So ... what about this 'fruit stand' that church brands along the side of the road are always trying to advertise? Even as one of their steady customers, religious fruit inspectors may have cited you with having dead faith if 'your' fruit isn't being … [Read more]
If You Love Me You Will Keep My Commandments – What Does John 14:15 Mean?
Imagine you badly sprain your ankle. You go to your healthcare provider and are told to do one thing: rest. “Put your feet up for a few days and you’ll be as good as gold.” But for some inexplicable reason, you decide your sore ankle needs more … [Read more]
1078. Keeping Our Eyes Upon Jesus
A common catchphrase that may get thrown around a lot goes something like: "Let's keep our eyes on Jesus." It's certainly good advice to be looking to Jesus ... but just exactly what does it mean? Ask this question to a group of believers or … [Read more]
What Does the Parable of the Widow Really Teach About Prayer? (Luke 18:1-8)
Have you ever noticed how much time Jesus spent teaching people how to pray? It’s as though he had arrived in a world where nobody knew how to pray, or everyone was praying wrong, and he took it upon himself to show us a better way. He heard … [Read more]
1077. Dealing With the Information Overload of Conflicting Bible Beliefs
To a significant degree, Bible teaching consists of a perspective or opinion ... a point of view. You've probably noticed the seemingly infinite number of those different theories and expressions. Many times, one well-known church or pastor can … [Read more]
A Warning for Believers? Hebrews 6:4–6 Explained
Is salvation a once and for all time deal? Is it a case of once saved, always saved? What does the Bible say? Some verses say yes, while others say no. How do we reconcile these apparent inconsistencies? Well, it’s quite easy when you realize that … [Read more]
Living Your Best Life
Living Your Best Life Living in the Fullness of God’s Promises God never desired merely to help His children survive, but to bring them into the fullness of life prepared through Jesus Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus … [Read more]
1075. You’re Secure in Christ Because of God’s Promise, Not Your Performance
In spite of whatever ups and downs you've had on this planet ... whatever inconsistencies and broken promises you've lived or experienced from others ... no matter what the struggles ... we have a guarantee. It's Jesus. While the religions of the … [Read more]
All Means All (Except When it Doesn’t)
When talking to people about universal salvation and inclusionism, I have noticed that a lot of energy is wasted because people can’t agree on the meaning of words. Consider the word “all.” It’s a little word that can lead to big arguments, because … [Read more]
Taking a Risk With God
TAKING A RISK WITH GOD Moving Forward Into the Life God Has Prepared “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6 From Arthur’s … [Read more]
1074. Legalistic Lingo: “Backsliding”
"Backsliding." If you've been enjoying the message related to the gospel of grace for a while, you may not have heard the word for a long time. On the other hand, it is probably a regular part of one's vocabulary if surrounded by a legalistic … [Read more]
What the Bible Says About Your Children (And How Religion Gets It Wrong)
One of the worst things we can do for our children is repeat the lies that religion has taught us. Manmade religion says that our children are born bad to the bone and repulsive to a God who supposedly loves them. Religion tells our kids that … [Read more]