renewed mind

The new song of grace

October 14, 2015 // 31 Comments

This week our baby girl received her Australian citizenship certificate in the mail. She just became a little Aussie. This despite the fact that she has never been to Australia, she can’t name the six states or the prime minister, and she doesn’t know what a lamington is. She’s never read “The Man from [...]

Is Grace a License to Sin?

September 24, 2012 // 60 Comments

Grace-preachers attract sinners and that is a good thing. If you consider yourself a sinner you have come to the right place! Sinners are welcome in the House of Grace. I wish our churches were magnets for sinners for that would be a sure sign that we are preaching the true gospel of grace. If this scandalizes [...]

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 [...]

Romans 7: The flesh test

August 18, 2011 // 36 Comments

Have you seen the pearl of wisdom hidden in Romans 7? Many miss it because they view the chapter as “not written for me” or as a mere prelude to chapter 8. This is a shame because if you can grasp what Paul says in Romans 7, it will save you a world of hurt. “Just remind me, what’s Romans 7 about?” I [...]

12 Infamous Examples of Walking After the Flesh in the Bible

August 16, 2011 // 14 Comments

“…and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (Jdg 17:6) Since most of us have grown up with a works-based view of salvation, we tend to think of sin as doing bad things. If we avoid doing bad things we’ll avoid sin. But the Bible has a different definition of sin. “Whatever is not of faith is [...]

How to Walk After the Flesh in 20 Easy Lessons

August 11, 2011 // 66 Comments

If you’ve ever taken children to the zoo, you will know that the big animals tend to be more popular than the small ones. Elephants, rhinos, and tigers get more attention than otters, turtles, and geckos. And so it is with works of the flesh. Ask any churchgoer to list the works of the flesh and they will [...]

Your Glorious New Past

August 3, 2011 // 15 Comments

When you were born again you were probably told a lot of wonderful things about your future. “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” You may have also been told some wonderful things about your present. “We’re living in the kingdom now!” But you probably didn’t hear too many wonderful things about [...]

Want to be a transparent Christian? Then reveal what’s really inside

July 14, 2011 // 30 Comments

Many years ago I participated in a street outreach in Australia. With our loud and upbeat music we soon attracted a large crowd. This was good. Sinners were going to hear the gospel and get saved. Then the preacher got up to speak and it all went pear-shaped. “I have a lust problem.” Oh-oh. Instead of telling [...]

The flesh vs the spirit – two good books

May 7, 2011 // 10 Comments

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these things are opposed one to the other, that ye should not do those things which ye desire. ~ Galatians 5:17 (Darby) Paul describes the Christian life as a tug of war between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh is that part of us [...]

1 Corinthians 11:26-32

April 12, 2011 // 30 Comments

A big part of the communion-confusion stems from a misreading of Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians. As I have not found a good translation of 1 Corinthians 11:26-32, I have provided my own paraphrase below. (I looked at the meaning of the original Greek behind some of the words in an earlier post.) Take [...]

“God’s Astounding Opinion of You” by Ralph Harris

April 3, 2011 // 3 Comments

Who do you think you are? If you were to describe yourself in 50 words or less, what would you say? You might refer to your accomplishments, your habits, your strengths and weaknesses. And right there is the problem that lies at the heart of everything. You don’t really know who you are. From the moment we’re [...]

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 [...]