What Does It Mean to Walk by the Spirit?
The Bible gives us the secret to never sinning. It couldn’t be clearer. “Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The Greek is very emphatic. It uses a double negative (ou me) which intensifies the “no.” We might say, “Walk by the Spirit and […]
Union with Christ Breaks the Power of Sin
Romans 5:12–21 describes an amazing reality for believers. We were once sinners in Adam, under the reign of sin and death. Now, however, we have received the grace of God and free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ. We have been declared righteous by God, and grace reigns over us, leading to eternal life through […]
The Significance of the Olive Tree in the Bible:
Lessons for Spiritual Growth The Bible is replete with symbols and metaphors that convey profound spiritual truths, a few of which are various kinds of trees.1 One of these is the olive tree. The olive tree stands as a significant symbol in the Old Testament (mentioned over fifty times) and is first seen when the […]
What Is Sanctification?
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 The Bible tells us that sanctification is God’s will for our lives and soul (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Sanctification is the process of becoming more […]
The Fundamentals of Sanctification and Cultural Fundamentalism
Previously, I posted a piece called, “The Fundamentals of Sanctification.” The basic proposition of that article is that the Bible gives us a fundamental understanding of sanctification: sanctification means putting off the old man and putting on the new man, it means separating from the world and clinging to God, it means rejecting the old […]
The Fundamentals of Sanctification
Why is it that conservative, Bible-believing churches will have similar stands on cultural expressions and social behaviour? No two churches are exactly alike, but if churches hold a high view of the Bible, emphasize obeying the Scriptures, seek to preach what the Bible says, and so on, they will tend to hold to similar “standards,” […]
Immaturity in American Evangelical Churches
Has it struck you in recent years that there seems to be a growing trend of spiritual immaturity in churches today? I know that is a rather broad-brush stroke, but I just want to pose this idea for consideration from a few angles. Immature Beliefs Consider the various views about God: God is the “big […]
What Is Sanctification?
While working on a sermon covering Philippians 2:12-13, I found question 38 of the Baptist Catechism quite helpful. BAPTIST CATECHISM AND SANCTIFICATION [On catechism’s, see PostScript below.] I used question 38 of the Baptist catechism in my message: “Q. 38: What is sanctification? A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are […]
The Process of Sanctification
Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ in our conduct and character. The objective of this pursuit of moral integrity is to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:15, 16). There is a great deal of debate over how sanctification occurs, however. To determine the Biblical truth, we need to answer […]
Three Views of Sanctification
My first regular preaching ministry was in a little southern Minnesota country chapel. The ministry was about seventy years old when as a junior in Bible college I began preaching there. The only other gospel preaching church within at least fifteen miles was a small Wesleyan Church. With no experience in the ministry, I was […]
Sanctified by the Truth of God
In John 17, we hear how Jesus prayed to the Father on the night of his betrayal and arrest. As we listen, we learn that he didn’t pray very much for himself. Instead, he prayed for the glory and purposes of God to be accomplished through his suffering. In addition to this, he prayed intently […]
Instruments of Change
In Romans 8:29 we learn that God has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son. That is the ultimate end of all things — that God is going to make us, His people, like His Son Jesus Christ. That is why we were created originally. With the fall of man, we […]
1 John 1:9 — Salvation or Sanctification?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” For much of my lifetime, I heard this verse referred to as a cleansing and restoring truth for believers who in some way had stumbled into sin. Such an interpretation affects sanctification. About […]
Anger in the First Degree
Murders come in all kinds of ways. They come through violence. They come through domestic squabbles. They come through gang warfare. Unfortunately, records of murder litter the history of the world. In fact, murders are so commonplace that they don’t always make the news cycle unless they’re bizarre or multiple. Yet, the most prevalent form […]
The Double Cure
The first verse of the hymn “Rock of Ages”ends with these words: “Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure” (Majesty Hymns, 451). Interestingly, some hymnals have an alternate reading: “Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power” (Hymns for the Living Church, 149.) Fortunately, […]
What Were You Thinking?
