Category: Theology
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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…
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Eternal life in the Gospels: the power of faith in Jesus, Messiah, Son of God
At the heart of the New Testament lies the Gospel of John, a book distinctively evangelistic in its purpose, irrespective of whether one perceives it as the sole book in the New Testament with this explicit intention. The gospel’s assurance is profound and clear: it carries within it a self-sufficient message that reveals the necessary…
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Regeneration Before Faith?
The doctrine of regeneration before faith is mainly professed by those who hold to a Calvinistic soteriology. To avoid misrepresenting this position, I went to the big names in the modern reformed camp. John Piper states clearly that regeneration is the cause of faith.1 R. C. Spiral recounts his experience as he went to seminary, then finally gets to the point and says:…