Tag: assurance
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God Is Not A Bully
One of the most striking differences I have observed between people who have faith and those who don’t is the different ways they view God’s power. Yes, God is powerful. My atheist friends find this idea offensive, antagonistic, and morally repugnant. If God is powerful, then evil must be his fault, suffering must be his…
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Has Allah Forgiven You?
Muslims and Christians both speak about the assurance of forgiveness.But they say opposite things. We see that very clearly in what their holy books claim about the assurance God gives us. The Qur’an (Surah 7:99):* أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ٩٩ Did they then feel secure against the plan…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 8 The Olive Tree
God genuinely wants all people to hear the Gospel. He genuinely gives salvation to all who believe the Gospel, so the Gospel is the Christian’s certain and only basis for confidence. All who believe the Gospel do so only because of God’s grace in electing them. All who don’t believe it do so only because…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 7 Don’t Climb into Heaven
How do I know God has chosen me? In the apostle Paul’s clearest discussion of predestination, the middle chapter is all about preaching the Gospel. But in John Calvin’s key chapter on predestination, he barely mentions proclamation at all. This contrast is crucial for understanding Calvin’s confusion about predestination. This is part seven of a…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 3 Summary of Romans 9-11
John Calvin, and so many who later followed him, was confused about predestination, thinking that God chose some people to be damned. But God wants all people to be saved and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. This is the third in a series of posts responding to Calvin’s explanation of predestination…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 2 What Calvin Said
John Calvin, the most influential theologian of the Reformed tradition, was confused about predestination. Because he thought God wills (which means wants) some people to be damned. God has never willed the damnation of anyone. He wants all people to be saved. That’s what he tells us (1 Timothy 2:4)—and we believe him. This is…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 1 Defining Predestination
John Calvin was confused about predestination. As a result, many Christians today are also confused about it, and believe God predestined some people for damnation. This is serious. Because that idea is terrifying. It would mean Jesus didn’t die for everyone. It would mean the most important thing in your life is not to look…
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Promises for a Ruined Reputation
You may be reading this because you know the huge pain of a ruined reputation. The Bible doesn’t shy away from how difficult this experience is: Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. (Psalm 69:20) Here,…
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God’s Not Waiting to Vent
God is not frustrated with you, waiting to vent. He doesn’t have mountains of pent up anger and frustration. If you come to him, he doesn’t need to unload on you before you can both be square. Other people in your life are like that. And—at least to some extent—you are like that. Human beings…
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Justification By Faith Alone—Lutherans Are Unique
Justification by Faith Alone is only taught consistently in confessional Lutheran churches. Justification by Faith Alone says: 1) The Law condemns universally.2) The Gospel justifies universally.3) Faith receives that justification.4) Assurance rests only in the Gospel. That’s why I’m Lutheran.That’s what it means to be Lutheran.That’s the defining feature of Lutheranism. Many churches claim to…