Articles
[Editor’s Note: Dr. Niemelä originally penned this article in two parts, “For You Have Kept My Word: Parts 1 and 2,” CTS Journal 6 (January 2000): 14-38; and CTS Journal 6 (October 2000): 54-68. These are available online at: http://chafer.nextmeta.com/files/v6n1_2.pdf and http://chafer.nextmeta.com/files/v6n4_4.pdf . Given the recent Covid-19 pandemic and increased interest in the end-times, he and the Grace Evangelical Society (GES) very graciously granted permission to reprint this later version of his article from the Journal of The Grace Evangelical Society 30 (Spring 2017), 35-47. With the exception of minor editing by the author in August of 2021, this is the article published by GES in 2017.]
by Grant E. Christensen
Colossians 4:2-4 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; {3} praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; {4} that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. [13]
Ephesians 6:18-20 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, {19} and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, {20} for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly , as I ought to speak.
Read more: Praying for Open Doors, Words, Clarity & Boldness
by Grant E. Christensen
I have the privilege of serving the congregation of Grace Covenant Church of Bremerton—for over 25 years now. After several years of pastoring the congregation, I commiserated with colleagues that I did not know very many people in our community outside the church. Serving a small church can be all-consuming, yet I have enjoyed my work very much! In 2011, I began a sermon series on Communion Sundays entitled “Prayer and Evangelism,” focusing on the vital role of prayer in reaching lost people. While conversing about the series with a friend and colleague, Rev. Doug Olson, who is pastor of Hope Covenant Church in Tacoma, he mentioned, “You need to look at the verses in 2 Corinthians 10 about spheres.” So, after finishing our call, I looked up the passage:
By Lindsey Adkins
During a recent evangelistic encounter with a neighbor, I experienced a common, yet dangerous barrier to salvation, the idea of a scaled system of judgement where our good and bad deeds are weighed in a divine balance to determine our eternal destiny. Spanning all socioeconomic classes, cultures, religions, and age groups, this belief in a scaled system of judgement creates a wall of works… a wall made of individual good works carefully mortared together in order to convince the builder that he or she is right with God. Unfortunately, once constructed, this wall can become a barrier keeping the wall’s builder from believing in Jesus for the free gift of eternal life. How can this works wall be breached?
Identifying the Wall
Identifying a works wall won’t always be as easy as someone saying, “I hope my good works outweigh my bad,” or “I am trusting in my own works to save myself.” It is often much more subtle, like my neighbor who believes God will see she has a good heart and tip the scales of justice in her favor. Within Christendom, these works are often bonded together with the mortar of fear, bad teaching and verses taken out of context. Regardless of how cleverly it is hidden, this particular wall has an essential identifying feature, good works designed to gain, keep, or prove God’s favor.
Introduction
The Covid 19 pandemic continues to overwhelm mankind like a series of dark foreboding tidal surges. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently lists four Variants of Concern (VOC), Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.[1] As of September 2021, in the state of Washington alone, over 8,000 have died; in the US, over 700,000; in the world, over 4.5 million… all lives lost to an invisible and mysterious enemy, SARS-CoV-2.[2] According to Bloomberg: “In the battle against Covid-19, governments around the globe are on the cusp of becoming more indebted than at any point in modern history, surpassing even World War II.” [3] How should Christians respond to these challenges? Knowing who we are as believers in Jesus Christ and being willing to submit to the mandates that governmental authorities and businesses impose upon us in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic opens the door for the gospel.
by Alan Nakamura
[Editor’s Note: The Lord rewards believers who prayerfully exercise boldness in sharing their faith. Financial Advisor Alan Nakamura consistently reaches out to others with the Gospel of John and leads a Bible study fellowship in his office. Leadership at the highest corporate levels now recognizes the value of biblical teaching on wealth management and though not endorsing it, allows Alan to publish blogs to a rapidly growing group of Christian financial professionals within the company. The excellence Alan has achieved in his practice, he attributes to the Lord and His Word; please enjoy the following blogs and pray for him as he composes blogs and leads his fellowship.]
Philippians 1:9-10 [New International Version of the Holy Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984] “And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
As believers, how do we put our faith into our financial advisory practice? One of the available resources is the industry group Kingdom Advisors. Kingdom Advisors was founded in 2002 with the mission of creating a group of Christian financial professionals offering biblical, wise financial advice. There are currently 3,500 members across the industry and 132 here at Merrill Lynch. One of the resources available is a 20-week course through Indiana Wesleyan University that is designed to help you connect Christian clients to their core values. We would love to partner with you in your Christian walk. Respond to this email if you want more information.
Read more: Addressing the Needs of Others in the Financial World
by Kenneth W. Yates
[Kenneth Yates and the Grace Evangelical Society permittedTTVF Journal to reprint this introduction to Yate’s commentary, Hebrews: Partners with Christ (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2019).]
Introduction
I have been involved in Christian ministry for thirty years. During that time I have preached that salvation is by faith apart from works and that believers are eternally secure at the moment of faith. Believers cannot lose eternal life and go to hell. Consequently, the question that I have been asked more than any other is: “How do you explain the warning passages in the Book of Hebrews?”
There are several warnings in Hebrews, but two in particular come
to mind: Hebrews 6 and 10.
Even a quick glance at these verses raises critical issues.
By Evangelist Frank Tyler
I. Introduction
Regardless of his audience, whether Jewish or Gentile, the Apostle John must record why the Judean authorities, highly motivated and educated individuals within Judaism, fail to believe in Jesus… especially when they were themselves charged with actively seeking out the Christ in hopes of throwing off the iron boot of Rome. More importantly, how does Jesus love such a fractious group burdened with legalism and the oral traditions?
II. The Depths of God’s Loyal Covenantal Love
In chapter three of John’s account, Jesus reveals to an inquiring Nicodemus and his students part of the reason for this failure.
Read more: John 5:24: Part Two - A Promise to the Judean Authorities