We want to help you deepen your knowledge of the gospel as expounded throughout Scriptures. These articles have been compiled to spur your growth in your commitment to protect, proclaim and prioritize the gospel of Christ.
“You quit law to become a church intern? Are you crazy?”
Whenever people asked "You're gifted in Bible teaching, why not consider full-time gospel ministry?" I would quickly dismiss it (and at times even felt annoyed). I thought, “I’ve been serving God in the marketplace and in church. Why should I give up being a lawyer? I have the best of both worlds!”
The Hyper-grace of Joseph Prince: A Review of ‘Destined to Reign’
Joseph Prince is a charismatic pastor of a very large church in Singapore. He has written a number of popular books, but it is his emphasis on what is called ‘hypergrace’ that is raising quite a deal of discussion in Asia. His key book is entitled Destined to Reign...
Blessing Today – A Biblical Theology Of Blessing (Part 4)
In our previous posts on prosperity theology we’ve looked at the importance of blessing in the Old Testament and observed how it is fulfilled and expanded with the coming of Christ. Jesus not only makes God’s OT promise of blessing come true, he expands its horizons: into all the world...
The Unbreakable Chain of Salvation (Part 4) – Individual Election in Romans 9
Paul’s use of the word “election” to characterize this plan reflects his purpose in this part of Rom. 9: to demonstrate that God’s plan has unfolded in the OT by a series of free “choices” that he has made. Isaac was chosen; Ishmael was not. Jacob was chosen; Esau was not…
Blessing in the New Testament – A Biblical Theology of Blessing (Part 3)
We saw in our last post that the Old Testament people of God could expect blessings in this world. God gave them fertility, territory and prosperity as signs of his favour, and these blessings were also part of God’s plan to bless the whole world. But what happened to these blessings after the coming of Christ?...
Dealing With Anxiety: Why We Don’t Need to Worry
We live in very anxious times. After many years of relative peace, security, and predictability, we now find ourselves in one of the most turbulent periods of recent history: a global pandemic and the biggest economic downturn since the great depression. To make it worse, nobody knows when it will end...
The Unbreakable Chain of Salvation (Part 3) – The Case for Individual Election in Ephesians 1 & Romans 9
Historically, the church has upheld the doctrine that God from eternity past, before the creation of the world, has predestined individuals to receive salvation. These individuals are elected “in Christ”. However, Arminians, beginning from the 17th century, have argued that election is corporate rather than individual. Arminians object to individual election...
You are a Bible Teacher: The Role of a Bible Study Leader
We’ve all been there… you’re sitting in your small group Bible Study on a Friday night. One by one, the leader goes around the circle asking each person to share their opinions. One person says, “I think God is saying this…”. Then another says, “Well I think God is saying this…
Blessing in the Old Testament: A Biblical Theology of Blessing (Part 2)
What does the Bible say about blessing in the Old Testament? Should we expect material blessing as it was promised to Israel in the Old Testament? In our last post we began to explore prosperity theology – the idea that Christians should expect the same kind of material blessing enjoyed by God’s people in the Old Testament and some responses to it...
Don’t Forget to Change Your Clocks – The Bible’s Guide to Time Travel (Part 3)
Getting the time wrong can make a big difference in life. I still remember one morning as a kid getting out of bed, getting dressed in my school uniform, going downstairs into my parents’ room… to find Mum and Dad still in bed. It was a Saturday! I’d totally lost track of the day...
Blessed to be Rich? A Biblical Theology of Blessing (Part 1)
The so-called “prosperity gospel” is prevalent and pervasive. Students and pastors from Nigeria to Myanmar frequently ask me about its theology and speak of its influence. In this series of posts I want to outline a response to it. Prosperity theology says that God wants his people to be rich...
The Unbreakable Chain of Salvation (Part 2) – What Election in Christ Means in Ephesians 1:3-6
Predestination refers to how God foreordains (determines in advance) all events and circumstances to accomplish his eternal plan to manifest his glory and bless his people. Election refers to “that eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit...