Someone objects: "All this talk about justification by grace through faith is largely theoretical. When we talk to real people, they want to know what they must do to be saved." The down-to-earth, practical truth is that God saves us, apart from anything we deserve, attain or accomplish, for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ and on the basis of Jesus' finished work of redemption. (Let's listen in on the following conversation in progress.) * * * Q. Can I perfect myself morally, or perform enough good deeds, or obey God's commands so well, that God will look at my record and say, "Now, there's … [Read more...]
Archives for 2012
SALVATION AND CONDITIONAL GIFTS
A gracEmail subscriber writes: "Salvation is certainly a gift, in the sense that we cannot merit or earn it. But it is a conditional gift. For example, suppose a rich relative gave me a check for a substantial sum of money. I must endorse the check to receive the gift -- but endorsing the check does not mean that I earned, deserved, or merited it." * * * Your analogy is interesting, but I must ask how strongly your hypothetical benefactor wishes to bestow this gift. If you should break both hands in a fall, so that you could not endorse your name to the check, would your relative make other … [Read more...]
THE MANY-FACETED GOSPEL
The word "gospel" means good news, and it is the very best news we wandering and broken mortal creatures might ever hope to hear. There is only one true gospel, but New Testament writers proclaim it through many pictures and figures of speech. It is as if they lead us through the city and find examples and illustrations on every street. There is the courthouse -- reminding us that God the judge has "justified" us. For the sake of his Son Jesus Christ, he has acquitted us, pronounced us righteous as if we had never sinned (Rom. 3:24-26). There are the public baths -- and we remember that God … [Read more...]
Edward Fudge – Glory in Jesus (and not in ourself)
http://youtu.be/LV7l_Y2l3sM … [Read more...]
MY ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
Considered in the past tense here at summer's end, the six cumulative weeks recently spent in three Houston hospitals appear more and more purposeful and increasingly less a matter of waste. The metaphor persistently recurring in my mind is a summer program in alternate education. A typical school catalog might describe it as "an unconventional approach to learning, featuring hands-on courses in an immersionist environment, complete with full laboratory experience." All that said, however, the real zinger remains undisclosed--a zinger that, if known, might easily deternine the decision whether … [Read more...]
HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS
I cannot help but notice her as I approach my gate seating area at Houston Intercontinental Airport. Medium build, cropped brown hair, loose fitting slacks and shirt, and only one arm. We are both an hour early for this flight to Lubbock, where I am to speak six times over the weekend about God's guidance I am carrying my Bible and notes in a cloth tote bag that says "State Bar of Texas." The plane is late. We have another hour to wait. As I take a stretch break, I word a silent prayer. "If there is anyone here, Lord, with whom you wish me to connect, please call it to my attention." I walk … [Read more...]
‘BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT’ (2)
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "Jesus says that 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). I have heard for many years that this means that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. Is this a reference to baptism in water?" * * * Every human is born "of water" or "of flesh" into this world, and has a nature that "is flesh." Only those "born from above" are born "of Spirit" and have a regenerated nature that "is spirit." Every one of us needs spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Receiving Christ by faith is a sure … [Read more...]
‘BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT’ (1)
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "Jesus says that 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). I have heard for many years that this means that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. Is this a reference to baptism in water?" * * * These words are part of a conversation between Jesus and a ruling Pharisee named Nicodemus, in which Jesus challenges the assumption of the Jewish establishment that fleshly birth into Israel also obtains a ticket into the Kingdom of God (see also John 8:33; Matt. 3:9). The whole conversation contrasts earthly … [Read more...]
JESUS’ SECOND MIRACLE
Text: John 4:43-54. Purpose: To grow in faith by seeing this example of faith which grew. To see the development in John's Gospel of faith among the Gentiles, and to understand the superiority of faith which does not depend on signs and wonders. Introduction In a world which honors "first's," many noble "second's" often go unnoticed. Students in history do not remember the second person who invented something; highest praise is reserved for the first breaker of athletic records, the first man to the moon, the first woman who achieves high office. It is possible that a wonderful … [Read more...]
CHRIST IN THE PSALMS (2)
Psalm 118:22-23 foretells Jesus' rejection by others, as it portrays the rejected building stone which God selects and uses as the cornerstone for his Temple (Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11-12; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:4-8). Psalm 16:7-11 expresses the faith of a righteous man that God will have the final word over death, and it is fulfilled in Jesus' resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:31-32; 13:34-37). Although the New Testament does not make the point, Jesus' ascension and entry into heaven then fulfill the scene portrayed in Psalm 24:7-10, which is the reward of the godly life described in Psalm … [Read more...]
