Salvation and the Spirit
It's not at all unusual to hear Christians talk about the time when they were "saved" in the past tense. Perhaps this salvation event occurred when they were a child…
Well Done!
Most evangelicals have been taught that the righteousness of Christ is imputed or credited to those who put their faith in him. When God looks at Christians, he regards them…
Vindication of the Righteous
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells this very brief but revealing parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When…
Standing Before the Pearly Gates
When people think about salvation, there are lots of ideas which fill their minds. In Revelation 21, John describes a vision of "the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down…
Of Sheep and Goats
There are several passages of scripture which describe the final day of judgment, when God will require an accounting of all people. One such memorable scene comes directly from the…
Abraham and the Apostles
Acts is one of the easiest books in the Bible to read. It has a fast-paced narrative filled with memorable scenes. One such scene is recorded in chapter 3. Peter…
Context Is Crucial
Every Bible reader acknowledges (at least in theory) that context is crucial for understanding the scriptures. If you want to make sure you've properly understood a verse, you need to…
The Boast of the Jew
Perhaps no passage of scripture is more frequently quoted in evangelical circles than Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not…
The Seed of the Church
Our study of Revelation 11:1-13 is now complete. How can we apply what we've learned? How is this strange passage relevant to Christians living in the 21st century? There's a…
Thy Kingdom Come
Revelation 11 is arguably the most dense & difficult chapter in the entire Bible. It's apocalyptic literature, full of highly figurative and symbolic language which leaves many readers perplexed. One…