Grace to You Blog

Leadership Is Work

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Can you imagine rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls—as recorded in Nehemiah—under modern leadership models?

Brothers, We Are Not Monks

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Pastoral ministry is hard. Period. So it makes sense to me that when pastors get a taste of difficulty, they want to run away, fast. Frankly, it’s not an overstatement to say that apart from a divine calling, pastoral ministry isn’t all that attractive on its own. Who wants the grief, the pain, the distress, the discomfort? As Charles Schulz quipped through the Peanuts character Linus, “I love humanity; it’s people I can’t stand.”...

Leadership 101

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Our society often judges people by what they do, not by their character. When it comes to choosing heroes and leaders, style often outweighs substance. Sordid personal lives and all sorts of off-the-field antics are commonly overlooked—it is performance, not principle, that counts...

Brothers, We Are Not Rock Stars

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Everyone wants a piece of today’s A-listers. They’re wanted by book publishers, conference organizers, and adoring fans everywhere. In certain circles, some of them have trouble getting around without being noticed... Just to be clear, I’m not talking about Hollywood, Nashville, or Washington, D.C.

Who Do You Want to Follow?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

A glance around the evangelical landscape today offers a wide variety of leadership models and styles: entrepreneurs, kings, rock stars, motivational speakers, armchair psychologists, and modern-day monks. You would have to look much harder to find a simple servant.

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 6

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

How often are we guilty of using our prayers just like a drive-thru window? We’re too often driven to prayer by the needs of the moment only, concerned about our circumstances alone, and eager to get on with life as quickly as possible. We’re prone to myopic, self-centered thinking that focuses on how events impact our lives rather than how the Lord is working through them.

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 5

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Very few people make it through life without some sort of plan. The vast majority of us have to put a lot of thought into our schedules and plan ahead if we want to accomplish anything. And what we put the most time into planning says a lot about where our hearts are—too often vacation and celebrations get lots of forethought, while responsibilities at work and around the house fit into our schedules as needed...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 4

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

What is the most common motivation to go to the Lord in prayer? Is it to confess sin? Or is it to make a petition on behalf of a loved one? Do we want to bring our latest requests to Him, or remind Him of something we think He may have overlooked? Far too much of our time in prayer is spent focused on us, not on the One to whom we’re praying...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

How often do we actually think deeply about the words we say in prayer? These days certain names for God and phrases like in Jesus’ name are thrown around so haphazardly you wonder if they still have any meaning at all...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

The worldly excess and spiritual shallowness of prosperity preachers and charismatic faith healers are easy to spot. It’s a man-made, man-centered theology powered by extreme greed—one that encourages followers to make outrageous demands for prosperity and personal gain, reducing Almighty God to little more than a vending machine...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Study the exemplary prayers in Scripture and you cannot help noticing that all of them are brief and simple. Prayer that is heartfelt, urgent, and unfeigned must be of that style. Verbiage and windbaggery are badges of insincerity, especially in prayer. The prayer of the publican in Luke 18:13 is as short and to the point as possible: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Then there’s the prayer of the thief on the cross: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42). Those prayers are cut from the same cloth as Peter’s cry for help when he was walking on water—sometimes cited as the shortest prayer in the Bible: “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30).

Appearance Is Everything?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 PST

An advertising agency wrote seeking our ministry's business: "Let's face it: appearance is everything. Let us help you enhance your image." My first thought was This agency must not realize they are dealing with a Christian organization...

Back in Business

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 PST

I’m not sure if you’ll consider this news good or bad, but the GTY blog is back in business. We plan to kick it off again this coming Monday, and we’ll turn on the comment thread too. I’ve got to warn you though...

Pastors of Vision

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 PST

John, would you consider yourself the “Pastor of Vision” for your church? What does it mean to “cast a vision” for your church?

MacArthur on Multisite

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Blog Comments

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The day has come to close the comment section on the GTY blog. We are truly sorry to disappoint, but some recent staff changes have made this necessary—just not enough people to monitor and interact. This will be the last post where we’ll allow comments, but stay with us, we’ve got some great posts from John coming very soon...

Careful to Be Faithful

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Some commenters lately seem to have typecast Grace to You as a bunch of cranky old men, fearful of a changing world that threatens their long-held positions of power. If that’s what you or someone you know believes about John MacArthur and Grace to You, allow me to make a couple of clarifications. First, a word about the nature of this ministry...

