The Good-O-Meter

Here is the video we showed at church a couple weeks ago. A decent visual analogy for justification. Enjoy!

The Doctrine of Adoption

In one sense, our adoption is not yet final, because we are awaiting the return of Christ and the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:23). Some scholars think that this second stage in our adoption corresponds to the Roman practice when a man adopted someone outside his family to be his son. First there was a private ceremony at which the son was purchased; then there was a public ceremony at which the adoption was declared openly before the official.

Christians have experienced the first stage: We have been purchased by Christ and indwelt by the Spirit. We are awaiting the second stage: the public declaration at the return of Christ when "we shall be like him" (1 John 3:1-3). We are "sons and heirs," and the best part of our inheritance is yet to come!

-Warren Wiersbe

By justification the believer is pardoned for offenses against the Father. By regeneration one is given new life in the Spirit. By adoption one is permitted to reenter the Father's family. The New Testament constantly interweaves these three dimensions of salvation teaching.

It is grace alone that unifies the three dimensions: "Convicting Grace" reveals to the sinner the depths of the human predicament, leading to repentance. "Justifying grace" pardons sin and invites trusting faith in the forgiving God. "Regenerating grace" redirects our dominant affections from the godless love of self to the selfless love of God. "Adopting grace" welcomes the prodigal back in the family of God.

We are not sons by creation, but by the new creation; we become sons not by the natural birth, but by the spiritual birth; not by generation, but by regeneration; not by being born but by being born again.

This is adoption. It has redemption beneath it and divine life in it.

-Thomas Oden

Ravi Zacharias on the Trinity

The Father's Heart.. in Art

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate. -Luke 15:20-24








When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. -Galatians 4:4-7

Chilean Miners as a Christocentric Metaphor

A Chilean miner's testimony about renewed faith in God

A video which speaks to an even deeper need. A metaphor reminding us that we were all in a similar place as those brave miners.



I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. -Psalm 40:1-3

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:3-7

Cheap Grace vs Costly Grace

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! -Galatians 2:20-21

One of my personal heroes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, addressed in his book The Cost of Discipleship the same issues Paul was addressing in his letter to the Galatians. Both Paul and Bonhoeffer had a fire in their belly to confront the deceitful distortions of Christ-less religion or Christ-denying consumerism. Paul used language like "setting aside" the Grace of Christ for lifeless religion. Bonhoeffer wrote about the dangers of cheapening God's grace with apathetic antinomianism (aka no law, no holiness).

Bonhoeffer wrote,

Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves.

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.

Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple must leave his nets and follow him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it call us to follow Jesus Christ.

It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "you were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us.

Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Getting to Know Galatians

Date: Galatians was most likely written between 48-50 AD

Location: Galatians was written to churches in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (see Acts 13-14); cities that would be located in present day Turkey.

Author: Galatians is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, letter written by the Apostle Paul.

The Apostle’s purpose for writing:
To defend his authority as an apostle, to proclaim the uncontaminated Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to explain the path from bondage to freedom so that Christians can wholeheartedly proclaim, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (v. 2:20).

Two primary accusations made against Paul:
1. He is a Half-Apostle.
2. He is preaching a watered-down Gospel.

Paul’s accusers are Jewish Christians (in theological parlance “Judaizers”) who are spreading a syncretistic distortion of the Gospel. They are requiring all Gentile converts to obey certain elements of the Mosaic Law in order to be saved.