A gracEmail reader asks, "What is the Old Testament and why is it in our Bibles?" * * * When Jesus was born and before there were any Christians, God had worked already for 2,000 years through his chosen people the Jews. The Old Testament Scriptures were the collection of books which the Jews regarded as sacred. These holy writings told of the origins of the universe, of humankind, of sin and judgment and redemption. The 39 books from Genesis through Malachi reported, recorded, and reflected on God's dealings with people from Adam until about 400 years before Christ. The Old Testament … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber comments: "You seem to say everything differently from the way I have usually heard it in my church. I think it is because you focus on Jesus. Is that the key?" * * * Indeed it is the key! The Apostle Paul once lamented that although unbelieving Israel regularly read the Bible, Jesus remained hidden from their view. As a result, the people missed the freedom and spiritual transformation they might have had (2 Cor. 3:15-18). The same malady often afflicts readers of the new covenant Scriptures as well -- and with the same sad consequences. How many congregations … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber asks, "How can we know which interpretations of Scripture are correct, seeing the many doctrinal differences among professing Christians? How can we be sure which teaching we ought to receive?" * * * Earlier we pointed to Jesus' statement that "every good tree bears good fruit, but the rotten tree bears bad fruit," noting that good teaching results in good character (Matt. 7:17). "It's not the only way to assess doctrine," we said, but it is one important measure. But before we look at the lives of other people, we must first inspect our own hearts. Jesus said: "If … [Read more...]

A respected friend who does not yet know Christ or the Bible recently asked me what he was missing. These four gracEmails repeat what I shared with him in response. * * * Jesus invites every person to come to him, to believe on him, and to enjoy eternal life. "Eternal" life basically means life in fellowship with the Living God. It begins even now, when we believe on Jesus. But it goes beyond our present death, into the Age to Come for all eternity. It is "eternal" in a qualitative sense and also in a quantitative sense. The bottom line, however, is life in conscious fellowship with the … [Read more...]

A respected friend who does not yet know Christ or the Bible recently asked me what he was missing. These four gracEmails repeat what I shared with him in response. * * * Unknown to the Jews or the Romans, or even to the Apostles, all this was being used by God to redeem the world and to forgive and to transform us sinners. Jesus had lived as a representative of all who will finally be saved -- his faithfulness and obedience counted for us. He also died as a representative of all who finally will be saved. God put our rebellion, our transgressions, trespasses, sins (different ways of saying … [Read more...]

A respected friend who does not yet know Christ or the Bible recently asked me what he was missing. These four gracEmails repeat what I shared with him in response. *          *          * God decisively accomplished this redemptive work about 2,000 years ago, through the representative, substitutionary life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the physical son of a Jewish girl named Mary, who conceived him without human father by the power of God himself. In some mysterious sense, God was "in" Jesus in a unique way which has never been true of anyone else. Jesus is called … [Read more...]

A respected friend who does not yet know Christ or the Bible recently asked me what he was missing. These four gracEmails repeat what I shared with him in response. * * * I am humbled and honored at this privilege, and I commend you for your inquiry. This is the most important topic possible. It is foundational for abundant life now and for life eternal. I pray that God will give me clarity as I attempt to respond. We live in a broken world -- fractured relationships, inner turmoil, guilty consciences, civil and domestic strife, war, famine, natural disasters of flood, hurricane, drought. … [Read more...]

A respected friend who does not yet know Christ or the Bible recently asked me what he was missing. These four gracEmails repeat what I shared with him in response. * * * I am humbled and honored at this privilege, and I commend you for your inquiry. This is the most important topic possible. It is foundational for abundant life now and for life eternal. I pray that God will give me clarity as I attempt to respond. We live in a broken world -- fractured relationships, inner turmoil, guilty consciences, civil and domestic strife, war, famine, natural disasters of flood, hurricane, drought. … [Read more...]

A friend who is not yet a Christian but who is joyfully seeking after God tells me of budding faith and of happy anticipation in the spiritual journey. Can I say anything to encourage?" * * * Jesus came to reconcile "all things" to God and to each other (Colossians 1:19-20). Part of the result of his atonement is the reuniting, reconciling, healing of the human creature as an individual -- first with the Creator through Jesus Christ, but also with other people, within himself or herself, and with the cosmos, the rest of God's created order. The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns, God … [Read more...]

A friend who is not yet a Christian but who is joyfully seeking after God tells me of budding faith and of happy anticipation in the spiritual journey. Can I say anything to encourage?" *          *          * The Bible teaches that God is our heavenly Father who made us every one, hopefully for fellowship with himself. Unfortunately, from Adam on, all us humans have chosen to go our own way at some point and to disregard the relationship for which God made us. That is the meaning of the wonderful story of the two trees in the original garden paradise (Gen. 3). I understand that story to … [Read more...]