We Can, But Should We?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Technology continues to advance at a pace that renders every new smartphone, tablet computer, gadget, gizmo, and doohickey obsolete almost upon purchase. And for every successful product—one that actually makes it on the shelf and turns a profit—there have to be ___ failed attempts. That’s why we take a bit of a “wait and see” approach to innovation here at Grace to You. We’re not about to jeopardize our stewardship by riding on the bleeding edge of every new fad that comes down the pike...

The Occurrence of the Virgin Birth

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Matthew’s explanation of the significance of the virgin birth came within the revelatory dream God gave to Joseph. Such extraordinary, direct communication evidently occurred while Joseph slept. Matthew does not record any detail of Joseph’s immediate reaction, except to say that he woke up and obeyed the angel’s instructions: “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus” (1:24–25)...

The Virgin Birth and Prophecy

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

At the time of Mary’s pregnancy, the idea of a virgin birth was not completely foreign to the Jews’ understanding of their Scripture. Although they misinterpreted it, many of the rabbis exegeted Jeremiah 31:22 (“a woman shall encompass a man”) in a way that suggested the Messiah would have an unusual birth. Their fanciful explanation of that verse (“Messiah is to have no earthly father,” and “The birth of Messiah shall be like the dew of the Lord, as drops upon the grass without the action of man”) at least preserved the general idea that the Messiah’s birth would be unique...

The Significance of the Virgin Birth

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

At this point in Matthew’s narrative, we know two indisputable facts. One, Mary is pregnant, and two, Joseph is not the father of the child. A third crucial fact comes by way of angelic revelation. The child in Mary’s womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. That means Mary is still a virgin...

Joseph’s Response

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Have you ever imagined being in Joseph’s shoes? Think about his predicament. Joseph is a righteous man, betrothed to a chaste young woman. The future looks bright as he maps out plans to build a family with his soon-to-be bride. But then he hears the shocking news—Mary is pregnant. That’s no small dilemma for Joseph, especially since he is obviously not the father of the child. What would you do?

The Simple Announcement

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

If you didn’t pay careful attention, you might pass right over one of the most important announcements in the New Testament: the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew took only one verse to announce it. Such a concise statement, though it doesn’t all by itself prove the point, strongly suggests that our Lord and Savior’s virgin birth was not simply a man-made story...

God Became a Man

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

God became a man. That foundational gospel truth is pictured in every manger scene you’ll see around town this Christmas. Though the incarnation is culturally familiar, it’s utterly foreign to the unbelieving world...

The Extraordinary Birth of Jesus

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Extraordinary births are certainly not unprecedented in biblical history. As part of the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised to send a son to Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:19–22). They were both beyond normal childbearing ages and laughed at the prospect of being parents, yet they ultimately witnessed the miraculous arrival of their son, Isaac (Gen. 21:1–3). In Judges 13, an angel of the Lord told Manoah and his barren wife that they would have a special son. True to the heavenly messenger’s words, Samson entered the world and for a time delivered the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines...

Embracing and Shunning

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Executing faithful church ministry boils down to just a few essentials—a high view of God, the absolute authority of Scripture, sound doctrine, personal holiness, and a biblical view of spiritual authority. Those are essentials to any biblical philosophy of ministry...

Junk Food

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

We all know an exclusive diet of Big Macs isn’t just a bad idea—it’s more like suicide. But it’s even worse to gobble down the half-eaten burgers and cold rubbery fries you find under the back seat of your car. Repulsive, right? But Christians are doing the very same thing...

Two Clear Concerns

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

John has encouraged the Young, Restless, and Reformed... to keep reforming.

So, we asked John, Are you grateful for the YRR movement? What concerns you about some of the more popular, well-known representatives of the movement?

The Elephant in the Elephant Room

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

One of the more recent entries to the conservative Christian conference line-up is the Elephant Room, the brainchild of James MacDonald. The idea was to bring Christian leaders together for some brotherly sparing over “elephant-in-the-room” issues. Pleased with the results of the first conference in March 2011, they’re prepared for the second in January 2012. This Elephant Room “Round 2” is being promoted like a prize fight: “Your ringside seat awaits,” and “You know the rules…No wavering. No Sidestepping. No excuses.”...

Strengthening the Church

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

We recently asked John… As you survey the evangelical world, what things are strengthening the church today?

