Tag: faith
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How to Stop Worrying: Trusting the God Who Cares for You
You’re anxious, because you think it hangs on you. You look at the future, the money, the diagnosis, the conflict, the people who might hurt you, the problems you cannot fix, and you feel as though you are the one who has to deal with it. And if you don’t deal with it, who will?…
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Why Should I Believe in Jesus?
Many people expect the answer to be: because the evidence is strong, because Christianity makes sense, because the Church says so, or because faith will improve your life. But none of these things give faith. The Bible gives a deeper answer, with two parts. It says you should believe in Jesus because God tells you…
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Universal Justification But Not Universal Final Salvation
I was recently asked a series of excellent questions about universalism. The questions arise from a real tension. The Bible teaches that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. God genuinely reconciled the world to himself through the blood of Christ. He sincerely desires the salvation of every person. Does that mean that…
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Sanctification Is Knowing God’s In a Good Mood with You
Many Christians think sanctification means becoming less disappointing to God. That’s why self-help books are quite popular with lots of Christians. And why many Christian books are quite similar to self-help books. Because if you view sanctification as essentially moral improvement, it is essentially “self-help.” Many of these same Christians rightly affirm that sanctification is…
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Luther Preached the Gospel So Objectively that It Sounded Universalist
A recent visitor to my church explained to me his understanding of the Christian Gospel: The visitor was earnest, lovely, a kind and gentle soul. The only problem is this: What he said is not the Christian Gospel. Point 2 is absolutely true, and is the teaching of God’s Law. Points 1 and 3 are…
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God Directs Your Path—Without Dictating It
The Christian comedian Adrian Plass once wrote a story about a man who was convinced God wanted him to move to the Middle East. Why? Because he was praying for guidance, and every time he opened the Bible it mysteriously mentioned the land of Israel. Plass’ writings are full of humorous moments like this, which…
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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: 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…