You Won’t Believe What Happened in 2025…
Why is it that the older you get, the faster time flies? This year went by in a blink. What happened? Quite a bit actually: 250,000 new words were written for the Grace [...]
Articles by Paul Ellis
God Doesn’t Hate Esau (or You)
We who preach grace are sometimes accused of ignoring the Old Testament. But no one could ever make this claim about the Apostle of Grace. In his letter to the Romans, Paul [...]
Ten Signs of a Grace Church
Here’s the one question I get asked more than any other: “Paul, can you recommend a grace church in (insert small town name I’ve never heard of)?” Usually I can’t [...]
Black Friday Deal – “Original Sin” for $1
Update: This deal has ended. Subscribe and be the first to know about new deals. For years, readers have been asking, “Paul, why don’t you make your study notes publicly [...]
The Most Powerful Verse in the Bible
If Bible verses were medicines, some verses would be wonder drugs. Or maybe miracle cures. Like this one: Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ [...]
What are the Greater Works of John 14:12?
Do you perform miracles? Do you heal the sick and raise the dead? Because if you’re not, you may not be a real Christian. That’s according to some people. But not me. [...]
Does God Make People Spiritually Blind?
Have you ever wondered why some people never respond to the gospel? You tell them God loves them, that he holds nothing against them, and he’s longing to share his life [...]
“Sin Which Dwells in Me”
My scariest movie moment happened at a drive-in theater in 1986. I was in a car with some friends, watching a new release called Aliens. Seen it? We had no idea what the [...]
All Israel Will Be Saved
Israel is again in the news. The endless cycle of violence in the Middle East leaves us wondering, “When will it all end?” So it’s understandable that some take comfort [...]
5 Questions Every Believer Should Ask
If Romans is the greatest letter ever written, then chapter 8 is the greatest chapter in the greatest letter. It’s the Everest of Paul’s monumental epistle. In Romans 8, [...]
What’s Behind the Modern Grace Revolution?
Every day there is more evidence of a worldwide Grace Revolution. Just check out the booming increase in the number of sermons, books, podcasts, and videos about grace. Grace [...]
Did God Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?
Does God choose some people to be saved and condemn the rest? Does God harden the hearts of some so they can never come to repentance? You might think so after reading this [...]
Is there a Grace Revolution?
The label “Grace Revolution” can be seen everywhere. It’s on churches, ministries, books, and Facebook pages. But what is a Grace Revolution? It will help if we clarify [...]
The Grace Revolution: Who, What, When, How and Why?
Over the past few years, many have spoken of a “grace revolution” that is sweeping across the globe. There has certainly been a grace awakening in my own life, but is it [...]
The Most Influential Grace Preachers of the 20th Century
Who told you about grace? Who told them? The message of grace came to you via a long line of preachers and teachers. It began with Jesus and the apostles. Then others passed [...]
“Brothers, We Are Under Obligation”
You can learn a lot about people by the way they talk. People who have been apprehended by the grace of God talk about Jesus, love, and faith. They use words like [...]
Who are the Elect?
Here’s a question I have for the Jehovah’s Witnesses who knock on my door. “If you believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven, why are you diminishing your [...]
When Jacob the Worm Met God the Helper
Sometimes, life knocks you down so hard that you feel like a lowly worm and that the whole world is out to get you. “Everything is against me,” said Jacob after he lost [...]
Qualified by Grace
When Camilla and I took over the pastoring of a church back in 1999, everyone thought it was a good idea – everyone, that is, except me. I thought picking me was a terrible [...]
Jacob the Self-Righteous
The three Patriarchs of Israel represent three types of people. Abraham is the believer, Isaac is the fearful, and Jacob? Well, he was the sinner. Don’t get me wrong—I [...]
Who Are the Called of Jesus Christ?
I have a confession to make. I like gangster movies. Everything I know about organized crime I learned from watching movies like The Godfather, The Untouchables and The Road [...]
Where are the Beautiful Preachers?
I don’t say this enough, but those who preach the good news are the most beautiful people on earth. Just imagine how different your life would be if someone hadn’t told [...]
Isaac the Fearful
As a father, I want to give my kids good things—love, food, shelter, opportunities, and memories. But the one thing I want to give them most is a revelation of our heavenly [...]
Does God Cause All Things? Finding Hope in Romans 8:28
Some truths have the power to bring healing and hope. Here’s an example: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those [...]
We Have Gifts!
The following is an abridged extract from my new – and best-selling! thank you! – commentary, The Grace Bible: Romans. Since we have gifts that differ according [...]