The Sin of Counting

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

I’ll admit to being weary, to the point of irritation, whenever I hear ministers of the gospel reporting their statistics as external evidences of success. And I know I’m not the only one...

You Might Be a Pragmatist

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

I’d imagine most of us on the conservative end of evangelicalism—whether you’re part of the YRR crowd or the OBR (Old, Boring, Reformed) crowd—we understand the wrongheadedness of church growth methodology. It’s easy to see how men like the early pioneers of church growth (Donald McGavran, C. Peter Wagner, Robert Schuller) and their most famous disciples (Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen) got it wrong...

Coming Home to Roost

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

We learned in our last spot that it is possible to be a faithful and effective missionary without excessive contextualization. In fact, there was a time when things like translating the Bible, eating native foods and wearing native clothing, and learning to appreciate the cultural interests and activities of the people among whom you lived as a missionary didn’t require fancy terminology to validate it (like contextualization or redeeming the culture); it was just good common sense...

Contextualizing on the Mission Field

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

Okay, so contextualization as pragmatism is out. John MacArthur put that to rest. But is there any form of contextualization that’s legitimate? Certainly missionaries have to contextualize to evangelize in a foreign context, don’t they?

The Final Word on Contextualization

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Several weeks ago Grace to You launched a blog series examining the subject of contextualization, the pragmatic approach to evangelism that says the gospel can be made more powerful by adapting it to cultural contexts. John MacArthur opened that series by asking an important question: Where did Christians ever get the idea they could win the world to Christ by imitating it?

By All Means Save Some

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Paul’s one aim in making himself the slave of all was so that they might be saved. He was not trying to win a popularity contest. He was not seeking to make himself or the gospel appealing to them. His whole purpose was evangelistic. C. H. Spurgeon, preaching on 1 Corinthians 9, said...

“Contextualization” and the Corruption of the Church

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

It should be clear that modern church marketers cannot look to the apostle Paul for approval of their methodology or claim him as the father of their philosophy. Although he ministered to the vilest pagans throughout the Roman world, Paul never adapted the church to secular society’s tastes. He would not think of altering either the message or the nature of the church. Each of the churches he founded had its own unique personality and set of problems, but Paul’s teaching, his strategy, and above all his message remained the same throughout his ministry. His means of ministry was always preaching—the straightforward proclamation of biblical truth...

For the Weak I Became Weak

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul models self-sacrificing love toward unbelievers. He explains his willingness to forfeit personal liberties and accommodate himself for the sake of the gospel. He’s already mentioned two groups of people in the first section of this chapter—Jews and Gentiles. Paul was willing to forego his apostolic freedoms in order to reach both races. But racial application was only the beginning...

A Historic Moment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Forty-three years ago, John MacArthur set his sights on preaching through the entire New Testament, using verse-by-verse Bible exposition. Over the years he worked hard to accomplish that goal, and he didn’t merely hit the highlights of the New Testament or avoid difficult passages. He expounded everything in a bold, courageous, and in-depth manner that we’ve grown to know and love...

An Amazing Life

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Norm Sper went to heaven Wednesday night. You may never have heard of Norm before, but you probably owe him more than you realize. I certainly owe him more than I could ever repay...

For the Gentiles I Became a Gentile

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

As long as it did not violate God’s Word or compromise the gospel, Paul was willing to accommodate himself to his audience. As we noted in the last post, that was certainly true of his Jewish audience. But Paul didn’t stop with the Jews. He demonstrated the same heart of sacrifice toward the Gentiles—all for the sake of the gospel...

For the Jews I Became Jewish, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

When Paul wrote, “To the Jews I became as a Jew … to those who are under the Law, as under the Law” (1 Corinthians 9:20), he was not talking about accommodating the message. He was simply saying he would not jeopardize his ability to preach the message by unnecessarily offending people...

For the Jews I Became Jewish, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

As we noted in the last post, Paul was not advocating “contextualization” when he wrote to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men, that I may be all means save some.” He was calling for self-denial and sacrifice for the sake of reaching unbelievers with the gospel...

Servants of a New Covenant

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

“All things belong to us, and we are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” Paul made that tremendous, seemingly unqualified promise to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:21–23). Christians are free. Yet there is a paradox that balances that truth. Though free, all Christians are slaves. It is a new kind of bondage: we are “servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). As willing slaves, we must voluntarily restrict our own liberty for others’ sakes. Isn’t that what Jesus Himself taught? “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Paul applied the principle of voluntary servitude to evangelism. He made himself a slave to all—including the roughest, most contemptible, loathsome pagan. Being free, he nevertheless joyfully entered into slavery for the gospel’s sake...

