Surely the blind man, whose eyes had not functioned properly since birth, must have assumed there was no hope that he would see. It would be one thing if he had lost his vision from disease as a child or because of an injury as an adult. Then he would know what he was missing,Continue reading “He Is Attracted to the Impossible”
Category Archives: theology
Heaven and Hell By Any Other Name
The different terms used in the Bible for heaven and hell—sheol, hades, gehenna, the lake of fire, paradise, and Abraham’s bosom—are the subject of much debate and can be confusing. The word paradise is used as a synonym for heaven (2 Corinthians 12:3–4; Revelation 2:7). When Jesus was dying on the cross and one ofContinue reading “Heaven and Hell By Any Other Name”
Our Purpose Revisited
God is a pleasure seeker. He loves pleasure and looks for pleasure. Where does God look for pleasure? He looks at you, Christian, for his pleasure. He looks for pleasure in you. He made you to give him pleasure and he enjoys any pleasure you give to him. This may sound heretical to you. That’sContinue reading “Our Purpose Revisited”
The Slavery That Knows No Time
Have you ever tried to help an addict? Maybe it was a drug addict, a porn addict, a gambling addict, or an alcoholic. You’ve tried everything and yet it’s getting no better, only worse. So many false dawns, so many disappointed hopes. How can we beat addiction? Or maybe it’s yourself. You’re in the gripContinue reading “The Slavery That Knows No Time”
Falling Away
I can still recall the conversation although it took place more than three decades ago. A shocked friend asked, “Have you heard that Sarah is no longer a Christian?” What was so alarming to my friend was that Sarah had been one of the most influential, and apparently fruitful, members of her Inter-Varsity group. WhatContinue reading “Falling Away”
When You Think You Are the Only Ones Going to Heaven
When people ask my wife and me how we met, the story of how Christ met us inevitably takes over. It’s unavoidable from the moment I say, “Well, we actually met in a polygamous Mormon cult.” Eyes grow wide, and folks eventually find a few words like, “Wait . . . what?” Their questions leadContinue reading “When You Think You Are the Only Ones Going to Heaven”
What Does It Mean to Be Holy?
God is holy, and he wants us to be holy as well. The more holy we become, the closer relationships we can enjoy with God. But what does it really mean to be holy? Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on our strength to pursue holiness, because Jesus meets us where we are and helpsContinue reading “What Does It Mean to Be Holy?”
Can We Lose Our Salvation?
I do not believe that Hebrews 6:4-6 teaches that we can lose our salvation. In my opinion, this deals with the Hebrews who were claiming to be Christians and did not know how to integrate Old Testament Biblical revelation with the New Testament teachings. They rejected the fullness of Jesus’ work and so cannot beContinue reading “Can We Lose Our Salvation?”
How to Know God
I walked in the sunshine with a scholar who had effectively forfeited his prospects of academic advancement by clashing with church dignitaries over the gospel of grace. “But it doesn’t matter,” he said at length, “for I’ve known God and they haven’t.” The remark was a mere parenthesis, a passing comment on something I hadContinue reading “How to Know God”
Is There a Difference between Sin, Iniquity and Transgression?
In Psalm 32:5, the psalmist says, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’” In this one verse, “sin,” “iniquity,” and “transgression” are all mentioned. Basically, the three words communicate the same idea: evil and lawlessness, as defined by GodContinue reading “Is There a Difference between Sin, Iniquity and Transgression?”
Intentional Faith 