Category: Theology
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Once a son, always a son
Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son, depicting the father’s embrace of his wayward son. The son’s ragged state did not nullify his sonship or the father’s love, illustrating the enduring bond between God and His children. For many readers, the parable of the prodigal son conjures up a dramatic conversion scene, an unbeliever hitting rock bottom…
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Repentance and the Kingdom — Why Israel still matters
I’ve written and argued this point several times before, and for me, it really doesn’t take more than a careful reading of Matthew 24 to see that the second coming of Jesus is a Judeo-centric event. It is Jerusalem that He mourns over. It is to Zion that He returns. And it is Israel’s national…
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Understanding 2 Corinthians 13:5
Test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognise that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless you fail the test. — 2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSBA) This verse is often cited as a proof text for promoting self-examination as a requirement for assurance of salvation. Believers are frequently…
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Eternal Torment or Finished Work? One Can’t Have Both
In our day, the dominant tradition concerning eternal punishment is that of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT). I do not hold to it. In my view, annihilationism aligns more closely with the biblical data, for several compelling reasons. Of course, not all forms of annihilationism are identical, so to be perfectly clear: I believe that unbelievers…
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A Quick Clarification about Election and Predestination
In discussions on salvation, theology often gets tangled in complex interpretations—especially around the terms election and predestination. These words, frequently assumed to be interchangeable and linked to salvation, are often misunderstood. This article aims to be an introductory clarification about what Scripture truly teaches about these concepts, contrasting them with the common Calvinist and Arminian…
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The Invention of Spiritual Death as Separation from God
The idea that Scripture speaks of a “spiritual death” that refers to “separation from God” has become a virtual axiom in popular Christian theology. Whether one consults a catechism, a children’s Bible, or a systematic theology, the refrain is consistent: death is not the cessation of life, but the rupture of relationship. This notion undergirds…
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Of Universalism, Death, and The Necessity of Faith
In a recent theological discussion, I engaged with a universalist apologist, so to explore fundamental questions about salvation, faith, and eternal destiny. The exchange is of particular interest for me, because I do not approach universalism from a traditionalist point of view such as Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT), but I do so as a conditionalist.…
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The Myth of Santa Claus and the Distortion of the Gift
St Nicholas bows before the newborn Jesus. An AI depiction.
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Sola Fide: professed by most, truly believed by few
For centuries, the debate over salvation has been the defining divide between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Protestants have historically criticised the Catholic Church for teaching what they perceive as salvation by works, contrasting it with their rallying cry of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone. This doctrinal chasm was cemented during the Reformation, with…
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Salvation and the Penitent Thief
The account of the thief on the cross in Luke 23 is a remarkable window into the nature of faith and salvation. This unnamed man, crucified alongside Jesus, expresses a simple yet profound faith. He makes a plea that Jesus “remember [him] when [He comes] into [His] kingdom.” Jesus’ response—“Today you will be with Me…