The gospel in 25 words

 A gospel message based on John 3:16.

All together now

The legend of the founding of Rome tells us about two twins who fell out.

Why doing good is no good and not good

It is the common teaching of so many religions, as well as being the common-sense notion most people have – the way of salvation is by being good. Although this is widely held, sincerely believed and often preached, it’s not biblically based. The Bible stands apart from every other message and says that salvation is not by good works. In fact, the Bible teaches that if you seek salvation by good works you will get neither.

To help you understand what I mean, I will tell you about a conversation I recently had with a very religious man (Alan).

Idolatry

Idolatry

Everyone is a worshipper. Everyone has a deity.

Good news about the bad news

The gospel doesn't cater to our feel-good factor, massage our ego or cater to our pride. It tells us we are guilty, hell-deserving and helpless to do anything about it. This is one reason why the message of the gospel is hated and rejected by so many. But this teaching about our sinfulness is actually good news. Here's why:

The Perfect Gift

This is the text of a Christmas leaflet I was asked to write:

Why does God need a sacrifice?

Richard Dawkins has asked the question, “If God wanted to forgive our sins, why not just forgive them without having Himself tortured and executed in payment...?” Now Richard Dawkins was voted one of the top three intellectuals in the world, and although I am not one of the other two I think the answer is fairly simple and can be stated in three words, “God is righteous.”

Presumptuous?

Here's another wee video I was asked to do on the question, Is it presumptuous to say I know I'm saved?

Good people go to heaven?

Here's a wee video I was asked to do on this subject.

No hope?

I want to conclude the wee recap of the conversation I had with the JW lady last week. After speaking about the resurrection of Christ she told me she would look into it. I encouraged her to do so because there was no salvation without a real, risen Christ.

Walking as He walked

I had a brief chat with a lady today that I want to tell you about.

Good enough?

I had a pretty unpleasant conversation with a man this week. Alex was a very bitter and aggressive man who seemed to think that he was the only one in the whole world who was right in the area of scriptural doctrine and practice, (he doesn't meet at any church, and he will not be taught by anybody).

If not God then not good

I was listening to a man say that the clearest verse in the Bible that Jesus Christ did not consider Himself to be God is Mark 10 v 18:

The twists, tricks and tragedy of Watchtower indoctrination

I was intrigued to listen to a debate on the Unbelievable? radio show over the last couple of weeks on “Jehovah’s Witness” doctrine.  I found it quite striking that they had to get a disfellowshipped American to defend the Watchtower beliefs because no one from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in the UK was prepared to participate.  Anyway...

Sola, sola, sola, So long Martin!

481 years ago (last Tuesday) Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther from the Roman Catholic church.

Either / or, or both / and

I had a really interesting conversation with a man recently in which he was objecting to various matters relating to God and His justice and mercy.

Infinite regression!!

I had an interesting conversation with a couple of Mormons on Saturday.

If the bad news isn't really bad then the good news isn't really good!

Quite a long title but it catches what I want to talk about here. There's a big tendency today to tone down the Scriptural teaching regarding the state and danger of mankind. There is huge pressure to soften the harder truths of the Bible, and to sweeten the bitter pill the Word of God commands us to swallow.

Cheap grace?

I have heard it said by certain people that the scriptural doctrine of salvation by grace through faith is a doctrine of cheap grace - they could not be more wrong.

Back to school - more Sullivan questions

A couple more interesting questions from our friends at Sullivan Upper...