April 2000
Grace, Faith, and Works
Rusty MillerThere are few things which have been more controversial in religious debate than the perceived discrepancies between grace and faith on one hand versus works on the other. Martin Luther, in the preface to his commentary on Romans, said, ""I find James to be so at odds with Paul as to refuse even to give him a place in the canon."" He discussed of course, Paul's teachings that, ""a man is justified by faith apart from works of law"" (Rom. 3:28), weighed against James' teaching that ""a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone"" (Jas. 2:24). more...
The Grace of God
Terry SlackHaving grown tired of the restrictions at home, the young man demanded what was due and headed off for a world of excitement. While away he sought to squeeze from life all that had been previously forbidden. Times were good. Friends plentiful. Before long however, the money, companions, and frivolity were gone. Hungry and alone, he came to his senses. As he began the long, humiliating walk home, he resigned himself to surrender his sonship. As his silhouette appeared on the horizon, the father caught sight of him and ran to meet him. While his dad embraced and kissed him, the son attempted to communicate his intention to return only as an ""employee."" The father however, would have none of it. Upon their reunion, a great celebration ensued. more...
That Necessary Faith
Allan DvorakThe writer of Hebrews tells us of the necessity of faith for our relationship with God, stating that ""without faith it is impossible to please Him"" (11:6). But what exactly is faith? To say that faith is simply ""belief,"" while technically accurate, may leave the impression that the faith that pleases God is nothing more than intellectual acknowledgement of some truth. Is there more to faith than just mental assent that something is true? James wrote, ""You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!"" (2:19). Although the demons acknowledge the existence of God, something is missing from their ""faith."" more...
God's Greater Part In Salvation
David HolderIf someone asks about the ""plan of salvation,"" most of us reel off H-B-R-C-B: hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. We would be right in that this summarizes the proper response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet this is only part of the story, and not the most important part. more...
Faith & Works: A Harmony
Tony MauckDo you believe Paul or do you believe James? Many students of God's word are more than a little puzzled by the seeming conflict between the words of Paul and the words of James on the subject of faith and works. So problematic to reformers Luther and Tyndale, they questioned the inspiration of James' epistle. Martin Luther labeled James ""a right strawy epistle."" In his translation, William Tyndale placed James last. more...
Man's Part In Salvation
Robert TurnerWhen old-time preachers spoke of ""God's part, and Man's part"" in man's salvation, they certainly were not saying man could earn or merit redemption on the basis of perfect works. I have heard the sermon scores of times and hundreds of our readers can verify my observations. The ""God's part"" portion of those lessons stressed the grace of God, the blood of Christ and the mercy of God extended in forgiveness-to ""whosoever will . . ."" Man's part may have sounded like legalism to ""evangelicals""; and for that matter, the preacher may have unintentionally invited such criticism by his zeal and terminology, but one must ignore the first half of the sermon to draw such a conclusion. more...
Grace, Faith and Works Throughout the Bible
Mark RobertsThere has long been a notion that somehow grace and faith oppose works. To be saved by grace and faith, we are told, absolutely excludes the possibility of doing anything ourselves to receive salvation. While many arguments are mounted to answer such wrong thinking one of the most powerful arguments is the testimony of the united word of God. By this I mean the examples of how God has always saved men and women throughout history. Let us think for a moment about several examples of salvation. more...
FAQ About Calvinism
Rusty Miller
Q. Who was John Calvin?
A. A sixteenth century lawyer, classicist, Hebraic scholar and French rationalist, John Calvin (1509-1564) wrote his most famous work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, at the age of 27 and continued to revise it for most of his life. He was, along with Martin Luther, among the most prominent leaders of the Protestant Reformation. His influence led to the formation of the Presbyterian Church denomination, and his ideas, which owe a particular debt to a fifth century Catholic bishop named Augustine, are still a part of many denominational teachings. more...
The Preacher's Pen
Mark RobertsIsn't it terrible that the devil has managed to turn God's grace into a subject that some find complex, difficult or even tedious? The overwhelming message of what God has done for all people in Christ at the cross ought to ring out as good news. Regrettably, due to false teaching, grace must now be carefully explained, qualified and discussed. Perhaps we shouldn't feel so bad about that. In what may be the earliest book of the New Testament Paul found himself defending the truth about grace, faith and works in Galatians. Other books in the New Testament are also filled with references to error on grace, with Jude's perhaps being the most famous: ""For certain men have crept in unnoticed . . . who turn the grace of our God into lewdness"" (Jude 1:4). Wrong thinking and teaching about grace may be almost as old as grace itself! more...