Liberty in Christ

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

It is crucial that you understand the nature of Christian liberty. As a Christian, you are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). Freedom from the law certainly does not mean that the principles of righteousness revealed in the Old Testament law are now nullified. It does not mean that the Ten Commandments have no application to your present life. It does not mean that you can subjugate God’s holy standards to personal preference. It obviously does not mean you are free from any moral requirements...

Giving Up to Gain

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

One of the most frequently quoted passages church marketing specialists use to justify “contextualizing” the gospel is Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. In chapter 9, he summarizes his gospel strategy by claiming he became all things to all men. But look again at what Paul is actually saying in these verses...

All Things to All Men

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

The notion that the church must become like the world to win the world has taken evangelicalism by storm. Virtually every modern worldly attraction has a “Christian” counterpart. We have Christian motorcycle gangs, Christian bodybuilding teams, Christian dance clubs, Christian amusement parks, and I even read about a Christian nudist colony...

Next: Did Paul Contextualize?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

For our next series, we’d like to piggy-back on John’s YRR posts to address an assumption that comes up often in discussions about the gospel, evangelism, and church planting. The assumption comes across in statements like this: “You’ve got to engage the culture to reach the culture. If you hope to reach your culture for the gospel, you’ve got to become all things to all people.” The oft-repeated refrain comes from 1 Cor. 9:22: “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”...

Keep Reforming

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

I’m grateful for the widespread response this series of blogposts has generated, including all the feedback we have received from people who disagree about certain points. Yes, a few vocal critics have replied with mocking or misrepresentation, as if to illustrate the validity of some of my central concerns. But most of the response we have received (including a lot of the dissent) encourages me—because it comes from young people who seem genuinely thoughtful about the dangers I have tried to highlight, and I trust they are genuinely committed to cultivating a thoroughly biblical worldview...

Settle DownDon’t lose your passion and energy; take charge of it

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

The “restless” aspect of the Young, Restless, Reformed movement is something of a mixed blessing. Restlessness per se is is of course no great virtue. But the energy, intensity, drive, and passion that underlie the restless tendencies of our young adult years are wonderful assets that hold great potential for good. They can be—and should be—harnessed and put to work for Christ’s kingdom...

Wretched on the YRR

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Be sure to catch Todd Friel interview Phil Johnson today at 12:00 noon PST on his radio program, “Wretched with Todd Friel.” It’s sure to be a lively discussion about John MacArthur’s YRR series...

Discussing the Controversy over John MacArthur's "Beer" Posts

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Been following the series? Heard about the controversy? Want to know what's really going on? Phil Johnson is getting ready to explain in an interview with Paul Edwards, today at 1pm PST. Here are the links...

The Brouhaha over the Brew

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Looks like John MacArthur’s most recent article hit a nerve. He knew that before he wrote it—he knew it would offend some people—and yet he was still willing to write it...

Beer, Bohemianism, and True Christian Liberty

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

If everything you know about Christian living came from blogs and websites in the young-and-restless district of the Reformed community, you might have the impression that beer is the principal symbol of Christian liberty...

Growing Up: Becoming a Real Man

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Biblical manliness is about authentic character. It’s not about bravado, and it’s not about boyishness. Going out into the woods with a bunch of other men, putting on war paint, making animal noises, telling scary stories around a campfire, and then working up a good cry might be good, visceral fun and all, but that has nothing to do with the biblical idea of manliness...

The Marks of Immaturity, and How to Keep Growing

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Selfishness is one telltale sign of immaturity. Babies are completely self-centered. They scream if they don't get what they want when they want it. All they are aware of are their own needs and desires. They never say thanks for anything. They can't help others; they can't give anything. They can only receive.

Paul Edwards Interviews Phil Johnson about GTY's YRR Series

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST
If you're following John's current series (Advice for the YRR), you'll want to catch this interview. Paul Edwards will discuss the series with Phil Johnson at 1:15pm PST. Here are the links...

Growing Up: How to Listen Like a Man

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Before we put up John MacArthur’s second post in the series—what amounts to some fatherly advice to the Young, Restless, and Reformed folks—I’d like to interject a few thoughts for your consideration...

