Taught by Grace

In this week’s everyday theology episode, we’re going to take a brief look into the subject of assurance of salvation. This is one of those subjects concerning salvation that many believers struggle with, but are afraid to admit that they struggle with it. It seems like there should be a point in your Christian life when you just know that you know that you know for good. However, we, especially t...

In last week’s episode, we examined verses 4-17 of Genesis 2 to see what life was like before sin. One of the key takeaways from Genesis 2 is this. Some things that were before the fall, remain after the fall. However, now they have been distorted from God’s original design for them. Last week, we saw how that work before the fall was satisfying. Now, this week, we’re going to see how God original...

There is really one primary passage in the New Testament on the importance of gathering together. Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. I find it interesting that this is really the only command in the New Testament, as far as I have seen, that commands believers...

Have you ever wondered, “Do I really matter?” My friend, you matter because you matter to God because you are made in His image. You may think that your value simply as a person is found in your ethnicity, grades, financial status, or religious affiliation, but Genesis 1 teaches us that every person’s value as a human is that you are made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26-27, we are brought to...

In this week's theology episode, we are going to look into the truth of God's providence.  God’s providence is most vividly illustrated in the life of Joseph. If you view the story of Joseph with a human lens, you will see someone who endured many difficulties wrongfully. Let’s briefly recount his life as revealed in Genesis 37-50. Joseph’s life seemed to be a perpetual process of being done...

In the beginning, there was God and in the beginning, God created everything. He did not take a hammer and nails and spend millennia building the world. He simply spoke and the world came into existence. He spoke, and the light pierced the darkness. He spoke, and the landmasses appeared from nothing. He spoke, and the stars danced in outer space. He spoke, and lions walked, birds flew, and fish sw...

Jesus Christ has completely conquered death. We know that his death and resurrection guarantee the forgiveness of sins. However, what I want to remind you of in this episode is that it also guarantees our future resurrection from the grave. Jesus didn’t just redeem you spiritually, but His finished work will redeem and transform you physically as well! We know that He did indeed rise from the grav...

In this week's episode, I begin a study through the foundational chapters of Genesis. There are many truths to be dove into about God, sin, salvation, and man in these chapters.  The first of these that we will see in Genesis 1:1-2 is this, it all begins with God. If you can believe this, you will have no issue believing in a God who parted the Red Sea, crumbled the walls of Jericho, wrought...

Most Christians regard God's Word as inerrant and infallible. However, I believe we must also regard His Word as sufficient. It is not to be only a guide in our lives, it is to be the preeminent guide in our lives. We must not equate voices, books, podcasts, or other resources with Scripture. Books may lead us astray. Ideologies may point us away. Internal feelings may direct us wrongly. However,...

In this week’s episode, Matthew and I dive into how you can more effectively and actively share the Gospel. The Gospel is the greatest treasure, but it is not a treasure to be hidden away. Rather, we are to share it with anyone that we can! Matthew offers some helpful counsel about how you and I can do this better.  He speaks about some of the things that hinder us from sharing the Gospel.&nb...

What is Christian Fellowship? The word fellowship comes from the Greek word “koinonia” which simply speaks of what is shared in common. This word is used 18 times throughout the New Testament in places such as Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 1:9; Philippians 1:5; and 1 Jn. 1:3 among other places. At its most basic meaning, the truth of Christian fellowship is about the relationship believers share and how they...

What is the Gospel?  What impact does the Gospel have on our lives?  What are we to do with the Gospel?  I was able to sit down with Matthew Hobbs and look into these questions. Over the next two weeks, we dive into the Gospel. We look at the Christian’s relationship to the Gospel and next week, how the Christian must share the Gospel. This week, we discussed the importance of the C...

A little less than a week ago, we officially celebrated the first coming of Jesus Christ. His first advent, or arrival, was for the express purpose of redeeming fallen sinners. It is a breathtaking endeavor to look down the corridors of time into the truths of His first coming. He came as the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. He came as the babe born in Bethlehem. He came to redeem fa...

