Endure to the End and be Saved

May 14, 2013 By 26 Comments
Fallen-runner

Is the Christian eternally secure or does he need to take steps to ensure he doesn’t fall away? This is the Big Question we have been asking in our series on eternal security. So far we have looked at scriptures that seem to connect our salvation with our perfect and sustained obedience. Soon I will look at those that seem to link salvation with our abiding or continuing. But today I want to starting looking at those scriptures that have to do with endurance. Here is the question: Can a Christian can lose their salvation if they fail to stand firm or endure to the end? There are 22 … [Read more...]

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What About Hell? 10 Things To Know

April 23, 2013 By 132 Comments
trolley_hell

A few people have asked for my views on hell. I have never written on hell before. Like the weather on Uranus, hell is not a subject I think much about. I’m unlikely to come up to you at a party and say, “Hey, what about hell?” Hell is just not on my radar. But I appreciate that hell has become something of a “hot” topic lately, another shibboleth if you like. On one side are those who say, “Hell is hell and you’re just going to have to accept it.” On the other side are those who find it inconceivable that a good God could cook his kids in an eternal roasting pan. So … [Read more...]

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Standing Secure on God’s Promises

February 19, 2013 By 22 Comments
anchor_blue

Ever broken a promise, not kept your word, or been late for an engagement? Of course you have. Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may fail God. After all, isn’t the Bible full of exhortations to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end? It is – but not so that we might get something we don’t already possess in Christ. As you may know, I spent the summer studying some 300 scriptures pertaining to this issue of eternal security. I have to be honest and tell you my motives were mixed. The pure motive was that I simply enjoy studying scripture and I wanted to … [Read more...]

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Once Shaved, Always Shaved?

February 12, 2013 By 39 Comments
shaving_grace

I have a beard so you may find this hard to believe, but I shave every day. Most men do. I understand many women also shave regularly. Perhaps you were shaved at one time, but that doesn’t mean you are shaved now. You have to work to stay shaved. You may profess a belief in shaving but faith without regular shaving works shaves no one. Shaving is a tricky business. You need to hold fast when you shave. You have to work out your shaving with fear and trembling because only he who stands firm to the end will be shaved. I’m grinning as I write this. Why? Because apparently being shaved … [Read more...]

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Why Do People Still Die?

February 7, 2013 By 18 Comments
Headstone

Death is sin’s wage, so if sin has been dealt with at the cross, why do people still die? Good question! I’ve seen sick people healed by the grace of God. I’ve seen deaf ears and blind eyes opened. But everyone still dies. Why is that? If Christ’s sacrifice undid Adam’s sin, why do people still die? If last Adam is greater than first Adam, why does death still take us all? It’s a good question, but understand that it is an earthly question. It is shaped by our earthly point of view. Jesus had a different point of view: Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has … [Read more...]

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Shipwrecked Faith

January 30, 2013 By 23 Comments
shipwrecked_faith

“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”  (1 Tim 1:18-20) What does it mean to shipwreck your faith? Paul said this had happened to at least two people so I guess it can happen to you. But how does it happen and what are the consequences? Most people have no idea but … [Read more...]

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The Fear of the Lord

January 24, 2013 By 21 Comments
angry_god

What is the fear of the Lord? This is an important question. You need to have a good answer to this question. Why? Because your answer reveals much about your faith and security. It reveals whether you are walking in grace or under condemnation. For instance, if you think God is judging your behavior to see whether you merit his unmerited favor, you’re basically saying, “I don’t trust Jesus to finish what he started. Sure, I thank God for grace, but now I have to prove that I was a worthy investment.” Those who think like this fear God’s displeasure, and rightly so. After all, … [Read more...]

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Does God Envy?

January 9, 2013 By 25 Comments
envy

A misunderstood God leads to a misguided faith. If you think God is insecure and constantly assessing you on your performance, you will be insecure yourself. You will be forever wondering whether you have done enough to please him. Some time ago I wrote that God loves us unconditionally, that contrary to what some scriptures say, God is not a jealous God. How dare I contradict the written word? Well, I’ve met the Living Word and I can tell you that Jesus is the very picture of love and grace. However, the concept of a jealous God is hard to shake. We’ve heard so many times that he … [Read more...]

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Is God Sovereign?

January 4, 2013 By 162 Comments
crown

A friend of mine lost several million dollars in a bad investment. He is well into his seventies and this was his retirement money, so this is a big blow. How did he lose it? Well, here’s my theory: He took some bad financial advice from a dodgy analyst and put his money where he shouldn’t have. But my friend doesn’t see it like that. He told me, “God is in control. I guess he didn’t want me to have all that money.” In other words, God is to blame for his loss. When I heard this I was too stunned to speak, but my friend was just getting warmed up. “I guess I’m a lot like Job … [Read more...]

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Where was God in the Connecticut School Shooting?

December 18, 2012 By 29 Comments
Connecticut_candles

Yet another school shooting has resulted in the loss of innocent lives in America and now questions are being asked: Where was God? Why didn’t God stop this? Why didn’t God protect the lives of those 20 children? For a grieving parent, these are normal questions. When you have suffered the greatest loss any human can suffer it is perfectly understandable to scream, Why??? Death is awful. It is an enemy. I hate it and God hates it. I hesitate to write this because many are using this latest tragedy as an opportunity to grandstand and advance their particular causes. We need fewer … [Read more...]

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Which Jesus are you Trusting?

December 12, 2012 By 14 Comments
seesaw_sm

In our last post we saw that the whole gospel is the gospel of grace. It is “Christ alone.” But which Christ are we talking about? Which Jesus are you trusting in? -    Is it the baby Jesus who appears each Christmas? -    Is it the tolerant teacher who was friendly to sinners? -    Is it Jesus on the cross dying for the sins of the world? Hopefully, it is none of the above. This may shock you but none of these Jesuses is particularly good news. There is only one Jesus that saves, delivers, heals, rescues, and gives new life, and that is the risen Jesus, seated at the right … [Read more...]

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What is the “Whole” Gospel?

December 6, 2012 By 27 Comments
E2R_fake1

Heaven forbid that we preach half a gospel, but what is the whole gospel? Your answer to that question says a lot about your views on the finished work of the cross. For instance, whenever I proclaim the good news of God’s unconditional love as revealed in Jesus, I can just about guarantee that some serious person will pull me up for not preaching the whole gospel. What they say: “We’ve got to preach the whole counsel of God, brother.” What they mean: “You should tell people they need to do stuff – repent, confess, turn from sin, work, etc. – to earn the free gifts of … [Read more...]

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