A Historic Moment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Forty-three years ago, John MacArthur set his sights on preaching through the entire New Testament, using verse-by-verse Bible exposition. Over the years he worked hard to accomplish that goal, and he didn’t merely hit the highlights of the New Testament or avoid difficult passages. He expounded everything in a bold, courageous, and in-depth manner that we’ve grown to know and love...

Grow Up. Settle Down. Keep Reforming. Advice for the Young, Restless, Reformed

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
It has been five years since Christianity Today published Collin Hansen’s article titled “Young, Restless, Reformed.” Hansen later expanded the article into a book with the same title (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008). He has carefully documented a very encouraging trend: large numbers of young people (college age and younger) are discovering the doctrines of grace, embracing a more biblical and Christ-centered worldview, and beginning to delve more deeply into serious theology than most 20th-century evangelicals were prone to do.

God’s Unchangeable Character

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Whether you’re reading the morning paper or driving to work, you’re certain to encounter one of the most pervasive reminders of our humanity—change. Birth announcements, obituaries, construction, demolition—change riddles God’s creation...

The Extent of God’s Love

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Have you ever spoken to an unbeliever who knew some of his Bible—just enough to be angry and confused? If so, you probably heard questions (accusations) like these: “What kind of God orders the slaughter of entire cities—women, children, and animals included—without mercy? Why does God allow so much pain, suffering, and evil in the world? How do you reconcile the love of God with the eternal flames of hell?”

Does God Love His Enemies?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
I can still remember the chair I was sitting in years ago when I read a life-changing page in John MacArthur’s book The God Who Loves. In an economy of words, John exposed, confronted, and changed my thinking on one of the most critical areas of theology, the nature of God. My understanding of God’s love—specifically His love for the non-elect—was never the same...

Exposing the Ten Pillars of Gambling

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
Gambling is blight on our nation, a cancer that eats away at the souls of millions. In spite of the fact that increases crime rates, degrades morals, and destroys families, gambling has thrived. Why?

Gambling vs. Risk Taking

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
You’ve probably heard this argument before from advocates of gambling: “If gambling is sin, then so is investing in the stock market, buying a house, and even starting your own company. They all involve the same element—risk taking.” That argument may appear convincing on the surface, but can it survive closer scrutiny? Today we'll let John MacArthur answer that question...

Gambling: The Moral Antithesis of Charity

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
To review one more time, these are the characteristics that define "gambling"...

The Sin of Putting God to the Test

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
Here's a third characteristic of gambling. Remember, Gambling involves 1) Something valuable that is placed at risk; 2) Something belonging to someone else that is staked as a prize; and...

A Historic Moment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
Forty-three years ago, John MacArthur set his sights on preaching through the entire New Testament, using verse-by-verse Bible exposition. Over the years he worked hard to accomplish that goal, and he didn’t merely hit the highlights of the New Testament or avoid difficult passages. He expounded everything in a bold, courageous, and in-depth manner that we’ve grown to know and love...

John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
The Banner of Truth has just released Iain Murray's new book, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock. It's a great read, a fascinating story, and a significant work. Murray begins to put into perspective one of the most important Christian preachers of our time.

Does ‘Mutual Consent’ Eliminate the Evil in Gambling?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
We are looking at four essential characteristics in a standard definition of gambling. I have argued that each of the four characteristics involves a violation of one or more vital biblical principles...

Gambling vs. Faithful Stewardship

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
I closed the last post with a list of four distinguishing marks drawn from a standard definition of "gambling." All four of these are true of every variety of gambling...

Oh, and One More Thing…

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
The following is adapted from comments I originally posted in other forums, but since what I have to say below is germane to the large subject under discussion, I've distilled it here and am posting it so that it will be permanently attached to this thread. Like my remarks in the immediately preceding post, this one answers several e-mails that have been sent to me directly, and a few posts that have appeared other forums...

Answering a Couple of Objections

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 29 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Let me respond to some feedback that appeared in a different forum. I don't participate in the other forum, but the person who wrote this e-mailed it to me and invited me to respond. I'm posting my response here, because it might clear up some confusion other people have, too...

Gambling: Some Definitions and Distinctions

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 PST

Is Gambling OK? Don’t Bet on It

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Is it a sin to gamble? There's not an easy or instantly-obvious prooftext answer to that question. If you are looking for a "Thus saith the Lord: Thou shalt not gamble," you won't find it anywhere. Nothing expressly forbids gambling anywhere in Scripture...

Is God a Monster?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Nearly fifty years ago, the British agnostic Bertrand Russell penned these words: “There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment” (Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not a Christian)...

The Severity of Hell

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Charles Spurgeon once advised fellow-preachers, “Shun all views of future punishment that would make it appear less terrible.” Yet another timely word from Spurgeon—efforts to extinguish the flames of hell abound in our day, just as they did in his...

Is Hell Really Endless?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
One view of hell that seems to be making a strong resurgence today among evangelicals is Annihilationism. There are slight variations, but it essentially teaches God will eventually snuff every unbeliever out of existence. Some Annihilationists make room for divine wrath, but they don’t allow it to extend beyond the lake of fire. In other words, they won’t allow God the full force of His judgment, which is eternal, conscious torment. For them, the lake of fire is what completely consumes and finally destroys sinners. Whether they see death as the end, or whether they see hell’s torments as limited in duration, the result is the same—a denial of the endlessness of hell...

The Truth About Hell

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
More than 150,000 people die every day. That’s 4.5 million each month, a number that exceeds the population of Los Angeles. Add to that the number of dead throughout human history—it’s a staggering figure. Tragically, many of those people died without knowing Christ. What fate awaits them? Do they really Rest In Peace, or do they find a different reality beyond the grave?

For Those Who Rail Against Hell

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
For the last two weeks, we’ve posted a series of articles from John MacArthur addressing the teachings of Rob Bell. It didn’t take long for one of the primary areas of contention to emerge from the comment thread—the nature of Hell.

Bell’s Inferno

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that religion is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Rob Bell’s Unbelief in His own Words

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
“I have as much in common with the performance artist, the standup comedian, the screenwriter, as I do with the theologian. I'm in an odd world where I make things and share them with people." --Rob Bell

Rob Bell: “Evangelical and orthodox to the bone?” Hardly.

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
Rob Bell claims to be "evangelical and orthodox to the bone." But how is that true when he has consistently promoted views that are antithetical to biblical Christianity and hostile to historic evangelical principles?

Rob Bell: a Brother to Embrace, or a Wolf to Avoid?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
If Christopher Hitchens or Deepak Chopra penned a book that scoffed at the biblical teaching on hell, we would not be surprised. So why would anyone be shocked or confused when Rob Bell writes Love Wins? Has Bell shown any more commitment to gospel truth, or any more devotion to the principle of biblical authority than Hitchens or Chopra?

Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
As much as we’d like to abolish slavery in practice, and even from our memories, the Bible demands that we remember. Slavery has everything to do with our relationship to Christ. We are His slaves, and our slavery to Him is the guarantee of our eternal security.

How to Slay Sin, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Let’s take a look at step three in slaying sin: Fill your mind with Scripture. John Bunyan, author of the classic Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote in the cover of his Bible, “Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” Bunyan understood what many in the war against sin don’t—the Word of God is the weapon you simply cannot neglect.

How to Slay Sin, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Imagine you’re facing an enemy on the battlefield who enjoyed a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and a personal escort to the most strategic position on the battlefield. And here’s the worst part—you provided all those things! Sound absurd?

How to Slay Sin, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
If you’ve been with us the last couple of posts, you know sin is your enemy. You understand it lurks deep within your members, warring against your soul, seeking to ambush you at your most vulnerable moment. You’ve experienced its power and treachery many times...

Know Thy Enemy

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Are you ready to kill? That's a stark question, and it demands qualification, but killing is a regular part of the Christian life. There's an aspect of being a Christian that's downright violent. You see, God commands us to hunt down and kill all remaining sin—to terminate it with extreme prejudice.

Our Relentless War Against Sin

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Have you ever wondered, “Why do I have to deal with sin at all? If God hates sin, if true Christians hate sin, and we’re all in agreement, then why must it remain?”

Be Killing Sin, or Else

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
If someone were to ask you, “What’s the most dangerous spiritual responsibility to neglect?” You might think of Scripture reading, prayer, evangelism, listening to preaching, or attending corporate worship. And it’s not that you’d be wrong…God commands all believers to pursue those things. They’re non-negotiable...

A Word of Caution to Fire Starters

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
If you hadn’t guessed it already, I work for Phil Johnson, the original Pyromaniac. I’m sure you have your own view, but in my opinion he’s not the Pyromaniac because he starts fires. No, he burns with a fire like Jeremiah (Jer. 20:9) and preaches God’s Word, which is like fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (23:29).

