Category: By Faith

I am recovering from COVID-19. It has been a real struggle getting over the effects of the virus. I guess I should not be surprised given my age, but I often think of myself as younger than I truly am. I have been barren in terms of much reading and writing. With only a few…
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Jesus never failed to surprise His audience. He was accused of being a glutton and a winebibber. He was looked down upon as a “friend of sinners.” He chose ordinary folks, mere fishermen, to be His closest disciples. He was polite to the outcasts and ousted the prestigious. So, at the dinner hosted by the…
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[This paper originally had footnotes, which seem to have evaporated. It was prepared as one of the requirements in a PhD seminar on Martin Luther with the late historian, Marvin Anderson in the Fall of 1999].   Introduction Martin Luther’s theology of the cross [theologia crucis] is of central significance. Luther’s impact cannot be overstated.…
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Many times, the call is heard in a similar vein: “You must receive the Lord.” When this is backed up with the authority of scripture the matter becomes airtight and suggests that one has a condition to fulfill. Those who receive Him get the right to be children of God (cf. John 1:12). So the…
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It is a common enough sentiment that we are saved by faith and not of works so a man cannot boast. This is pure evangelical theology derived from a clear understanding of the gospel of God’s grace. However, it appears to be quite often assumed that even though we are not saved by works, we…
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