Sanctification is a transformation of the believer into the image of Christ. If believers are going to please God, they must involve themselves in the process of spiritual transformation. The goal of this article is to suggest some basic truths regarding Biblical transformation as expressed in Romans 12:2. Paul asks two questions. First, into what […]
The Error of Counterfeit Holiness
The Scripture upholds true godliness and holiness with statements like “Godliness is profitable unto all things” (I Tim. 4:8), and warns against the counterfeit, with statements like “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:5). While the context of 2 Timothy primarily addresses counterfeit religion among […]
Guns and Sanctification
The recent tragedy of the shooting in Florida reminds us once again of man’s depravity and his need for salvation through Jesus Christ to receive a changed heart. The wake of this egregious crime certainly has spurred debate about guns, but common sense recognizes the truth of the adage, “The only thing that stops a […]
Does the Bible Really Teach Two Types of Forgiveness?
Kristopher Schaal I’d like to make a case for two distinct types of forgiveness. When a person gets saved, God forgives all of his sin—past, present, and future. This is often referred to as “positional forgiveness.” Although some people may not like that term, I don’t think anyone even close to orthodoxy really disputes the […]
Straight Cuts: “The Just Shall Live by Faith” (Habakkuk 2:4b)
Mike Harding This inspired text penned by the ancient prophet Habakkuk is quoted three times by two NT authors. In the NT, the prophet’s profound utterance comprises the “soul of Pauline theology.”1 Boice comments, “This is a great text. It could even be called the great text of the Bible. To understand it is to […]
Stubborn, Ceaseless Civil War (2)
Mark Minnick In Part One, Dr. Minnick writes to us of the struggle of the spiritual life, instructing us of the Nature of the struggle and assuring us of the Normalcy of the struggle. The Enormity of This Struggle Though everything described thus far is the normal experience of all Christians, it isn’t their experience […]
Stubborn, Ceaseless Civil War (1)
Mark Minnick All Christ’s followers, ministers or otherwise, are in one of three states of spiritual warfare: (1) some have given up battling almost entirely, (2) some are battling weakly but generally unsuccessfully, and (3) some are battling energetically and generally victoriously. But there is no such thing as a child of God who is […]
The Growing Christian
William Edward Biederwolf If you are sighing today for the ‘‘joy which once you knew when first you found the Lord,” it can only be because you have not been a growing Christian. Conversion is just the beginning of what God can do for a human soul. “Consider the lilies of the field, how they […]
The Eclectic Web–Charismatism and more
The Pentecostalism and Charismatic Movement have long been a concern for their popularization of aberrant beliefs and practices. Their influence on evangelicalism as it is today is surprising, given their relatively brief history. One source of information on the movement is data gathered by the Assemblies of God. This article provides many links to their […]
Eclectica–3.19.2014
One the things catching my attention in recent weeks was abominable theology. In consequence, this edition of The Eclectic Web starts with a link to abominable theology. Perhaps we are lulled to sleep in our understanding of the world we live in and think that unbelief parading in religious clothes has ceased to exist or […]
Present Your Bodies
Don Johnson A continuing meditation on Romans 12.1-2: The Motivation for Change God is Concerned About Externals On the notion of how we ought to live our lives, I’ve emphasized the word body in our text (Rm 12.1). My thesis is that God is concerned about external behaviour – you can’t be a spiritual man […]
God is Concerned about Externals
Don Johnson In a recent article, I wrote about the motivations for change that accompany our conversion. There is little doubt that change is part of conversion. After all, the preachers of the Bible call their hearers (and us) to faith and repentance. Repentance is nothing if nothing changes. Biblical Christianity is not a ‘come […]
Seeking the Fruit: The Use and Misuse of Paul’s List in Galatians 5
Kevin Schaal Have you ever watched a tree strain and groan to produce fruit? Of course not! A healthy tree connected to proper nourishment naturally produces fruit. The apostle Paul uses this analogy when discussing the fruit of the Spirit-filled life in Galatians 5. The primary error in the interpretation of the “fruit of the […]
The Motivation for Change
Don Johnson How many sermons have you heard from Romans 12.1-2? I’ve lost count. Do you wonder why you hear so much preaching from this passage? (And no, I don’t think it is simply because it’s the go-to passage for Bible college chapel services full of young people hungry to know “the will of God […]
At Liberty to ‘Trespass’
