GraceUncovered

Authors home articles Gracelife

GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

The “I Wills” of God

by

At the foot of Mt Sinai the Israelites boasted “We will do everything the Lord commands” (Ex 19:8). Perhaps you have said something similar, but this is a fatal boast, and a recipe for disaster. Make an impossible promise and you will invariably break it. What the Lord demands you cannot provide. This is the lesson of the old covenant, yet many have not learned it. They’re stuck on the vicious cycle of making and breaking promises, repenting, then promising to do better next time. Oh, how we need a revelation of the new covenant that is based on his unbreakable promises to us. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. (Jeremiah 32:40) The difference between the old and the new is we will versus he will. In the old, we broke our word again and again, but in the new he keeps his word forever. It’s a huge difference. We no longer wobble on the shaky ground of our resolve, but we stand secure on the Rock of Ages. List all the promises [...]

The Prayer of Faith

by

Healing of a Blind Man by Brian Jekel

 Much of what passes for prayer is wishful thinking.

“Oh Lord, please heal Mary.” I’m sure you can, Lord. I just don’t know if you will.

“I beg you to heal Tom.” But if you do, no one will be more surprised than me.

You can pretty much guarantee these sorts of prayers won’t change anything because they are devoid of faith.

The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. (James 5:15a)

If you are not sure that God will answer your prayers, he probably won’t (see James 1:6–7). You may hope that he does, but faith is not hope. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t yet see (Hebrews 11:1).

Jairus came to Jesus certain that he could heal his daughter.

The woman who had been bleeding was just as certain that Jesus could make her whole. You need to be certain too.

There are no formulas or magic prayers for healing the sick. There is only faith in God. Our faith doesn’t manufacture the healing or compel God to heal us. Rather, faith is the means by which we access the abundant provision of his grace.

Faith is simply agreeing with God. That’s how we receive. If you don’t agree you’ll have a hard time receiving.

Two blind men came to Jesus looking for healing (see Matthew 9:27–30). Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Jesus then touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith it will be done to you,” and their sight was restored.

Look carefully at the faith of these two blind men. How many days had they fasted and prayed? None. For how long had they pounded the gates of heaven with persistent prayers? They hadn’t. Yet they had enough faith to get the job done.

How do we know they had faith?

It was evident in the way they spoke. They came to Jesus with a “Yes, Lord” attitude. They didn’t say, “I hope you heal us, Lord,” or “If it be your will, Lord.” They simply said, “Yes, Lord.” That’s faith.

Faith is agreeing with God.

Faith is saying yes to the Lord who heals.

Extracted from Ch.13 “Is it God’s will for me to be sick?” The Gospel in Twenty Questions. Now available in hardcover.


FREE for E2R subscribers: A hardback copy of Stuff Jesus Never Said

by

In a warehouse near Long Beach, there are 200 hardback copies of my book Stuff Jesus Never Said. These are the ONLY copies remaining from our big print run, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Chances are we will not be printing any more.

As a token of my gratitude, I want to give these last remaining copies to E2R subscribers. Here’s how you can get your free copy:

  1. Go to the book website
  2. Click “Add to Cart” then “Checkout”
  3. Enter the following coupon code: [For email subscribers only – sign up today]
  4. The book price should fall to zero (you will have to pay for postage)

Already got one of these award-winning books? Then grab another to give away. There is a limit of one book per subscriber and it’s first come, first served. Based on past experience, I expect these books will go very fast.

So grab your free book now while you can.

Enjoy!

Paul

PS: For readers outside of North America, I apologize but the United States Postal Service will sting you on the postage. You may find that getting the book from one of our international retailers (eg: Book Depository – free shipping worldwide) is actually cheaper than paying postage for the free book.

————

This giveaway was paid for by the generosity of E2R’s awesome Patrons.


Can You Fall from Your Secure Position (2 Peter 3:17)?

by

Image source According to some, here is a scripture that says you can lose your salvation: Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. (2 Pet 3:17, NIV) Don’t panic. This scripture does NOT say you can lose your salvation: It doesn’t even mention salvation. Not even indirectly. “Your secure position” is a not a reference to your unbreakable union with Christ. Rather, Peter is talking about “your steadfastness,” to quote pretty much every other Bible translation. He’s talking about the steadfastness of your mind. Peter’s warning is about being swayed by “ignorant and unstable people” who distort the grace-based teachings of the Apostle Paul (see 2 Peter 3:15-16). We need to be on guard against unstable people lest we become unstable ourselves. So this has nothing to do with losing your salvation and everything to do with not being “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Eph 4:14). How do we become unstable? [...]

Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

by

Here is a conversation I have on a regular basis: Reader: “Paul, I’m worried that I have committed the unforgivable sin.” Me: “You haven’t.” Reader: “But I had these terrible thoughts about the Lord…” Me: “You didn’t commit an unforgivable sin.” Reader: “I shook my fist at heaven and said these wicked things…” Me: “Still no.” Reader: “But I took the Lord’s name in vain.” Me: “The good news is he forgives you. Jesus said, ‘Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven’ (Matthew 12:32).” Reader: “But the rest of that verse says those who speak against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. I’m doomed!” Me: “Uh-huh. So you think Jesus is gracious and forgiving but the Spirit of Christ holds a grudge? What’s wrong with that picture? Relax. The Holy Spirit keeps no record of your sin (Heb 10:17).” Reader: “I still worry that I committed the unpardonable sin.” Me: “Do you love Jesus?” Reader: “Of course.” Me: “What does Jesus mean to you?” Reader: “He’s my Lord.” Me: “You could not know that except the Holy Spirit showed you. The only thing that cannot be forgiven is rejecting what the Spirit says [...]

Grace Bombs and Patreon: An Update

by

When I started writing about the gospel of grace, I had no idea that this message would go all over the world. I figured I’d get maybe 20-30 subscribers, and that’d be it. But I discovered something: people everywhere are starving for good news. Almost every day I hear from those whose lives have been radically transformed by the good news that their heavenly Father loves them as they are. It’s amazing stuff.

About a year ago I hit a financial hurdle. I prayed about it and the Lord told me to get on Patreon. (Patreon is a crowdfunding thingy where a lot of people give a little each month to help send the gospel all over the world.) I knew this was from the Lord because I had dismissed Patreon as not-for-me, but he said do it and I obeyed.

Again, I underestimated the response. Many of you decided that you wanted to partner with me in this exciting venture and signed up as patrons. I was super-encouraged.

Since that was 12 months ago, I thought you might like to know how patronage has changed things around here:

  • It has kept E2R clean and ad-free, and we’ve had a makeover
  • It has funded the delivery of “grace bombs” – boxes of grace resources – into parts of Africa and Asia
  • It has paid for hundreds of grace books that have been distributed to pastors
  • It has enabled me to hire artists and designers for things like book covers and infographics (because not everyone likes to read)
  • It has helped promote new grace books from up-and-coming authors
  • It has influenced the direction of my writing (I listen to patrons)
  • It has enabled me to write more which means more good stuff for you

And this is just the beginning, the warm-up act. As more people become patrons, you’ll see more and better things going on. I’ve got tons of ideas that are just waiting for a little water and sunshine before they sprout and grow.

“Hey that’s great, Paul. But what does that have to do with me?”

Why not join us? Why not sign up to this adventure of proclaiming the gospel of grace? For less than a Netflix subscription you can become part of a great endeavor that is changing lives all over the world.

“Why would I pay for something I can get for free?”

Everything here is free and always will be. But consider this: If Escape to Reality has been a blessing to you, wouldn’t you like others to experience that blessing as well?

I’m not raising funds for a building or a jet, but to set people free from condemnation and dead religion. The investment payoff is clear: Patrons of Escape to Reality help people discover their Father’s favor. Patrons give this message wings.

“If I sign up, what do I get out of it?”

The satisfaction of being a partner in this gospel, plus immediate access to a lot of patron-only content along with various rewards (e.g., exclusive Q&A sessions, draft chapters of future books, etc). Patronage has its privileges.

“Paul, I believe in what you’re doing and want to help, but I’m not ready to sign up for a monthly commitment.”

I understand. Netflix isn’t for everyone. If you would like to help spread this good news message you can always make a one-off donation via our support page. Every dollar you give goes into promoting the gospel of grace.

If you are a long term reader or if you have been blessed by this blog, I encourage you to become a patron, but if you don’t that’s fine. There’s no guilt here. I’ll keep writing regardless. But if you support my work, I’ll write more and you’ll get more. Patronage is a two-way street.

One more thing: To celebrate one year of good times, every Patron who is signed up by 1 July 2017 will get a coupon code entitling them to a free hardback copy of my award-winning book Stuff Jesus Never Said (excl. shipping). That’s just my way of saying, “Patrons rock!”

So why wait? Sign up today.


The Top 12 Promises on Eternal Security

by

I have begun listing the many promises in God’s Word regarding the eternal security of the believer. So far I’m up to 130 scriptures, with more to come. It’s a  wonderful, reassuring list, but too long to reproduce here. So for the sake of brevity I have pulled the top 12 promises guaranteeing your eternal salvation. These are promises to treasure. If you are uncertain and insecure, these promises will give you a confident assurance of your future. 1. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24) The insecure reads this backwards: “If I falter I’ll cross from life to death.” But Jesus said no such thing. You have crossed from death to life and it’s a one-way trip. You are not alive one day, dead the next, then alive again. The old has gone and the new has come. 2. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out… And this is the will of him who sent me; that I shall lose [...]

Bullying in the Church

by

As a parent of four, I regularly encounter bullying. No, my kids aren’t getting abused at school. But we often receive messages from educators informing us of the symptoms and types of bullying. Honestly, it must be hard to be a bully these days, either at school or in the workplace, with everyone so well informed. But what about bullying at church? Hardly anyone talks about this – unless it’s sexual abuse, in which case it’ll make the front page. But there are other types of bullying. I’ve heard hundreds of stories from readers and church leaders. You wouldn’t believe the damage done to people in the name of God. Jesus is not a bully and his church ought to be a safe place. But religion turns people into bullies. (By religion I am referring to that pseudo-spiritual system of self-improvement that Jesus condemned.) Bullying is using power to control, harm, or intimidate others, which sounds a lot like what religion does all the time. In essence, religion is a system to control and coerce people through intimidation and manipulation. Which makes religion pretty stinkin’ evil. So why aren’t we talking about this? If we are to stand up for [...]

