Bible – Escape to Reality

Rewarded for What We’ve Done?

September 16, 2015 by Paul Ellis 54 Comments

The Bible says that we will be rewarded for what we have done. Not what we have believed, but done-diddley-done-done. So what do we have to do? In this three-part series, we’re going to look at some of the rewarded-for-what-we’ve-done scriptures, beginning with this one: For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. (Matt 16:27) Forget the gospel of grace, you are rewarded for doing stuff! Better get busy for Jesus. But let scripture interpret scripture and you will see that Jesus is not promoting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: resting, rewards, works of faith Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God

Is Grace a Person?

September 4, 2015 by Paul Ellis 66 Comments

People sometimes ask me, “Why do you say grace is another name for Jesus?” or “Why do you say grace is a Person?” They are referring to something I wrote in my book The Gospel in Twenty Questions: Grace isn’t a bunch of rules for you to keep. And grace is not God’s lubricant for greasing the cogs of self effort. Grace is a Person living his life through you. Living under grace is like being married, only more so. It’s the adventure of life shared with Christ. (p.2) Of course, I am not the only one who says grace is a Person. Many others have, including Joseph Prince: Grace is not a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: gospel of grace, Jesus Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

May 19, 2015 by Paul Ellis 42 Comments

Once upon a time there was a man who went on a journey and before he left he entrusted three servants with his money. When the man returned, he praised the two servants who had doubled his money, but the third servant, who had done nothing, was thrown outside into the darkness. The parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30) is used by some to say, “Jesus paid a great price for you. If you don’t work hard to give him a return for his investment, he will toss you into the outer darkness. So get busy for Jesus.” This resonates with those who see themselves as servants rather than sons of God, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: parables Tagged With: Bible, Jesus, Religion

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1–8)

March 19, 2015 by Paul Ellis 28 Comments

The strangest parable Jesus ever told was about a man who cheats on his boss and is then praised for doing so (see Luke 16:1–8). The parable of the shrewd manager (or the unjust steward) is puzzling. What is Jesus trying to tell us? That it’s okay to cook the books, diddle the figures, and engage in white-collar crime? No, Jesus isn’t encouraging dishonesty. He’s telling us how to plan for the future: And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. (Luke 16:9, NKJV) The punchline of the parable is “make … [Read more...]

Filed Under: eternal rewards, parables, the poor Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, Jesus

Can Divorced People Remarry?

January 14, 2015 by Paul Ellis 167 Comments

Hmm, that’s a tough one. Let me see. Can sinners be forgiven? Can runaways come home? Can crooks get a second chance? Can the broken be made whole? No, it’s not a tough question. It’s an easy question. Of course divorced people can remarry! These questions are only tough because religion has told us that divorced people are unforgiveable sinners. They’re lepers who blight our perfect little churches. As long as they sit quietly and help with our programs, they are welcome. But the moment they start looking for love, they’ve crossed the line. They had their shot at love and they messed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: divorce, marriage Tagged With: Bible, God, Jesus, relationships

Labor to Enter His Rest (Hebrews 4:11)

December 18, 2014 by Paul Ellis 50 Comments

The other day a strange man approached a young girl and offered her candy if she would get in his car. Thankfully, the girl knew all about stranger danger and quickly walked to a shop where she was safe. I know you’ve heard this sort of story before but this was different for us because it happened on the street where we live and the girl was a classmate of one of my daughters. She was walking home when it happened so you can guess what every parent in our school is now thinking. That could’ve been my little girl! I mention this story because a few years ago this incident would’ve sent … [Read more...]

Filed Under: resting, works of faith Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Religion

The Parable of the Beaten Servants (Luke 12:35-48)

July 9, 2014 by Paul Ellis 20 Comments

There are only two ways you can respond to Jesus; positively, in faith, or negatively, with unbelief. Consequently, it makes sense to speak, as Jesus did, of people dividing themselves into two groups: sheep and goats, wheat and weeds, good fish and bad fish. But on a few occasions Jesus spoke of three or even four groups. Think of the parable of the sower where there were four types of soil (Matt 13). Or the parable of the master who came home to three types of servant in Luke 12. Here they are: The faithful and wise servant (v.42) who makes his master happy and is put in charge of all his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: judgment, parables Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus

The wrath of God has come upon them at last (1 Thess 2:16)

January 30, 2014 by Paul Ellis 54 Comments

In our ongoing series on the wrath of God, there is an important scripture we have not yet looked at. It’s this one: For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: judgment, wrath Tagged With: Bible, God, Jesus

What is the “Coming Wrath”?

January 22, 2014 by Paul Ellis 42 Comments

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” When John the Baptist said this to the Pharisees and Sadducees, what did he mean (see Luke 3:7-8)? What is the coming wrath? And is this something we should be concerned about? Some commentators say John was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. The venerable Victorian Adam Clarke says the coming wrath refers to “the desolation which was about to fall on the Jewish nation for their wickedness.” But this doesn’t square with what Paul said to Gentile Christians: They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve … [Read more...]

Filed Under: hell, judgment, wrath Tagged With: Bible, God, Jesus

The Bible is not a Rule-Book

November 26, 2013 by Paul Ellis 40 Comments

Imagine it’s your wedding day. You’ve had the ceremony, and you’re starting to relax when the minister hands you a gift, a thick book of Marriage Rules. “Read this,” he says. “The secret to a happy marriage is found within.” You open the book with interest. Inside you discover many rules and guidelines: “Be honest, be kind, always tell the truth, listen well, keep your promises, say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ freely forgive, don’t covet your neighbor’s wife,” and that sort of thing. Initially you think, This is gold! I want a successful marriage, so I will do everything this book … [Read more...]

Filed Under: commands of Jesus, love of God, obedience Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus

What about God’s Wrath?

October 16, 2013 by Paul Ellis 41 Comments

The other night my little girl was on the toilet when she started yelling. “There’s a spider!” Normally, I would encourage my kids to face their fears and deal with spiders on their own but I could hear panic in my daughter’s voice. Poor kid. Stuck on the porcelain throne she was in no position to deal with a terrifying spider. Time for Daddy to be a hero! I charged into the bathroom like a grizzly bear. “Where is this terrible creature that dares to frighten you, sweetie?” She pointed and I saw a tiny black spider on the floor. I pretended not to see it. Then I planted my foot on it as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: wrath Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus

Grumble and Die? (James 5:9)

October 3, 2013 by Paul Ellis 22 Comments

If you went to Sunday School you probably know that the Israelites grumbled in the wilderness. And you may also know what God did to them when they grumbled. He slaughtered them (see Ps 106:25-26)! “So let this be a lesson to you, children,” says the historically-minded teacher. “You grumble, you die.” What a frightening thing to hear, especially if you are a child. Will God really kill us if we grumble? “Oh, no Paul. That’s so old covenant.” Okay. So how do we read this verse which is found in the New Testament? Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: James, justice Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God, injustice, Jesus