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 [...]
faith
Colossians 2:18 – 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 [...]
Have I Shipwrecked My Faith? (1 Timothy 1:18–19)
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 [...]
Faith Without Works Is Dead – James 2:17
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 [...]
What is a Biblical Definition of Faith?
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 [...]
1 Timothy 2:15 – Are Women Saved through Childbearing?
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 [...]
Luke 1:30 – Why did Mary Find Favor with God?
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 [...]
What are Works of Faith? (James 2:24)
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: [...]
How Does Faith Establish the Law? (Romans 3:31)
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 [...]
What is the Prayer of Faith?
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 [...]
How Do I Know I’m Saved?
“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 [...]
Who is the Unworthy Servant? (Luke 17:10)
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 [...]
Is humanity righteous? (Romans 5:18-19)
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 [...]
Believing in Vain (1 Corinthians 15:2)
“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 [...]
God Believes in You!
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 [...]
Questions ain’t questions
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 [...]
Continue in the Faith (Colossians 1:23)
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 [...]
Faith is a Rest
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 [...]
Everybody responds
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 [...]
1 Timothy 1:18–19 – How to Shipwreck your 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 [...]
Hebrews 10:26
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 [...]
Keep the faith
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 [...]
Life doesn’t have the last word (when you’re walking in the spirit)
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 [...]
I Believe, Help My Unbelief (Mark 9:24)
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 [...]
2 Corinthians 5:7 – Walk by Faith, Not by sight
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 [...]
Dealing with unanswered prayer
“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 [...]
Spurgeon’s Mantra
Philippians 2:12 – Work out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling
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… [...]
Rahab’s Faith
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 [...]
Mixing Grace with Works: It’s Not About the Widow
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 [...]
Escape to Reality 