Out today – The Grace Bible: Romans
Have you been waiting for a study bible that speaks the language of the new covenant? The Grace Bible: Romans is here! With more than 1700 insightful entries, The Grace [...]
The Greatest Letter Ever Written – Romans
Paul’s letter to the Romans is the most quoted, most powerful, and most influential letter ever written. In it, Paul unveils God’s great plan to rescue broken humanity [...]
Abraham the Believer
What can we learn from the fathers of Israel? Is there anything that hasn’t been said about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Over the next few weeks, I will be publishing a short [...]
How to Have Peace
Peace is a precious gift, yet many people don’t have it. They’re stressed about today, worried about tomorrow, and regretful of the past. Their lack of peace is peace is [...]
Like Wikipedia, But Better
Want to know what question I get asked more than any other? “How much does it cost to use the Grace Commentary?” Or “Where can I purchase the Grace Commentary?” For [...]
To Keep the Law is to Break the Law
There are two paths to righteousness. The first path is called Works, and it is the basis of every religion ever invented. The second path is called Grace and it is the [...]
What is the Righteousness of God?
For the past six months I have been writing a book on Romans. At times, I have felt like I was in the house of Gaius listening to Paul dictate his letter. Imagine what that [...]
How to be Guided by the Peace of Christ
Should I take this job? Should I move to this city? Should I marry this person? Should I join this church? Should I start a family? Our lives are shaped by the decisions we [...]
What is the Righteousness of God in Romans 1:17?
Here is the most important paragraph in the most important letter ever written: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who [...]
What is the Most Important Word in the New Covenant?
We who preach grace like to draw lines between the old and new covenants. We say things like, “In the old covenant, the emphasis was do, do, do, but in the new it is done, [...]
God is Righteous in Making the Sinner Righteous
Years ago I heard Joseph Prince say, “God is righteous in making the sinner righteous.” When I heard this, my spirit responded with a hearty “Amen!” But this was one [...]
What Verse Should they Display in Churches?
Imagine you have been asked to pick a verse to display in your church sanctuary. What verse would you pick? Some churches display the Ten Commandments, which is not a good [...]
Get The Silent Queen FREE – today only
When I wrote my book encouraging women to speak up in church, I got three types of responses from readers: This is unbiblical – women need to know their place/stay silent, [...]
Let No One Disqualify You
I enjoy watching marathons and ultras. I love watching runners flog themselves for miles and miles, and I cheer when they cross the line. But recently, I saw something that [...]
Out today – The Grace Bible: Philippians, Colossians & Philemon
Two weeks ago, E2R readers got a free copy of my grace-based commentary on Philemon. If you prefer a printed book, you will be pleased to know that the new book goes on sale [...]
Beware Dogs and Evil Workers
On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the [...]
The Most Underrated Book in the Bible
The book of Philemon may be the most underrated book in the Bible. Like some of Shakespeare’s obscure plays, Philemon is a book people say they’ve read when they [...]
Have I Shipwrecked My Faith?
Some people spend more time thinking about their faith than they do about Jesus. They worry they don’t have enough faith or they may lose it. Which is a pity. If they spent [...]
Why do I need a New Covenant Bible Commentary?
The Bible is a big book. We need help if we are to make sense of it. This is why people write Bible commentaries and study Bibles. Commentaries and study Bibles illuminate [...]
Is the Christian Life a Marathon or a Sprint?
Have you ever noticed how the older you get, the harder it is to run? I used to run 10ks and half-marathons. I once jogged a 50km trail in seven hours. But that was a long [...]
Bad News, Good News, Thank Yous
In my last email, I promised E2R subscribers a special Christmas treat. I said I had “a little project” I was working on. Well, I have bad news and good news. The bad [...]
Your Christmas Sorted
Christmas is the season of giving, so next week I plan to send Escape to Reality subscribers a special gift. It’s a little something I think you will love. (Not a [...]
What is the Grace Bible?
What is the Grace Bible? The Grace Bible is your grace-based, easy-to-read, new covenant study Bible. Unlike other study Bibles that burden you with guilt and leave you [...]
What is the Hope of His Calling?
There is a prayer in the Bible that goes right over our heads. Here it is: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of [...]
What Did James Say About Grace?
“Did James understand grace? Were he and Paul on the same page? Are we saved by faith plus works like he said? Should his book be in the Bible?” People have been asking [...]
Am I Completely Forgiven?
