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We are justified by faith alone, but by a faith that is not alone. John Calvin

A man may fancy that he is prospering in business, and yet he may be going back in the world. If he does not face his books or take stock, he may be living in a fool’s paradise, spending largely when on the verge of bankruptcy. Many think well of themselves because they never think seriously. They do…

If we can be saved by our own merits, we need justice, but we certainly do not want mercy. A man who can go into court with a clear case and a bold countenance does not ask for mercy from the judge, and the offer of it would insult him. “Give me justice,” he says, “give me my rights,” and he stands up…

Fyli, a municipality in Greece, northwest of Athens has a debt of $500 million. They have been granted generous terms for repayment. In 2016, authorities awarded the city 25,546 months to pay meaning the debt will finally be paid in 4144. Our debt of sin could not be paid, even if we had 25,000 months…

Danny Duchene had been in prison for twenty years serving a double life sentence when he first read Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. The book changed Duchene’s life and led to the beginning of a “Purpose Driven Church” group in the prison, and the introduction of the Celebrate Recovery program,…

Rosaria Butterfield, author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert is a former lesbian whose book talks of her conversion. She says this about what happened to her. “I wasn’t converted out of homosexuality. I was converted out of unbelief.” The Bible holds out hope to all. There are no sinners…

A North Carolina judge found a defendant guilty and sentenced him to jail time. Joseph Serna, a former Green Beret and Afghanistan Veteran was self-medicating his PTSD with alcohol. When he violated his probation for a DUI charge, the judge sentenced him to a night in jail. But then the judge, also a…

In March of 2015, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he wouldn't have swapped Terrorist prisoners for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. "I don't think I would have made the trade," said Romney on NBC's "Today Show." Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, about nine months…

Ana Marie Cox was a political writer taking hard left positions. She describes herself as a “progressive, feminist, tattooed, pro-choice, graduate-educated believer.” She wrote left wing commentary for several magazines, and appeared on left-wing talk shows. Several years ago she seemingly disappeared.…

On June 26th 2015, the U.S. Supreme court revealed their ruling that same-sex marriage is constitutional. In the decision the majority stated that the fourteenth amendment provides the legal right for same sex marriage. Justice Kennedy cited that it was a fundamental right guaranteed by the first clause…

A maximum security penitentiary in Louisiana has allowed the inmates to produce and perform a passion play called The Life of Jesus Christ. It has changed the atmosphere of the prison, once known as “America’s bloodiest prison.” Inmates are discovering the gospel message in the Life of Christ. This is…

In 1931, a young mother died suddenly. Her two children, ages seven and four, were sent to separate homes and raised apart. After 80 years, Doris Petre discovered that her older brother was alive and well, living in Brunswick, Maine. 80 years after the separation, Doris and Richard Watrous met each other…

The authors of the book, Mistakes Were Made, but not by Me, argue that our tendency to justify our actions is more powerful and deceptive than an explicit lie. They write: [Self-justification] allows people to convince themselves that what they did was the best thing they could have done. In fact, come…

Japan’s cataclysmic earthquake has brought its economy to its knees as it struggles to recover from a national tragedy. Up until now, the effects of the disaster seemed localized and most other nations remained largely unaffected. However, it is becoming more evident that Japan’s woes may deeply affect…

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. /Romans 5:10. I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me; repentance is the sign that I realize what God…

Paul, the New Perspective, and a C.T. Article | I am quoted in the June issue of Christianity Today. A blogger friend, Trevin Wax (trevinwax.com) put together an article and wanted reaction from some pastors (and rabbis, in my case) about how recent writings and theories on Paul affect congregations…

JUSTIFICATION The Canadian Ironman competition involves a 3.8 km swim, followed by an 180 km cycle, and ending with the traditional 42 km marathon run. The Ironman competition however, is not just a physical fitness competition, but a battle of the mind. In the race, all of a racer's self-doubts and…

From Handley Carr Glyn Moule’s 1892 biography, Charles Simeon, p. 79f.: Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few…

JUDGMENT In Cuba, nothing is bigger than baseball, not even the cigars. Nothing, that is, except Castro. Recently, the 74-year-old dictator, grabbed an aluminum bat and walked to the plate in an exhibition game against Venezuela. When Castro approached the batter’s box, the president of Venezuela, Hugo…

JUSTICE Anssi Vanjoki, was caught racing his Harley down a street in Helsinki, Finland. The police clocked him at 47 mph in a 31 mph zone and the judge assessed him with a $103,600 fine for speeding. The millionaire executive is fighting the fine, not because he wasn't speeding. He is appealing the amount…

William S. Plummer Justification is an act of God complete at once and forever. Sanctification is a work of God begun in regeneration, conducted through life and completed at death. The former is equal and perfect in all; the latter is not equal in all, nor perfect in any till they lay aside the flesh.…

SANCTIFICATION In his book, "Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness?", John Piper writes, "Our only hope of progress in gradual sanctification (growing in likeness to Jesus) is that we already have a right standing with God by faith alone. By this justification…

It’s no secret that the majority of Hollywood stars are strong advocates for a woman’s right to choose whether or not she wants to terminate a pregnancy, however former "Sports Illustrated" supermodel-turned-entrepreneur-turned-author Kathy Ireland has gone against the grain of the glitterati and spoken…

An explanation is different from justification.

A cloud of doubt hangs over home run king Barry Bonds. On August 7, 2007, Bonds hit number 756, the home run that broke Hank Aaron's record. Most of the talk about the new record, though, is whether it really should count, because Bonds is alleged to have used steroids. Sports buffs say if his name goes…