faith

Faith Without Works Is Dead

August 17, 2023 // 30 Comments

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 that faith save him? (James 2:14) Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. [...]

What is a Biblical Definition of Faith?

February 24, 2022 // 36 Comments

What is faith? We talk about faith all the time, but what is it? Do you know what faith is? Of course you do, right? Are you sure? Maybe a better question to ask is, “Do I have a Biblical definition of faith?” Contrary to what you may have heard, faith is not wishful thinking or some sort of spiritual [...]

Are Women Saved through Childbearing?

February 22, 2022 // 7 Comments

One of the strangest verses in the Bible is found in Paul’s first letter to Timothy: But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:15) If there was ever a verse that could be misused to promote patriarchy and dead works, it’s this [...]

Why did Mary Find Favor with God?

December 15, 2021 // 13 Comments

Imagine God asked you to recruit the mother of the Messiah. Two women have been shortlisted, and you have been asked to pick the best one. The first woman has an impeccable pedigree being descended from Aaron the high priest; the other is a nobody from the no-name town of Nazareth. The first one is married to a [...]

What are Works of Faith?

August 18, 2021 // 41 Comments

What is the relationship between faith and works? And are we saved by faith or faith plus works? Many people are confused about these things, and it’s not hard to see why: Paul: “We are justified by faith apart from works” (Gal. 2:16, Eph. 2:8-9)James: “We are justified by works and not faith alone” [...]

How Does Faith Establish the Law? (Romans 3:31)

August 31, 2017 // 82 Comments

The Bible makes some interesting comparisons between faith and law: We are justified by FAITH, not by LAW (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16)Abraham and his heirs are blessed on account of FAITH, not LAW (Rom 4:13-14)You can live by FAITH or LAW (Rom 4:14)No one who relies on the LAW is justified for the righteous live by FAITH [...]

What is the Prayer of Faith?

July 13, 2017 // 253 Comments

Much of what passes for prayer is wishful thinking. “Oh Lord, please heal Mary.” I’m sure you can, Lord. I just don’t know if you will. “I beg you to heal Tom.” But if you do, no one will be more surprised than me. You can pretty much guarantee these sorts of prayers won’t change anything [...]

How Do I Know I’m Saved?

October 13, 2016 // 113 Comments

“Are you saved? Are you sure?” These questions are sometimes used to scare people into signing up for works-based insurance. They also trigger salvation-anxiety. Yet the questions are legitimate. In scripture we are exhorted to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). This does [...]

Who is the Unworthy Servant? (Luke 17:10)

June 30, 2016 // 40 Comments

How do you see yourself? As a valued son or a worthless servant? As a beloved child of God or a mere minion? Jesus came to reveal our heavenly Father, so a good sign that you understand all that Jesus did for you, is you see yourself as God’s dearly loved child. But what are we to make of these words of Jesus: [...]

Is humanity righteous? (Romans 5:18-19)

June 27, 2015 // 109 Comments

If I gave you a million dollars, how would you react? If you were poor, you’d be thrilled. You’d thank me and tell all your friends how awesome I am. But if you were Bill Gates you might say, “Meh. Add it to the pile.” How you react to a gift reflects your need for that gift. Which is why I am dismayed [...]

Believing in Vain (1 Corinthians 15:2)

February 12, 2015 // 43 Comments

“How do I know if my belief in Christ is in vain?” When a reader asked me this question recently, she was referring to Paul’s warning here: Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you [...]

God Believes in You!

June 24, 2014 // 71 Comments

Last night I caught my five-year-old son reading in bed when he should’ve been sleeping. I asked him to give me his book and he did, albeit reluctantly. I reminded him that it was late and he needed to go to sleep because he had school in the morning. Then I put his book at the end of his bed and turned to [...]

Questions ain’t questions

April 23, 2014 // 28 Comments

Growing up in Australia, I was used to seeing trucks from a company called “Soils Ain’t Soils.” Strange name for a company but I get it. They’re saying there are different types of soils, and some soils are better than others. The same could be said of questions. Perhaps you’ve noticed an upsurge in the [...]

