“Unconditional election” is a popular teaching of Calvinists. The idea is that in eternity past God predestined certain individuals for salvation. And absolutely nothing we do or don’t do has anything to do with His choice. Does the Bible teach this?
In his final discourse, Jesus tells his disciples that he is the vine and they are the branches (John 15:1-5). What does he mean?
God answers repentance with forgiveness of sins and “times of refreshing” from the Lord’s presence (Acts 3:19-20). Repentance is a change of heart, mind, and spiritual direction. And its demands are very specific.
The Jordan may be the most famous river in the world. But no great cities are built on its banks, and it isn’t a commercial waterway. So why is the Jordan so well-known?
As a Jew Saul of Tarsus prided himself on his spiritual attainments (Phil. 3:2-6). But as a Christian he turned his back on his own merits and completely depended on the righteousness of Christ (v. 9).
At Christmastime all eyes are on the virgin birth of Jesus. But that doesn’t mean that everybody believes in that great miracle or in any other biblical miracle. I believe in the miracles recorded in scripture, and I’d love to see an astonishing sign with my own eyes. But miracles don’t accomplish what many people…
In his book The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman says that husbands and wives have different ways of expressing and receiving love. We know that God loves us, but what is his love language? What honors and pleases him?
Church-goers are fond of labeling each other as “liberal” or “conservative.” But these words mean different things to different people. And neither label is in the Bible.
Heaven is a splendid promise. But we won’t experience its glory and blessings unless we change (Rom. 2:4).
What we believe has a profound impact on our lives. Believing a lie or refusing to believe something true can have devastating consequences. Paul says that to be saved a person must believe in his heart that God raised his Son from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10).