The glorious message of the Christmas story is that the rich became poor so that the poor might be rich. It is the story of the invasion of God’s grace into a world marred by sin. It is the story of the sinless coming to redeem sinners. It is the story of God becoming a man to live, die, and rise from the grace to redeem fallen sinners. To make the poor rich. There is no one as rich as Him, but we...

One of the most precious truths of the Christmas season is that God is now with us. As it is Christmas Eve, I thought it’d be fitting to look into the truth of God being with us as we come near to Christmas. When Gabriel visited Joseph about the birth of Jesus, he made known that this was the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 and that this baby was God with us. The name Emmanuel is one of the most precio...

In Luke 1:46-56, we have a beautiful reminder of what the Christmas message should produce in our lives, worship. Worship and praise are woven throughout the narrative of the Christmas story. This is no less true than with Mary herself. The one to whom Gabriel came with the stunning announcement that she would be the mother of the Word made flesh worshipped. Worship permeates the story of Christma...

No human being can fulfill the law, however, for redemption to happen, one had to be under the same rule to redeem those bound under that rule. Enter Jesus Christ. For Jews, the written law of God revealed their sinfulness and for the Gentiles, the law of God in their hearts revealed their depravity. All men are under the law and the law declares “Guilty!” It sets a standard for us that we are inc...

The message of the Savior of the world did not come to a King, Priest, or Prophet, but to a virgin woman in the lowly town of Nazareth. He always comes to those whom society views as insignificant to declare His glorious power. This passage is a beautiful reminder of the way God works. The Messiah’s lineage was royal, but it was a seemingly forgotten line. He did not come to the rich, but the poor...

Every Chrsitian has a certain perspective of God, so then, every Christian must develop a Biblical, well-rounded, and robust view of God. This is why we must endeavor into this study. However, we must acknowledge a potential pitfall of studying the person and work of God. Oftentimes, theological endeavors lead to an intellectual elitism. It is possible to look into the depths and heights of the in...

Last week, we examined the first proclamation of the Christmas message. That is, it comes to those who have made a mess of everything. The message of a Savior is marvelous because we need a Savior. Genesis 3:15 was the first proclamation of this message, but it was not the last. The entire Old Testament prepares for the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a Christ-centered lens through...

What is theology? Fundamentally, theology is the study of God. So then, every Christian should be a theologian, and even deeper, they should be robust theologians. You may never pick up a systematic theology book or take a class in seminary and still have a robust, well-rounded view of God. That really is what systematic theology is and does. It takes what the Bible says about God in certain areas...

When was the first Christmas message proclaimed? Not in Nazareth, or even Bethlehem, but in the Garden of Eden. God delivered the promise of a coming redeemer and savior to those who had just made a mess of everything. The first Christmas message brought hope into despair, joy into sorrow, and life into death. This message remains true today. The message of Christ is not for those who have it all...

Who should study theology? The pastor? The seminarian? The Bible college student? I believe that every Christian ought to be a student of theology because every Christian has a certain view of God that impacts his life. If we have a certain view of God regardless of our studiousness, it is important then that we develop a view of God that is manifestly and robustly Biblical.  That is why the podca...

How should the Christian respond to the evil done to him? He must respond by not giving evil back and instead displaying kindness because he trusts in God to bring vengeance. It is not popular or easy, but this is the Biblical response to evildoers. We do not persecute, we bless. We do not take away, we give. We do not starve, we feed. We display the grace and kindness of Jesus by doing good to th...

The Christian is to interact with all men in a way that is a contradiction to the system of this world. They bless those who curse them. They rejoice with those who rejoice instead of growing jealous. They weep with those who weep instead of responding harshly. They view others with humility instead of pride. Christian relationships are not marked by self-centeredness, but others-centeredness. Tru...