Continue in the Faith (Colossians 1:23)

March 12, 2014 // 63 Comments

Here’s a scary verse: God will present you holy, unblemished, and unblameable—if you continue in the faith. (Colossians 1:23) That doesn’t sound good. That sounds like Paul is preaching conditional salvation. He isn’t. You are one with the Lord, and what God has joined together, no man can [...]

Faith is a Rest

August 15, 2013 // 109 Comments

The gospel declares God’s grace comes through faith. So if you wanted to undermine the gospel, there are two ways you could do it: 1. attack grace – put price tags on it or obscure it by referring to it as a mere “doctrine”2. attack faith – either make it a work or diminish it, belittle it I usually [...]

Everybody responds

August 12, 2013 // 86 Comments

In the film The Wedding Singer, there’s a scene that captures the story of God’s relationship to us. A waitress called Julia is preparing for marriage but she’s marrying the wrong guy. We know it and eventually Julia begins to realize it too. What she doesn’t know is that the right guy is closer than she [...]

How to Shipwreck your Faith

January 30, 2013 // 58 Comments

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 [...]

Hebrews 10:26

February 15, 2012 // 270 Comments

I get asked more questions on Hebrews 10:26 than any other verse in the Bible. Evidently, this is a verse that troubles many Christians: If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left. (Hebrews 10:26) Whoa, that looks scary! Let’s take a quick [...]

Keep the faith

November 10, 2011 // 4 Comments

Those “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters from WWII have been around since, well, WWII. They were originally designed by the UK Ministry of Information to boost morale. No doubt you’ve seen them. Recently I came across a website called the KeepCalm-O-Matic where you can enter your own text and [...]

Life doesn’t have the last word (when you’re walking in the spirit)

August 22, 2011 // 18 Comments

A man, blind from birth, learns of an operation that will give him the gift of sight. Encouraged by his friends and family, he undergoes the procedure. The operation is a success and for the first time in his life he can see. However, he finds himself disoriented and confused. He recognizes nothing and is unable [...]

I believe, help my unbelief

June 16, 2011 // 89 Comments

Imagine you had a successful ministry that saw you healing the sick and casting out demons everywhere you went. Then one day a father brings his son to you, the boy has a seizure right in front of you, and you can’t heal him. How would you react? Would you; (a) conclude that it’s not God’s will to heal all [...]

Not by sight

March 16, 2011 // 46 Comments

Ever since James wrote that “faith without works is dead,” Christians have been busying themselves with all sorts of busy-ness to prove that they really, positively do have faith. But much of what passes for Christian works could be done by anyone, with or without faith. Let’s not kid ourselves. If what [...]

Dealing with unanswered prayer

March 13, 2011 // 49 Comments

“I have been asking God to heal me for years. I don’t understand why He hasn’t me. I guess it’s not God’s will for me to be healed.” If you’ve been following this short series on prayer, I’m hoping you can spot at least two things wrong with these statements. First, it is always God’s will to [...]

Spurgeon’s Mantra

December 23, 2010 // 2 Comments

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Work out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling

October 18, 2010 // 44 Comments

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling… (Philippians 2:12) What does it mean to work out your salvation with fear and trembling? Some say salvation is something to work for, that we must [...]

Rahab’s Faith

September 27, 2010 // 6 Comments

Last Sunday, near the end of the service, about ten people responded to the invitation to give their lives to Jesus. Of course I was as shocked as you are. I thought, “Who let all these heathen sinners in the building? Don’t they know that church is just for Christians?!” Of course I didn’t think that! [...]

Mixing Grace with Works: It’s Not About the Widow

June 10, 2010 // 12 Comments

Most Christians know it’s a bad idea to mix grace with works because of what Paul said to the Galatians: Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (Gal. 3:3) You probably know that we cannot finish that which was begun by the Spirit. Yet many [...]