Tag: salvation
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How to Listen to the Bible When Christians Disagree
When Christians disagree about doctrine, it is very easy to begin with the passages that seem to support our own position. That is understandable. We all do it. We notice a verse, a phrase, an image, or a promise, and we begin to ask whether it proves the point we already find compelling. But that…
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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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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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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: 4 Genesis, Malachi, and the Line of Promise
God wants all people to be saved, and so he chose a particular nation through which he could give his Son, Jesus, as the saviour of the whole world. John Calvin, and many who followed him, was confused about this, thinking that God’s election of the nation of Israel meant God did not create all…
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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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When God Commanded Genocide: 2 Jesus Died for Every Amalekite
God commanded ancient Israel to commit genocide. You and I are rightly troubled by that. In our first post, we looked squarely at the most clear and difficult passage in the whole Bible on this, 1 Samuel 15:1-3, where God commands Saul to slaughter the Amalekites: every “man and woman, child and infant, ox and…
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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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A Robot Monk Is the Perfect Buddhist
The first ever robot monk was released this week. But that’s not as crazy as it sounds. In many ways, a robot is the perfect Buddhist. Because Buddhism of whatever flavour—Zen, Tibetan, Western—isn’t religion in the true sense of what religion is. Buddhism is a collection of mind techniques, with an option mix of philosophical…
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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…