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John 15:6 – Abiding in the Vine
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (Jn 15:6) What does it mean to abide in the vine?...
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Shipwrecked Faith
“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some...
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Once Shaved, Always Shaved?
I have a beard so you may find this hard to believe, but I shave every day. Most men do. I understand many women also shave regularly. Perhaps you were shaved at one time, but that doesn’t mean you are...
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Standing Secure on God’s Promises
Ever broken a promise, not kept your word, or been late for an engagement? Of course you have. Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may fail God. After all, isn’t the Bible full...
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The Root of Disobedience
“Adam disobeyed God and suffered the consequences. Jesus has given us a second chance – don’t screw it up this time. God demands total obedience. The devil will do what he can to make you disobey...
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The Root of Obedience
The other day I was walking with my girls to a playground. We were walking along a waterfront esplanade that is sometimes used by goods vehicles. My girls were ahead of me and with all the noise and...
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The Commands of John
A year ago I made a bunch of people mad by saying John never mentions the word “repent” in his gospel. To this day I still get messages from angry folks who say things like, “Well even if John didn’t...
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What Happens to Christians Who Stray?
What happens to Christians who stray, or follow another Jesus, another Spirit, or another gospel? This is not a hard question to answer because it happened in the Bible. The consequences of going...
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7 More Things that Happen to Christians Who Stray
Nearly every book in the New Testament warns Christians of the dangers of false preachers and teachers who preach another Jesus or another gospel. Jesus, Paul, Peter, et al. had some harsh words to say...
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1 Corinthians 9:27 – Disqualified for the Prize?
I’m a bit of a runner. Last year I clocked up 500 miles in runs around my neighborhood. No marathons or ultras or anything like that. Just regular 5 mile runs and the odd 10k race. I’m not particularly...
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Endure to the End and be Saved
Is the Christian eternally secure or does he need to take steps to ensure he doesn’t fall away? This is the Big Question we have been asking in our series on eternal security. So far we have looked at...
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Is the Christian Race a Marathon?
In the Bible, Christianity is sometimes compared to a race. But what kind of race is it? Is the Christian race like the marathon, something to be endured rather than enjoyed? And is it true that only...
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Hebrews 12:6 Does God Scourge His Kids?
Everyone has a mental picture of God. Perhaps you think he is distant, aloof, angry, even terrifying. Possibly you envision him holding a whip in his hands… For those whom the Lord loves he...
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Matthew 10:28 – Fear God Who Can Throw us into Hell?
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.” (Matt 10:28) This verse is a puzzle because of what...
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What are the Consequences of Falling from Grace?
I am so glad the book of Galatians is in the Bible because we can learn a lot from other people’s mistakes. The Galatians lost their liberty in Christ by allowing themselves to be enslaved to the yoke...
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What If I Deny Jesus? (2 Timothy 2:11–13)
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains...
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Hebrews 6:4-6
One of the benefits of believing the gospel of grace is that it completely changes the way you read the Bible. You realize that God is not in the bait and switch business of drawing you in with love...
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Judged by the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:31-32)
Are you good enough to take communion? To me, this is an absurd question. It is exactly like asking whether you are good enough to hear the gospel. But to many it is not an absurd question. It is a...
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Consider the Severity of God (Romans 11:22)
Whenever I tell people about God’s goodness, I can just about guarantee that someone will call for balance and say I should also preach on God’s severity. Then they will quote this verse: Therefore...
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Continue in the Grace of God
In the New Testament we are exhorted to continue in God’s kindness (Romans 11:22), continue in the faith (Colossians 1:23), continue in the teaching of Christ (2 John 1:9), and continue in what we have...
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The Testing of Your Faith
What goes through your mind when you see men in orange jumpsuits waiting to be killed for their faith in Jesus? Do you think, “I could die for Jesus,” or “Thank God that’s not me”? The earliest...
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Religious Gangsters (Matthew 7:21-23)
A scripture that worries some Christians, but shouldn’t, is this one: Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is...
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Patient Endurance (Revelation 14:12)
A reader asked for my thoughts on the following passage: This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. (Rev 14:12, NIV) When I was...
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Your Unbreakable Union with Christ
Some Christians understand their union with the Lord but only half way. “Sure, God is with us, but sometimes he isn’t. He comes and he goes.” It’s true that in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came...
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Why is the Narrow Gate Hard to Enter?
What is the narrow gate? You probably know the answer to this question – the narrow gate is Jesus – but what does it mean to find the narrow gate, and why did Jesus say many would try to enter and...
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How Do I Know I’m Saved?
“Are you saved? Are you sure?” These questions are sometimes used to scare people into signing up for works-based insurance, which is bad. But the questions themselves are legitimate. In scripture we...
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Does 2 Peter 2 Say You Can Lose Your Salvation?
In this world of anxiety and fear, it is a radical thing to proclaim the eternal security of the believer: One with the Lord, your future is the same as his. No one can snatch you from his hand;...
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The Top 12 Promises on Eternal Security
I have begun listing the many promises in God’s Word regarding the eternal security of the believer. So far I’m up to 130 scriptures, with more to come. It’s a wonderful, reassuring list, but too...
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Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?
Here is a conversation I have on a regular basis: Reader: “Paul, I’m worried that I have committed the unforgivable sin.” Me: “You haven’t.” Reader: “But I had these terrible thoughts about the Lord…”...
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Can You Fall from Your Secure Position (2 Peter 3:17)?
Image source According to some, here is a scripture that says you can lose your salvation: Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away...
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The “I Wills” of God
At the foot of Mt Sinai the Israelites boasted “We will do everything the Lord commands” (Ex 19:8). Perhaps you have said something similar, but this is a fatal boast, and a recipe for disaster. Make...
View ArticleThe Endurance of the Saints
Image source There are nearly two dozen New Testament scriptures that speak of enduring or holding fast to the end. The wrong way to read these scriptures is to think, “I must sweat and strive and...
View ArticleCan You Lose Your Salvation?
Can you lose your salvation and become unsaved? When I first began writing about the gospel of grace this was a subject few people spoke about. It was too contentious, too uncertain, too hard. So one...
View ArticleAre Unfruitful Branches Lifted Up?
Here is possibly the worst verse in the Bible: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. (John 15:1-2, NIV) I say worst verse because this...
View ArticleBranches are Not Sticks: Why God Will Never Cast You Away
“Whoever comes to me I will never cast away” (John 6:37). Jesus promised he would never cast away those who come to him, yet some people fear he might. Because Jesus is fickle and he changes his mind a...
View ArticleWhy do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’? (Luke 6:46)
“Paul, I’m a Christian. I’m worried about that Jesus might reject me even though I call him Lord. Am I doing enough to be saved?” Are you referring to this scripture: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’...
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Faithful unto death?! What if I’m not
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10c) But what if I’m not faithful until death? Jesus remains faithful; you still get a crown. A mind untouched by grace...
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