Does regeneration necessarily precede conversion?
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The answer to the question is “yes,” but before explaining why this is so, the terms “regeneration” and “conversion” should be explained briefly.
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Biblical and Systematic Confusion Yields Gospel Delusions
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The difference between biblical theology and systematic theology is like difference between my wife recounting a conversation she had with someone and my recounting such a conversation.
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Transforming Culture with a Messiah Complex
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Evangelicals have been talking lately about transforming the culture, doing kingdom work in all of life, and incarnating the church in the world. Sound good? The trouble is, these movements can conceive of the church as a substitute for Christ, shifting the focus of Christians from his promised return to your best life now.
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT: FROM REVIVALISM TO WARREN
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The Emerging Consequences of Whose Ideas?
With contributions below from Gregg Allison, Micah Carter, J. Ligon Duncan, Keith Goad, Jim Hamilton, Jonathan Leeman, and Stephen Wellum.
Maybe you have heard plenty about the popularizers. After all, their shows are selling out. Their books are conquering the best-seller lists. And every weblog, magazine, and e- newsletter in the biz is talking about them.
But where are these Emergent guys getting this stuff? Where do their ideas come from?
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By The Devotional Life of the Professional Christian
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The Indispensability of Discipline in the Devotions of a Pastor
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph. 6:10-11).
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Theological Triage
In every generation, the church is commanded to "contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints." That is no easy task, and it is complicated by the multiple attacks upon Christian truth that mark our contemporary age. Assaults upon the Christian faith are no longer directed only at isolated doctrines. The entire structure of Christian truth is now under attack by those who would subvert Christianity’s theological integrity.
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When, Why & Where To Draw Boundaries
Christian groups usually have doctrinal statements that define the "boundaries" of their organizations. How can they know whether to add new topics to their doctrinal statements from time to time? This is the question of drawing new boundaries. Four questions come to mind:
WHY DRAW BOUNDARIES AT ALL?
Why should Christian organizations draw boundaries at all? There are several reasons.
1. False Teaching Harms the Church
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God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?
By Brad Wheeler
"God helps those who help themselves." Do you remember the first time your heard this "truism"? I first heard it in a church!
Why I remember the sermon I can’t say, but I do remember as a young Christian hearing those words roll right off the pastor’s tongue. No proof was offered, no biblical text cited. The truth seemed self-evident. And I must not be alone. According to George Barna, 68 percent of born-again Christians agree with this statement, and 75 percent of Americans at large.[1]
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