SAVED BEFORE BELIEVING IN FAITH?

disclaimer This study of Romans chapter 9, resulted from my desire to present a deeper, more thoughtful answer to a reformed brother’s questioning of my blog intitled, GOD’S JUSTICE AND MERCY DISPLAYED IN ROMANS CHAPTER 9. So, fair warning, some material is a repeat. Introduction Were you saved before you believed in faith? Many theologians […]

WANT TO LIVE? GET THIS VACCINE!

Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain To say that there is a bit of pressure being applied to those who are hesitant to get vaccinated is a huge understatement! The unvaccinated “outcasts”, are portrayed as “selfish, uncaring, Anti-vaxers”, by many who have joined the mob mentality of an out of control COVID-19 hysteria. Today, the World […]

Looking for “likes” in all the wrong places

“Lookin’ for Love” in all the wrong places, was recorded by American country singer Johnny Lee in 1980. The song quickly rose to the top of the music charts because it resonated one of our most basic human desires, to be loved by someone. Along with love we want to be liked by people. So […]

“Repent…and believe” ?

Maybe not? If repentance is a human work and is separated from saving faith, it would be contrary to salvation by Faith alone, and therefore NOT part of salvation. Before we close the case and go on our merry way, maybe it would be wise to see how “repent” is used in the Bible in […]

WHAT IS THE “GIFT OF GOD”?

I land on the side of striving for peace in the face theology that tends to divide. So, though I share views that are in opposition to Reformed or Calvinistic theology, I never do so in a contentious spirit because I know that nobody truly has “THE ANSWERS” to God’s full nature and workings. One […]

THE FINGERPRINT OF GOD

Access can be a real hassle these days with practically everything connected to the web and the “Internet of Things”. Increasingly, we need to authenticate ourselves to do the simplest of tasks. For example, to open my somewhat “smart” garage door opener, I first have to let my smartphone scan and recognize my face. If […]

Walking by sight…or?

Walking by faith, not sight, is difficult to be sure. I think of a tightrope walker crossing a high wire with great focus and extreme balance. Each step is deliberate and sure. Eyes are fixed on the goal and not distracted by the great view. Wobbles are quickly corrected before they get out of hand […]

Man’s Problem…God’s Solution.

The “S” in my blog, Gods S.C.A.L.E. of Mercy and Justice stands for Separated by Sin. In this blog I am going to look at how mankind came to be separated from God and why I believe our separation does not mean what some Christians believe it means. Many sincere Christians believe that mankind’s fall […]

Resting in God and His Grace

The Apostle Paul is a wonderful example in the Bible of someone who rested in God’s Grace in the midst of trials and suffering. Paul eventually declared and and found rest in the truth that “God’s grace is sufficient” for him. He had an amazing faith! A faith that sustained him when he was experiencing […]

“Free Will” is not Free

God knew that Adam would sin and yet He still gave him the ability to disobey. After that sin, God declared to Satan, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Sin would be crushed by Jesus who would […]

Augustine and the Atomata

It is interesting how St. Augustine, one of the most influential figures in post apostolic Christian thought, reportedly started his journey of faith on hearing a child sing a simple phrase that went “Pick it up and read it. Pick it up and read it.” Interesting because Augustine was a student of rhetoric who sought […]

Rebuttal of John Piper’s Article:“A Beginner’s Guide to ‘Free Will’” — SOTERIOLOGY 101

John Piper is arguably the most influential Calvinist in the United States today and he consistently defends theistic determinism, the view that God is the decisive cause of all things, including every creature’s evil thoughts, desires or actions. As Piper puts it, …God is the only being who is ultimately self-determining, and is himself ultimately… Rebuttal […]

5 Reasons Why I Stayed Out of Calvinism — SOTERIOLOGY 101

By Drew McLeod. Drew is a Campus Director with the Navigators, currently working with students alongside his wife, Kirsty, at Massey University in her native New Zealand. You can see the original article, and visit Drew’s blog, here.edited by Eric Kemp After meeting at a friend’s wedding in 2009, a fiery red-headed girl and I… 5 […]

In The Garden

When I was little, my Grandma would rock me to sleep while singing and humming. Those melodies, and the creaking of the old wooden rocker, would put me to sleep in no time. I will not forget the love and security I felt in those precious times she took with me, nor will I forget […]

God’s S.C.A.L.E.

God’s S.C.A.L.E. of Mercy and Justice. Separated by Sin Chosen in Christ Available to All Lovingly given Life Entered for Eternity God’s SCALE of mercy and justice was introduced at the end of my last blog God’s Justice and Mercy in Romans Chapter 9 . The acronym SCALE helps me recall and describe how God in His Grace, has […]

…in Romans Chapter 9

GOD’S JUSTICE AND MERCY DISPLAYED IN ROMANS CHAPTER 9 A.W. Tozer said, “God’s justice and God’s mercy do not quarrel with each other.” I believe Romans 9 primarily testifies to how God has displayed both His justice and mercy in His responses to Israel. It also declares clearly that God’s will cannot be thwarted. Even so, […]

The Tie That Binds

ONE BODY IN CHRIST? THE “ESTIMATES” World Christian Encyclopedia in 1982 estimated almost 21,000 denominations. In 2001 it estimated at least 33,000. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity in 2000 estimated 34,000 denominations and 43,000 in 2012. ARE WE REALLY THIS DIVIDED? The word “denominations” above is defined in terms of being separate organizations, not necessarily […]

Moses and the great I AM

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. Exodus 3:2 I am not one ponder my dreams in search of some significance. In fact I don’t remember most of […]

Is God’s infinite nature knowable by finite minds?

Attributes of God https://www.allaboutgod.com/attributes-of-god.htm Attributes of God – The Meaning “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” So says A.W. Tozer in his classic book on the attributes of God, The Knowledge of the Holy. Why would he make such an extreme pronouncement? Tozer goes […]

Does God confirm Calvinism in Job?

Calvinism and Job: Something to Think About Ben Henshaw Most Christians are familiar with the story of Job. Job endured severe trials but did not curse God (though he did question God). The emphases of the book are many. It is probably mainly concerned with a faulty theology which claimed that bad things don’t happen […]

My hearts desire…

Jesus said… “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew‬ ‭9:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ What do we desire? Is it mercy like our savior or are we more like the Jewish rulers Jesus was responding to? Why did Jesus […]