Finding Grace (McCrary)

by Mark McCrary via Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 11, Nov. 2008. Man fell because he rejected God. Rejection is a painful thing, isn’t it? When others push us away, they are really saying we aren’t what they want; that we do not satisfy them. And, when we are rejected, aside from being hurt, we may…

Read More

Preaching the Grace of God

by Terry W. Benton via Prove It by the Scriptures A brother made the following comment:  “Grace is one subject one hears very little about in conservative Churches of Christ except it be prefaced by a stern warning of what grace is not.” I wonder if that statement has been true of my preaching.  I personally…

Read More

How do you grow in grace?

Question: In II Peter 3:18 it says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Does this scripture mean that as we study our Bibles and become more knowledgeable we are blessed with more grace? Answer: Grace refers to the fact that we have been given a gift…

Read More

Grace and Permissiveness

by Dale Smelser via Truth Magazine, July 25, 1974 There is cause for concern in some current ideas premised upon the grace of God. What persons with such ideas are saying of grace per se is often fine, but their projected applications are unjustified, especially when they suppose that the fellowship of false teachers and errant…

Read More

What Saves Us from Sin?

by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 28, July 11, 2008 We are not saved by one thing to the exclusion of all others, for there are many factors that work out our salvation. Rather than focus on just one passage that speaks of our being saved, we must learn the truth of…

Read More

Grace and Mercy

Author Unknown Grace is giving to another what they don’t deserve. Mercy is not giving another what they deserve.

Read More

Who initiates grace, God or man?

Question: I do a lot of reading on theology and it seems like there are all kinds of versions on certain topics. I pray for God to shake up Christianity one day so that all these different interpretations of the His Word are eliminated and the Truth is illuminated. It gets pretty confusing sometimes because…

Read More

Irresistible Grace and Matthew 23:37

by Bryan Sharp In Matthew 23:37 Christ proclaims: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” Jesus is bemoaning the fact that the people…

Read More

The Grace of God that Brings Salvation

by Irvin Himmel via Truth Magazine, December 1973 Nothing is more clearly revealed in the Scriptures than our dependence on God’s grace for redemption. Paul said to the saints in Ephesus, “by grace are ye saved” (Ephesians 2:5). Everyone who is permitted to enter heaven will be there by grace. Today there are teachers, even in…

Read More

How Did Jericho Fall?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 6:6-20   I.         The record of the fall of Jericho is familiar to many people.             A.        It was an impressive victory for the people of Israel who had recently entered the land.             B.        Despite the fact that the city was heavily fortified – Joshua 6:1             C.        It was completely destroyed – Joshua 6:21…

Read More

What Must I Do to be Saved? (Walker)

by Wayne S. Walker Of all the questions asked … Where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? The most important question ever asked was: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul…

Read More

Since teaching is a work, then it doesn’t save. Right?

Question: Telling others about Christ is a work. “For by grace we are saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast ” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Answer: There was a branch of the Baptist denomination that fully accepted the idea that being saved was entirely a work of God…

Read More

Grace and Law

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 1:14-17   I.         False ideas don’t always die. They end up getting recycled at a later time when the present generation has forgotten the teachings of the past which showed the ideas to be false.             A.        I remember from childhood a big debate over the role of grace                         1.         The core was…

Read More

Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace?

Question: Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace? Answer: In the Bible, grace is the concept of a freely given gift; a gift that the recipient has not earned nor has necessarily deserved to receive. God’s gift to mankind was the life of His own Son. “For God so loved the world…

Read More

Salvation by Grace Through Faith

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10   I.          When we read Ephesians 2:8-10, there are four important words which stand out: grace, saved, faith, and works.              A.         The gift mentioned in verse 8 is the gift of salvation given to us by God’s grace.                           1.          Grace is an unmerited favor.                                        a.          It is an action distinguished by justice.…

Read More

What must I do to go to heaven?

Question: What must I do to go to Heaven when I die? Please, no opinions. Please use the Bible, it is all we have that is the truth. Answer: I really appreciate your desire for a biblical answer to your question. Far too many only want confirmation that they are right and so they search…

Read More