To understand the tax collectors of Jesus’ day and how they were viewed by their fellow Jews, we must first gain some insight into tax system in Israel. At the time of Jesus, Israel was under Roman occupation, and Rome exercised its authority over Israel by placing governors over some of its provinces (e.g., the … Continue reading Jesus, Friend of Sinners
The Exclusivity of Christ: A Compassionate and Humble Doctrine
As you share the gospel with your friends, family members, classmates, and business colleagues, you may find that they tolerate much of your worldview until you press the point that Jesus is the one true Savior and the only one who can deliver them from eternal judgment and bring them into right relationship with God. In … Continue reading The Exclusivity of Christ: A Compassionate and Humble Doctrine
Hyper-Calvinism’s Deadly Mistake
At the same time Scripture exalts the sovereignty of God in salvation and regularly speaks of our need for God to grant us spiritual life (see John 1:12-13; 6:44; Acts 11:18; Eph 2:1-5; Col 2:12-13; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:25-26), it calls us to believe in Christ and holds us responsible to do so. Hyper-Calvinists … Continue reading Hyper-Calvinism’s Deadly Mistake
The Value of Your Salvation Testimony
By delivering His people from sin’s power and penalty, God has given every Christian a testimony—a story of sin and grace; justice and mercy; failure and redemption. Yet, a personal testimony of salvation in Christ is unique to all other stories we can tell. We might have warm-hearted stories of time spent with family or … Continue reading The Value of Your Salvation Testimony
Give Them Shelter: Why We Can Never Separate Apologetics from the Gospel
There is certainly a place for a public defense of the Christian faith. We should be always ready to engage unbelief with solid, biblical arguments and willing to tear down the strongholds of deception with the weapons of truth. For this reason it is useful for Christians to gain some handle on the most common objections to … Continue reading Give Them Shelter: Why We Can Never Separate Apologetics from the Gospel
