Category: First Principles
Repentance is Gospel
As John came preaching in the wilderness, he was “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). When some of the Pharisees and Sadducees came out…
Trust and Submission
Trust and submission are two related issues that we sometimes have a difficult time putting into practice. They are also two of the most significant aspects of what it means…
The Context of Grace
The announcement of salvation coincides with the message, “Your God reigns” (Isa 52:7). Christians recognize that salvation comes by the grace of God through faith (Eph 2:8-10). With this comes…
A Reminder for Christians about Baptism
We often use passages about baptism to show unbelievers the need to be baptized into Christ. Certainly, baptism was taught to those who had not yet done it. The various…
Receiving the Kingdom
Receiving the kingdom of God is not always an easy task. Even those who always get what they want may actually find themselves missing out on the benefits of God’s…
On Sharing the Faith
This is a simple reminder of what we all know is our privilege and responsibility as Christians. We need to teach others about Christ so that they may hear the…
Baptism and Circumcision: An Important Distinction
Two passages are often conflated when thinking about the subjects of circumcision and baptism. Read these (and the greater contexts) first: Colossians 2:11-13: “In him also you were circumcised with…
Causation and Correlation in Salvation
I realize that causation and correlation are terms typically used in mathematics and statistics. There might be a correlation between two variables, but a change in those variables does not…