AD70 World Premier

by

See this? This is the world’s first paperback copy of my new book, AD70 and the End of the World. It is also the world’s only paperback copy, because it is the proof sent to me by the printer. It is the paperback equivalent of a world premiere. It’s a red carpet book. Do you want it? Would you like to get your hands on the paperback four months before it goes on sale? Would you like to own the only copy of this book in the world? Because I’m going to give this book away to one special reader. Read on to find out how you can get it. As you may know, the ebook version of AD70 and the End of the World came out last month. (The paperback comes out at the end of September.) I want to thank all of you who got the ebook version, either on Kindle or PDF. This paperback proof is going to one of you as a token of my gratitude. I also want to say thanks to those who’ve taken the time to write a customer review on Amazon, because books with reviews get read. So here’s how you can [...]

The Market for Bad Predictions

by

During my lifetime there have been about 100 false predictions regarding the Lord’s return, and every one of them was made by someone who sincerely believed they were living in last of the last days. The end times, in other words (although the phrase “end times” is found nowhere in scripture). Every time Halley’s Comet comes around, or the planets align, or there’s a solar flare, or the stock market tanks, or Russia flexes its muscles, or Israel sneezes, these prognosticators come out of the woodwork to make their false and unsettling predictions. You may say, “I would never fall for such predictions.” Yet many do. When I was in college a book came out that was entitled 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988. Jesus would return in September of that year, said the book’s author. He didn’t yet the book is still available on Amazon, and I believe there was a sequel. The market for bad predictions knows no bounds. Where do these bad dates come from? They come from four sources. First, there are the visions or revelations that inspired such people as William Miller (who said the world would end in 1844), John Hinkle (1994), [...]

Does 2 Peter 2 Say You Can Lose Your Salvation?

by

In this world of anxiety and fear, it is a radical thing to proclaim the eternal security of the believer: One with the Lord, your future is the same as his. No one can snatch you from his hand; nothing can separate you from his love. Yet every time I say things like this, someone will point to 2 Peter 2 as though this one chapter could undo the many promises of God and make Christ’s saving work of no effect. “Peter describes Christians who forsook the Lord and were condemned,” they say. “So much for once saved, always saved.” Hardly a month goes by when I don’t have occasion to talk about 2 Peter 2. In this chapter, Peter warns about false teachers who deny the Lord and teach heresy. Let there be no doubt he is not referring to Christians. These people are slaves of depravity (v.19) who never stop sinning (v.14). They are not saints but brute beasts who are condemned to perish (v.12). But were these sinners once saints? Were they Christians who lost the way, and fell beyond the reach of grace? This is an important question, because if they were once saved, then you [...]

Design a New Logo for E2R and Win!

by

Short version: I’m running a logo design competition over at CrowdSpring. You don’t have to be an artistic genius to win. If you know what E2R is about and can convey that in a simple logo, you could shape the face of this website. Enter to win a prize of $200!

Longer version: When I started Escape to Reality I cast about for an image that conveyed what the new blog was about and came up with this…

If you’re younger than 40, that’s Steve McQueen from the film The Great Escape. The scene where Steve’s escaping from the Nazis is brilliant – except for one small detail. (You’ll have to watch the film to find out.)

As the blog grew it became apparent that I couldn’t make my mark with a stolen image of a dead actor, so I changed the header to this…

And then this…

As you can see, I was trying to convey the sense of a journey or adventure, the idea that we’re going places in grace. We’re exploring the uplands of God’s favor and freedom.

Another angle I have explored is the idea of breaking out (of dead works) into something bright and exciting (abundant life). You might remember this one:

But as logos go, none of these was very good. They were too detailed and couldn’t be easily put on the back of a book. So what to use?

I returned to the original escape theme. Of course the greatest escape artist of all time is Jesus – he escaped the tomb. That led to this:

That was another idea that looked better in my head than on paper. Eventually I settled on this:

You probably haven’t noticed, but that circle in the middle is meant to represent the open tomb. Pretty cool, huh? But the fact that I had to explain that to you reveals that it’s a poor logo. A good logo stands alone.

Do you have an idea for a logo, something that conveys a sense of escape or adventure or freedom or hope or rest?

If you have some thoughts, I’d love to hear them. If you’re able to sketch them out, even better! It doesn’t have to be perfect – at this stage a rough concept is good enough.

Submit your design over on the CrowdSpring page and you could win a big prize. Not only that, you will shape the face of Escape to Reality!

I look forward to seeing your designs.

Paul

PS: If you have artistic/creative friends, please let them know about the competition. Thanks!


Categories

Recent Posts