You’d be surprised how hard it is to convince some people that God has forgiven all their sins – past, present, and future. “Sure, I believe God loved me enough to send [...]
Is “Love your Neighbor” Part of the New Covenant?
If there is one book that highlights the dangers of mixing grace with law it’s Galatians. Which is why I am always surprised when people use Galatians to mix grace with [...]
Why do I Need a Bible Commentary?
“Why does anyone need a commentary to tell them what the Bible ‘really’ means?” This question was put to me by someone on Facebook. It’s a fair question and it was [...]
Reading the Bible with Humility
The number one reason why we have trouble growing in grace, is we don’t have a teachable heart. “Repent and believe the good news,” said Jesus. That’s not just for [...]
How to Find a Grace Bible Church?
Back when I was a brand new pastor, there was one kind of phone call I got more than any other. “Hi Paul, do you have the number for John (or Jane or Joe)?” I thought [...]
Once Saved, Always Saved?
Ever broken a promise, failed to keep your word, or been late for an engagement? Of course you have. Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may [...]
Because of His Great Love
When I read a book in the Bible, I like to list my favorite verses and words in that book. As you may know, I spent much of the past year diving deep into Ephesians. My [...]
Out today: The Grace Bible – Ephesians
Ephesians may be the most important letter Paul ever wrote. In this epic epistle Paul covers the full sweep of God’s plan to rescue you, restore creation, and reunite [...]
What is a Grace Bible Church?
I have visited hundreds of churches, and I have discovered that some churches may have “grace” in their name, but not in their DNA. They don’t provide what they’re [...]
Is the Grace Bible the New Covenant Study Bible You’ve Been Waiting For?
The “check engine” light had been showing on my dashboard, so last week I took my car in to get checked by the mechanic. Turns out my car has been running lean. Too much [...]
Blessed With Every Blessing
Back in the 1980s, I smuggled Bibles into China. I can remember the tears of joy that Chinese believers shed had when they received their first Bibles. Until they got a [...]
7 Reasons Why You Can’t Lose Your Salvation
If you are worried about losing your salvation, here’s a question: When you were born again, did you do it? Did you remake or re-create yourself? Did you somehow join [...]
Kept in Custody Under the Law
When you see the law mentioned in the Bible, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think “the law” = the Law of Moses. If so, you may dismiss chunks of the New Testament as [...]
Out today: The Grace Bible – Galatians
The latest installment in the Grace Bible series has just been released. It’s called The Grace Bible: Galatians and you can get it on Amazon. Why do we need another book on [...]
Are the Gentiles Under the Law?
Are the Gentiles under the law? Were the Gentiles ever under the law? Your answers to these questions depend on how you define “the law.” My answers to these questions [...]
What Does It Mean To Have Our Ears Tickled?
When I visit church websites one of the first things I look at is their sermon index. I want to see what is being preached. Do they preach the good news of Jesus? Or do they [...]
God’s Plans Are Better Than Your Plans
The story of my life: I made a plan and God laughed. Because I am a pastor’s kid, many assumed I would become a pastor. “Not me. No way. No how.” Then I became a [...]
Gems from Galatians
Galatians is a small but precious epistle. It is full of treasures. It has 149 verses and in my forthcoming book, The Grace Bible: Galatians, I unpack every one of them. [...]
Why Am I Not Spiritually Fruitful?
Did you know you have been chosen by God to bear fruit? Jesus said: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit [...]
What About the Rebukes of Revelation?
“God is not mad at you, he’s mad about you.” “Oh, yeah? What about the rebukes of Revelation? How does that fit your lovey-dovey grace theology?” Tell people that [...]
How Does God Respond When I Sin?
We all stumble from time to time. We all make mistakes. Even you. Even though you are 100% righteous and holy in Christ, your behavior is not 100% righteous and holy. From [...]
How To Tell if Your Commentary is Grace Based?
Do you know how to stay free? We stay free by testing everything. We test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). We test teachings to see if they align [...]
What If I Deny the Lord?
List all the verses that scare people and this one would be near the top: “If we deny him, he will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:12). Having been raised on a diet of Chick [...]
Does God Accept Me?
Everyone needs to learn how to handle rejection, but there's an easy way and a hard way. [...]
Which Bible Commentaries Are Grace Based?
I examined 8 popular commentaries to see how many preached grace. The results… were not surprising. [...]
The Two Books Your Pastor Reads
My dad was a pastor and when he died young I inherited all his books, Bibles and commentaries. When I became a pastor, I bought more Bibles and commentaries. I have quite the [...]
