There have been debates over what is included in the “good news” from the simple statement that Jesus died and rose again proving that He was God in human form to the more complex ideas involving the holy spirit and the ability to live a Christian life. While there is much to qualify as good … [Read more…]
“No man who willfully disregards one principle of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~ Ellen White, Desire of Ages pg. 309 This is one of the favorite quotes of Adventists who are mired in a legalistic attitude towards the law and gospel. They use this quotation to justify their attitude towards people … [Read more…]
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, NLT The BAD NEWS is that every human being is under a death penalty and we cannot save ourselves from this ultimate end. The gospel … [Read more…]
The Holy Scriptures tell a story in the book of John about Nicodemus, who was a high-level leader of the Jewish people and a member of a conservative sect of Judaism called the Pharisees. Nicodemus wanted a private meeting with Jesus to discuss the theological implications of the miracles He was performing, and to find … [Read more…]
Here is a quote from Ellen White for all the legalists who believe they must add works to the list of requirements for salvation: “He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility.” ~ Desire of Ages, P. 172 It might be tempting to turn … [Read more…]
There are many in the Christian churches who do not have a clear grasp of salvation in Jesus Christ. No one has taught them that salvation involves a past, present, and future reality. The Bible teaches that we have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved. This is what I call the golden … [Read more…]
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” ~1 John 4:11It is in our sinful human nature to be self-centered and want revenge on those who have caused us pain. But Christ showed us a better way by insisting that we change our human perspective and treat other people the way … [Read more…]
I am reading through John Wesley on the topic of Christian perfection, and while I understand his main point that God gives us power to do the right things, I don’t agree that we can ever reach a state of sinless perfection until the second coming of Jesus. Even at our best behavior, while we … [Read more…]
This Bible verse jumped out to me today, and in case anyone thinks that Christians have a tendency to over-complicate the message of salvation, here is what Jesus says about the good news of eternal life. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” These words of Jesus from … [Read more…]
The good news of the Bible is that we may have the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ if we trust in His saving grace for the forgiveness of our sins. We don’t have to wait until we give up our bad habits to have that assurance. We no longer have to fear the day … [Read more…]
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13, NKJV This is a wonderful moral statement about self-sacrificing love. It is also a prophecy about the day that Christ would lay down his life for His friends. Christ gave his ALL to grant us the gift … [Read more…]
I hate it when people use the term “cheap grace” when they are referring to the gift of salvation. Grace isn’t cheap–it is free! People cheapen grace when they attempt to earn favor with God by moral behavior. Let me be clear, even after we become spirit-filled Christians, we are far from sinless. The law … [Read more…]