Culturally Contextualized or Historically Connected?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
I heard this morning that some folks have been getting kind of fussy about one of John’s comments in the interview. The first criticism forwarded to me was from Ed Stetzer, one of the men who endorsed Darrin Patrick’s book...

Radical Individualism: A Good Trait for Young Pastors?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
In case you hadn’t heard, there’s been a bit of a buzz regarding a comment John MacArthur made about a book by Darrin Patrick in last Sunday night’s interview, “Theology and Ministry: An Interview with John MacArthur.” Here’s what John had to say about it.

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 4: Fasting Today

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
We’ve looked so far at Christian fasting in the Old Testament, the Sermon on the Mount, and the New Testament. Let’s get practical by thinking through how we fast today as Christians, trying to be biblical about it...

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 3: Fasting in the New Testament

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
A friend recently dispelled any concerns I had about the importance of this topic when he sent me a link to a popular website promoting fasting. A self-appointed fasting guru gladly tells readers how to fast, when to fast, what to eat—and oh by the way, would you please post a favorable review of my book at amazon.com?

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 2: Fasting in the Sermon on the Mount

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
After seeing the many good comments following our first post on fasting, I’m happy to return to the topic again today. Your anecdotes show the importance of addressing this subject biblically. It provokes the protective side of my pastoral nature when I hear that others, including pastors, have used fasting to manipulate and intimidate you spiritually. So, let’s go straight to Jesus and see these things for what they are...

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 1: Fasting in the Old Testament

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
There’s something about the topic of Christian fasting that makes people defensive. I know I’m that way. When someone starts to talk about it, you can never be quite sure where they’re going or what burden they may try to lay on your conscience. So let me put your mind at ease as we open a short blog series on the topic. If you don’t want to fast, don’t fast. I have no hidden agenda that I’m going to spring on you in the last paragraph...

An Unremarkable Faith

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
Meet Larry, a thirty-six year old Science teacher. Larry married Cathy 12 years ago. They love each other and enjoy raising their two sons. Larry’s life wouldn’t hold out much interest to the average citizen. His Facebook account doesn’t draw many friends and nobody ever leaves a comment on his blog. In fact, most people would summarize Larry’s life with one word—boring. But not Larry. Teaching osmosis to junior high students, playing Uno with his kids, and working in the yard with Cathy is paradise to him. But the real love of his life is Jesus. Larry’s a Christian. He’s been walking with the Lord for more than 20 years...

Once Saved, Always Saved?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Listen to a discussion about eternal security and you’ll eventually hear this question: “Are you saying that since we’re secure as Christians, we can do whatever we want to?” It’s the “once saved, always saved” idea that says, once you are saved, you’re saved no matter how you may behave. But the question really misunderstands the biblical teaching about our sin and God’s grace in our lives.

How Firm Our Foundation

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Let me ask you a theological question: Are you born again which results in your believing in Christ, or does your faith in Christ result in your being born again? Maybe you think I’m just playing with words, but how you answer that question significantly affects what you believe about man’s sin, God’s salvation, and more important, your eternal security.

Is Eternal Life Always Eternal?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
I remember exactly where I was when I discovered some Christians believe eternal life may not always be eternal. The moment is still etched in my memory...

I Can't Handle This!

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Maybe you’ve been reading the series “How to Slay Sin.” But while you know the Scripture lays out clear principles, all you can think is, It’s just too hard. Or maybe you’re not struggling with sin at all but rather a very painful circumstance—an illness, death, financial crisis, or conflict—that feels like it’s too much for you to handle. Whatever situation you’re in, God has a message for you.

When Sin Plays Dead

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Have you ever watched an opossum escape from a predator? They use a defense mechanism distinct to only a few animals—playing dead. When faced with a threat, an opossum will often fall on the ground, close his eyes, extend his limbs, and lie very still. He appears lifeless—and harmless. But when the danger passes, he revives and scurries away. You can almost hear laughter as he makes his escape...

How to Slay Sin, Part 4

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
We’ve been considering some of the necessary steps toward killing sin. That’s a binding command for every believer. No one is exempt from slaying sin (Col. 3:5), but no one is powerless against it either (Rom. 8:13). God has equipped and empowered all those who abide in Christ (John 15:5) with the necessary wisdom and weapons to succeed. Here are the steps we have considered...