Keywords of Grace and Law
Every Bible teaching, sermon or message you have ever heard has been one of three kinds: law-based, grace-based, or a mixture of grace and law. A law-based interpretation [...]
The Old vs the New Covenant
Are you familiar with Biblical covenants? Reading the Bible without understanding covenant is like going to a medicine cabinet when you are ill and swallowing whatever pills [...]
What is the New Covenant?
Imagine going through 12 years of school and never being taught how to read or write. Your teachers taught you maths, music and physical education, but they neglected to [...]
Why Do I Still Sin If I Am Saved?
Saint, you don’t have a sinful nature. The old sinner you used to be has been crucified with Christ. One with the Lord you have his heart, his desires, his spiritual DNA, [...]
What Does it Mean that Judgment Begins at the House of God?
Yesterday I heard from a pastor who is a long-time Escape to Reality reader. He asked me about a particular scripture, and I directed him to the relevant page on the Grace [...]
The Dangers of Taking Bible Verses out of Context
Two men go to see the doctor. The first is suffering from advanced cancer and needs immediate treatment. The second is completely healthy and is going for a routine check-up. [...]
Why Read the Seven Letters to the Churches?
Did you know that Jesus sent letters from heaven? I suspect 90% of people do not know, and many of those who do know dismiss them as irrelevant. “The seven letters to the [...]
Two Lists
I want to show you a list of 7 names. Count how many you recognize: Leonardo da Vinci Johann Sebastian Bach Ludwig van Beethoven Johannes Brahms Rembrandt George Gershwin [...]
King Herod and the Christmas Giveaway
Update: This Giveaway has ended. Subscribe to E2R to be notified of future giveaways. Looking for something fun and Biblical and Christmassy to do with your friends and [...]
The Real Seven Deadly Sins
Every year on my birthday, my wife makes a delicious gumbo. It’s so yummy I usually have a second helping. And by second, I mean third or fourth. It’s that good! But [...]
Why Does the Virgin Birth Matter?
One of the questions asked at Christmas is, “Was Jesus really born of a virgin?” Is this an important question? Some say no. They say they do not need to believe that [...]
Watch Out for the Holiness Preachers
As a teenager, I didn’t need anybody to tell me what to do. As an adult, I wish somebody would. Life is big and confusing. It’s full of anxiety, uncertainty, and [...]
What is the Whole Counsel of God?
Tell people the good news of God’s unconditional love, and I can guarantee that some will chide you for not preaching the whole counsel of God. Tell people about the [...]
What Does it Mean to be Alienated from God?
Perhaps you know the story of Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Imperial Japanese Army. When WW2 ended, it was a time of great joy and celebration. Prisoners were set free, and [...]
You are not a Doorkeeper in the House of God
“I am a bondservant of the Lord.” So said Paul and every other New Testament epistle writer. Works-preachers ever since have been saying that we are God’s servants who [...]
Will I Lose My Salvation if I Keep Sinning?
I’m just gonna say it: it is not God’s will for you to live in sin. “Wait, Paul. I thought you were a grace preacher. Aren’t you supposed to accept people just as [...]
An Early Look at Paul’s Next Book
My next book is a labor of love. I have been working on it for seven years and it’s time to let you know. It’s about a subject near and dear to my heart – the [...]
Why We Are Not a Red-Letter Church
“What kind of church are you?” I wasn’t sure how to answer the question. The lady who had rung my office was thinking of attending one of our Sunday services, but she [...]
Are All Sins Forgiven – Past, Present and Future?
Are all your sins forgiven, past, present and future? This is one of those questions that sounds hard but is easy to answer, provided you have the right definition. What does [...]
Tough Love for Drunks and Sinners
The late Brennan Manning once told a story about a new patient admitted to an alcoholic rehabilitation clinic. The patient, Max, appeared to be a healthy and respectable [...]
What is the Law of Liberty?
There are several types of law in the Bible, and if you don’t know which is which, you could get confused. Or worse. Follow the wrong sort of law and you could fall from [...]
How to Rightly Divide the Word of Truth
Ever read something in the Bible that seemed to contradict something else in the Bible? I used to be confused about those apparent contradictions, but now I love them. I know [...]
Spiritual Gifts – An Incomplete List
Do you know your spiritual gifts? Every believer has spiritual gifts (see 1 Pet. 4:10), but not every believer has put their gifts to work. Have you? Spiritual gifts are [...]
Faith Without Works Is Dead
There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James: What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can [...]
Escape to Reality 