Don Johnson Lately I’ve taken up walking as a means of exercise. My doctor says I must. Ten thousand steps a day sounded so simple in his office the other day! Reality is a different matter. One place I love to walk is a trail down below my home. My property borders on this trail, […]
The Eclectic Web–Nov 29, 2012
An eclectic selection of links that may interest you: Biblical Interpretation Slow Down! A Different Perspective on Christ in the Old Testament Daniel Block answers questions about a popular approach to Old Testament interpretation. He urges interpreting the OT “Christotelically” rather than “Christocentrically”. While his remarks provide a welcome brake to some of the extremes […]
Beginning Personal Bible Study
Linda Hull “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:34). I have learned that the most important aspect of Bible study is to get started! Too often we believers get bogged down in our efforts to read our Bibles by worrying about the […]
The Believer’s Responsibility in Sanctification
Mike Harding Paul’s framing of the paradox regarding divine sovereignty and human responsibility takes one of its most striking forms in Philippians 2:12-13. In order to soften the apparent contradiction between Paul’s imperative in Philippians 2:12 and the doctrine of justification, interpreters have sought to understand this passage in terms of the “sociology” of the […]
Around the Web–Post Election and other news
The Election Do People Really Vote with Their Wallets? The New Moral Majority and the 2012 Election Michael Kruger (of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC) with a very insightful perspective (in my opinion): “The reality is that America has changed drastically since the 1990’s. It’s hard to believe that the Defense of Marriage act […]
Around the Web–10/29/12
Deuteronomy’s Riches: A Conversation with Ajith Fernando As a follow up on my series on sanctification, this interview brings some further emphasis on holiness and obedience that is often dismissed in the current climate. 5 of the most difficult challenges pastors face Thom S. Rainer Interesting article, especially the one about the challenge of preaching […]
Distortions of Sanctification
Don Johnson An occasional series on the doctrine of sanctification: Part One; Part Two; Part Three. This is Part Four. In this essay, I’d like to address the tendency we have as Christians to fall into error by over-emphasizing a truth. When I say ‘error’, I don’t mean ‘heresy’. Heresy, according dictionary.com, is “an opinion […]
The Certainty of Sanctification
by Don Johnson An occasional series on sanctification — Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here. We’ve covered two topics in this series so far, the Strategy of Sanctification (Rm 6) and the Struggle for Sanctification (Rm 7). God offers us the former and we generally experience the latter. When you get to the […]
The Struggle of Sanctification
by Don Johnson An occasional series on sanctification — Part 1 is here. In my first article on sanctification, I discussed God’s Strategy for Sanctification, found in Romans 6. Four big words dominate the chapter: Know, Reckon, Yield, Obey. The strategy starts with Knowing something – the full meaning of your identification with the death […]
Sanctification: God’s plan for the believer
By Don Johnson A lot of ink (and pixels) has been spilled over the years on the subject of sanctification. Having recently completed a lengthy series of messages on Romans 6-8, I am now taking my turn at bat. Sanctification can be considered under three aspects. There is the setting apart unto God at conversion, […]
Around the Web – July 20, 2012
How Faith Works: The volcanic issue of “Lordship Salvation” is still emitting the smoke and fumes of controversy.This article is republished from 1989. We link to it here because the topic is a burning issue to some of our friends and a bane to others. The article attempts to strike a balance between two opposing […]
Saved, Saved, Saved–Why Are Our Teens Getting Saved Over and Over? [FrontLine feature article]
by Larry Oats This article appears in the current issue of FrontLine • May/June 2012. Click here to subscribe to the magazine. The church teens head off to summer camp, the Christian school invites a special speaker to a spiritual emphasis week, the youth group goes to a youth conference— and many of the church […]
NT/OT: A NT Christian Studying the OT
by Layton Talbert This article first appeared in FrontLine • May/June 2004. Click here to subscribe to the magazine. Is the Old Testament at all authoritative for the New Testament era? Should the New Testament believer even attach much value to the Old Testament? And if so, in what ways and areas is the Old […]
Making Spiritual Growth a Priority
by Rick Barry This article first appeared in FrontLine • May/June 2004. Click here to subscribe to the magazine. The winter when two friends invited Tony Risser [not his real name] to lift weights with them, he had no clue how greatly it would affect his life. But because Tony had been a cross-country runner […]