From the announcement of his conception, the mission of Jesus was linked to our spiritual recovery. The angel told Joseph that the child Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The child was to be named Jesus "because he will save his people from their...

Forgiveness is not based on our good deeds no matter how many or how honourable they are. Forgiveness is a free, unmerited gift from God and we accept it by faith. Yet many try to earn their way to heaven. They entertain the idea that God will inspect their lives and,...

"This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of...

by Edward Fudge (gracEmail) A brother from a Bible church asks: "I wonder if you can explain why Peter, when asked on Pentecost 'what must we do?' didn't say, 'Why, there is nothing you can do, it has already been done -- just accept what we have told you and rely...

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised...

"For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one: he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence." (Hebrews 9:24) An understanding of the structure of the temple in Jerusalem and the work of the high priest in the...

Tom and I have been friends for over twenty years and on Sunday he will be baptised. His journey to faith in Jesus for the remission of his sins has been a long one. He really does believe, but one thing keeps bothering him: "What if I'm not good enough?" Like many...

Jesus directed his parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else." (Luke 18:9-14) When the Pharisee prayed, he paraded all his deeds before God. He was giving God a gentle...

John Newton's famous hymn 'Amazing Grace' not only has edified the hearts of God's people for over two centuries, it is a hymn rich in praise of God's grace for sinners like us. Grace speaks of God acting in a gracious and merciful way to sinners who deserve nothing...

Saying that Jesus is the only way to God is often regarded as arrogant by those who believe that there are many ways to God: one can be a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist, it doesn't matter since no one person or belief system has the exclusive claims on being...

Are all religious people right with God? If they are 'doing their duty,' being sincere and not doing anyone any harm, surely they are right with God? The book of Acts opens a window through which we see the evangelistic work of the early church. They evangelised among...

The apostle Paul lamented the spiritual condition of his fellow Jews and expressed his concern in a moving piece to the church in Rome: "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they...

by Edward Fudge (gracEmail) What about those who, through no fault of their own, never hear the gospel during this life? Must we assume that all such people will finally perish? It is absolutely true that no one will be saved except through the atonement which Jesus...

If we are convinced that (1) people are lost and (2) the gospel is the only way of salvation, then we must fervently pray for conversions. All of us have family and friends not numbered among the redeemed. We live in countries where much of the population does not...