Free Grace Conversations

I have often heard people use the phrase, "Jesus is my Lord and Savior." This is a legitimate way to express one's relationship to Jesus. However, the phrase can be misleading if it's not understood in context. I have heard more than one overzealous pastor try to usher new converts into the kingdom by claiming […]

I was extremely frustrated with the churches where I had worked. I had begun to see the Bible as ambiguous on some essential issues. I had spent nearly a decade in church ministry and had a degree from Bible College. I had started my seminary work but burned out because of the inconsistencies I saw […]

A few years ago I joined a ministry called 289 DESIGN. As you might guess, the name comes from Ephesians 2:8-9. Our mission to produce materials that share the clear message of God's grace with the world. If you've read it before, there is hardly any verse in the Bible that is as transparent about […]

In my youth, I attended countless evangelistic events. Often it was explained that I should strive to have a relationship with God. When the evangelist tried to explain how to have a relationship with God, the message would usually get muddled. He would start by saying that salvation is a free gift. He would then […]

In this chapter we are going to compare the concept of gaining eternal life as a gift and getting eternal life as a reward. Don’t be alarmed. Although these seem as if they are contradictory ideas, the distinction will become plain as we go along. The first verse that we will consider is this one […]

Anyone who believes in Jesus has everlasting life. That life is not given at some point in the distant future, but at the moment at which the person believes. Believing in Jesus is a one-time event that gives the born-again believer a gift which cannot be earned, returned, or lost. Those who claim that salvation […]

As a kid, one of the biggest choices was between orange juice and milk. Out of boyish curiosity, I once mixed milk and orange juice together. I stirred it with excitement thinking I had come up with the ultimate breakfast drink. As I timidly tried the new flavor I found that the mixture was no […]

Image that you’ve just completed a month of work and are waiting on your pay check. The boss hands you an envelope with your wages and says, “here’s your free gift.” Why would that be the wrong thing for the boss to say? Obviously, your wages are not a gift. If they were a gift […]

I don’t remember the day I was born, but my mother tells me it was an event to remember. Once I was born, I could never go back. It was a done deal, a one-time event, an irreversible transaction. It is likely for that reason that Jesus used birth to illustrate what happens the moment […]

I used to travel and play music with a worship band while I was in college. We were doing an event in the Dallas area one summer. Usually, we would play for a half hour, and then the speaker would deliver his message. We had a set of songs that we often played, including one […]