian! I am really enjoying your blogs and info. Nice to read something that makes sense and isnt religious. What you said about the sin nature was very well written, and filled in some gaps I had. Nice to have found yr site anyway, and look forward to more interesting articles.
Hi Tracy – thanks for writing. It’s always nice to meet a fellow Cantab in these discussion threads.
Dear Paul,
I have been struggling for so very long in my Christian walk. I like so many have suffered from depression, anxiety and just down right turmoil. I knew it was spiritual because I have not had joy for such a long time. Unfortunately, I focused on trying to find out what the depression was all about and looked to books by Christian psychologists. That was a long road going no where. I have been listening to some very good teaching which I know the Lord led me to but I still was feeling lost so I cried out to him again yesterday morning. I googled “walking after the flesh” and found your blog in my search. I I know I have found that many are struggling with the same issues that I am and that you have also struggled with your understanding of grace. I am getting hung up on berating myself. Why have I been so blind for so long? Very diappointed with my life. I have been stuck for so long.
Thank you for your blog. I believe the truth I am finding there will put me back on track with my relationship with the Lord.
Nancy
I’m back on track and praising the Lord! Just Keeping my eyes on Jesus and his finished work. I am forgiven and have been forgiven and my sinHe remembers no more. His perspective is eternal! I am looking at things from God’s perspective. Hallelujah. I am breathing the fresh air of God’s grace!
Your blog is amazing. Keep writing! :)
Paul,
I recently met someone and He is insisting that baptism is a requirement for salvation. Do you have any blog post on this? I really want to understand why some people are putting emphasis on baptism.
- grace and peace
I understand this emphasis in the way that I understand that faith without works is dead. I would encourage every believer to be baptized in the same way that I would encourage every loving couple to think seriously about getting married. Marriage is not love, it is a public declaration of love. Similarly, baptism is not faith, it is a public declaration of faith. But is it a requirement for salvation? Well, today’s Easter. Why not ask the thief on the cross?
Exactly what I said to the guy. the theif didn’t get baptized, nor did restitution. but then they argued that the thief was under a different covenant. thinking out loud, then that covenant is better than ours? just by asking Jesus to save me, then saved instantly! no baptism thanks for reply. I would love to read your future post on baptism. will follow you.
- grace and peace be upon you
Hi Paul,
Reading articles in E2R really helpful and I found answers for my question for years. God really good. I read JP and Andrew Wommack book and podcast as well. The message of grace, bring hope and live in me. May I translate your article(s) in my mother tongue? I wish to see many believers have access to grace based teaching. Tq
Go for it Harry! See the How to Share E2R page for more info.
Hi Paul. Thank you for your helpful website. I’ve only read a few things so far, but I’m sure I will enjoy dipping into more of it. I downloaded a book from the free stuff section and recommended it to a bunch of friends. One of those liked it so much and has now placed an order for a load of copies to put in her bookshop! Thought you’d like to know….’give and it shall be given’ comes to mind. Christine.
Thanks for the feedback Christine. I’m glad people are benefiting from those free resources. That’s what they are there for. Just out of curiosity, which book did you download?
Hello I believe in a Grace message. It’s sad that I only just heard this a little while ago, and I’ve been a Christian for a long time. I love God with all my heart, and I want to please him. I like most people was taught in order for God to forgive your sins AFTER you accept Jesus as your lord and savior….. you STILL have to confess everytime you sin. This of couse makes me crazy because how can I remember to confess everytime I sin? What about the sins I don’t remember to confess? What about if I die before I forget to confess something? What about I commit a sin that I don’t think is a sin, so I don’t confess it? This can’t be right that we have to confess each and every sin even AFTER we accept Jesus as our lord and savior.
After we accept Jesus we live under Grace. But since I am just learning I have a hard time explaining it to people. They bring up some scriptures and I don’t know how to answer them accept to say Jesus has forgiven ALL our sins if we accept him as our savior and lord. We don’t have to keep asking for forgiveness over and over and over for something that Jesus ALREADY did.
But I want to know how to answer certain scriptures when people ask. Like the prayer in Matthew that says we ask God to “forgive our sins” when we pray. And that if we don’t forgive other people, then God won’t forgive us. When people ask I don’t know how to answer that. Can you please expain these verses in terms of Grace. Thank You.
I have written more posts on this scripture than any other. (Check out the archives.) I suggest you start with this post and then read this one and then check out this graphic.
Hi Paul,
I love your blog because it is so encouraging and uplifting. I’ve enjoyed Joseph Prince’s teaching also, but after hearing his messages daily for a long time, I realized that I never heard him speak on the Bible teachings where the Lord is repeatedly requiring that we must not only show repentance for our sins, but we must repent and TURN from that particular sin. I have been a Christian for many years, and feel grounded in my belief, but it makes me feel concern for the non-believer. Is it fair and who will be held accountable for those who are receiving only part of the redemption story? There is NOTHING more precious than God’s grace, and it is the most important gift that we will ever receive. Do you believe with your vast knowledge of the Bible that we don’t have to follow the teachings of Jesus and ask forgiveness of our sins?
Thank you so much,
Brenda Williamson
Hi Brenda, thanks for your comment. Do I think we need to repent? Absolutely, but repentance may not mean what you think it means. I think the emphasis on turning from sin is misguided. It’s actually a work of the flesh. Am I against sin? Of course! Should we turn from it? Of course! But the important thing is that you turn to Jesus. Whenever you turn to Jesus you’ll inevitably turn from sin. And if you’re thinking about those scriptures on confession, read this post and check out the links at the bottom.
Hi Paul
Sunday 19/11/12 during a developing theme in worship on ‘no condemnation’ I quoted Jn 3 17 and asked the question – Why is it that the people who should not be condemned, appear to live as the most condemned….. racking up how much time we read our bibles, spend more time praying, give more of our financial resources ,yet still feeling not enough is done for God to be happy . Suggested we were more focused on Jesus presents instead of His presence.
Felt a bit like Elijah ‘Am I the only one to beginning to understand grace’. You can imagine the surprise when on Friday23/11 Amazon emailed recommendation for The Gospel In Ten Words. Read the first chapter and it blew my mind. Sunday 25th quoted from the 1st chapter.
I just love trusting and resting in Jesus – the less done gets more achieved.
Thanks for a brilliant book and web site. Admit I am mulling over my understanding of unconditional forgiveness particularly forgiving myself.
Hi David, it sounds like the Holy Spirit’s doing something wonderful in your life!
Hi Paul
Be encoraged pure grace is the only way.Amazing life in JESUS
auckland? im in florida, no wonder you’re sleepin when im awake.
I just found your website researching some 1 John 1:9. Great find! I have been learning about Grace from Andrew Womack, Joseph Prince & Gregory Dickow. My biggest frustration is finding a local church that teaches Grace. They are all teaching the mixture of law and grace. Really am enjoying all of your writings and the coversation strings. Thank-You, God Bless You,