by Robby McAlpine | Aug 7, 2017 | Apologetics, Christology, Gospel, Sin, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theodicy, Theological Studies, Worship
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst...
by Robby McAlpine | May 9, 2017 | Christology, Soteriology, Theological Studies
It’s always been a head-scratcher for me — this obsession that some people seem to have with pitting various viewpoints on the Atonement against each other, as if they are mutually exclusively (and therefore bitter enemies). I’ve always seen them more as the differing...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 7, 2017 | Ecclesiology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
One of my favorite worship albums is Jeremy Riddle’s “The Now and Not Yet.” This “now and not yet” theology was made somewhat “famous” amongst Evangelicals by the scholarly work of George Eldon Ladd, especially in his The...
by Kenny Burchard | Nov 15, 2016 | Christology, Gospel, Israel, Sin, Soteriology
One of the most familiar stories in the Bible is the Passover narrative in Exodus 12:1-42. In God’s dramatic deliverance of Israel from Egyptian captivity and slavery, and his protection of them from the death plague about to fall on all the first born males in...
by Kenny Burchard | Oct 26, 2016 | Gospel, Israel, Soteriology, Theological Studies, Wesleyan-Arminian
The doctrine of election (and what it really means to be elect or not) has been distorted, misunderstood, and misrepresented to the point that it has become the wrong answer to the wrong questions. Namely, “Which particular individuals did God choose (before...
by Kenny Burchard | Oct 7, 2016 | Christology, Sin, Soteriology, Theology Proper
My first course in Seminary was called Theological Understandings of Jesus. It was taught by professor Mark D. Baker. On the first day of the class, he asked us to talk together about (get ready for some nerdy terminology) the hypostatic union. You know, Jesus is...
by Able Baker | May 3, 2016 | Soteriology
Scripture is pretty clear that the ideal example of being a just man or good man is one who is generally not thought of as being a shallow and opportunistic kind of fellow (1 John 2:16). And in light of Scriptures stern warnings It seems like a bad idea to point to...
by Able Baker | Apr 29, 2016 | Soteriology
A Plan? If you do a Google search of “What is the gospel?” you will find that almost all Christian denominations (especially evangelicals) that center their faith on the Bible, conversion, the cross and the resurrection explain the gospel in this way. First, admit...
by Kenny Burchard | Mar 23, 2016 | Anthropology, Creation, Gospel, Hell, Sin, Soteriology, Theological Studies
So many fallacies abound (and are passed on by being repeated over and over again) regarding the Genesis account of the creation of humanity, the nature of the first humans before and after the fall, and the nature of the human soul (or spirit, or both if one thinks...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 4, 2016 | Ecclesiology, Pneumatology, Sin, Soteriology, Theological Studies
“Christians don’t need to repent,” said the young man. “Jesus died for our sins… past, present, and future,” he continued, “so you don’t need to spend all of your time asking him for forgiveness. He has already forgiven you!” According to this young man,...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 24, 2015 | Ecclesiology, Gospel, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
Pick up Crown of...
by Able Baker | May 6, 2015 | Soteriology
When we as evangelicals speak of the essence of the atonement most of us think of the cross. J.I. Packer says regarding the essence of the atonement… “How then did the cross actually redeem us, through Jesus’ death? By reconciling us to God, ending...
by Able Baker | May 5, 2015 | Soteriology
Because anger that leads to violence is not always the product of evil. Psalm 7:11, Matthew 25:31-46 Because anger that leads to violence is not always unrighteous. Ephesians 4:26-27, Psalm 78:65-66 Because anger that leads to violence is something Jesus experienced...
by Kenny Burchard | Nov 17, 2014 | Gospel, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
“Jesus died for your sins, and that’s good news!” So ended the form-letter that my friend wrote, emailed to me, and asked me to read (and edit) for him. My friend wrote the letter so that he could cut and paste the names of various family members and...
by Luke Geraty | Nov 12, 2014 | Ecclesiology, Epistemology, Soteriology, Theological Studies
Soteriology, the theological category related to “salvation,” is one that theologians still dispute over. Actually, pastors and lots of other Christians debate about it too. In addition to the ordo salutis (order of salvation) and nature of salvation (Calvinism vs....
by Kenny Burchard | Jun 6, 2014 | Gospel, Soteriology, Theological Studies
Let’s start with an exercise. Push away from this post for a minute, and do your best to either say aloud or write down your answer to the question – “What is the Gospel?” Make it as concise as you can possibly make it. Here are a few...
by Daniel J. Fick | Mar 31, 2014 | Soteriology, Theological Studies
For many, Calvinism is dangerous ground. It can be offensive, frustrating, and irritating. When I was a “young” Calvinist, there were not a few conversations I now wish I could take back. And, although Calvinists can be off-putting, equally so are the...
by Luke Geraty | Mar 20, 2014 | Homosexuality, Soteriology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
As a pastor, I’ve interacted with numerous people who have struggled with the desire to have a lot of sex with as many people as possible. Generally speaking, this struggle has come from men, but I’m sure there are women who have this desire. At any rate,...
by Luke Geraty | Oct 16, 2013 | Church History, Evangelicalism, Reformed Theology, Soteriology, Wesleyan-Arminian
Randall Balmer writes in The Making of Evangelicalism: “… Evangelicals have understood better than anyone else how to communicate to the masses. The message they propagate is simple, straightforward, and utterly indebted to Charles Finney. Come to Jesus....
by Kenny Burchard | Oct 3, 2013 | Biblical Studies, Christology, Gospel, Israel, New Testament, Soteriology
We Jesus-following Christians rightly enjoy discussing the purpose and significance of the death of Jesus in primarily christological, soteriological, and generally theological terms. “Why did Jesus die?” Our answer; “Why, to save us from our sins,...
