Steve’s Books
Category Archives: Sin and Salvation
Seeking the Kingdom First
God desires that we be like His Son (Rom. 8:29). In the end, this is what salvation looks like, that we live the way He does because we have the relationship with God that He has. Jesus gave us a … Continue reading
Declaration of Independence
As I read America’s Declaration of Independence this morning, I was struck by its many parallels to our times. The Declaration included a list of 27 grievances committed by the British king against the original “united States of America.” For … Continue reading
Posted in Sin and Salvation, Society and Culture
Tagged dead to sin, victory over sin
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The Way Back
When did Eve in the Garden eat the fruit forbidden by God? Answer: “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to … Continue reading
The Fall of Adam and Eve
When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord and ate the fruit of the wrong tree, the Lord spelled out the consequences for each of them in Genesis 3:16-19. These curses were not because God was angry or vindictive. It was … Continue reading
The Blood of the Lamb
What is the significance of the blood of Christ that was poured out at Calvary? When we say the blood cleanses us, what do we mean by that, especially when we cannot see any blood, and we don’t use blood … Continue reading
No Other Way to the Father
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). How do these two halves of the verse work together? What do the three attributes of the Son … Continue reading
Two Questions regarding Sin’s Consequences in the OT
I received these questions recently. Though they involve God’s Old Testament covenant with the Jews, they are still relevant to the church today. “If a person is to bear the responsibility for their own sinful action, why did God also … Continue reading
A Visual Gospel Presentation
I’ve been going to the local pier to join several others for one-on-one evangelism. It’s a popular spot, especially on Friday evenings. This group uses a carnival-like spinning wheel with a sign over it, “Spin For Free Candy” (not seen … Continue reading
How we benefit from the death of Jesus Christ
What purpose did the death of Jesus, the Son of God, serve? Hebrews 2:14-18 gives us insight into this aspect of His death, burial, and resurrection. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise … Continue reading
The Unintuitive Gospel
Paul the apostle received the gospel as a revelation from God. No man taught him the Good News. The Spirit showed it to him (Galatians 1:11-12). Therefore, it’s not intuitive that God so loved the world that He gave us … Continue reading
Overcoming Sin
Are you dealing with sin in your life? The angel told Joseph that he was to name the baby JESUS, “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). So, are you dealing with sin? Are you increasingly … Continue reading
How were people saved before Christ came?
When you research this question on the internet, you’ll find that most answers address the example of the Jewish population, which had prophets and the scriptures to guide them to God. Almost none of the articles talk about what happens … Continue reading
Put on the Whole Armor of God
After I finished reading In Christ Jesus: The Sphere of the Believer’s Life, by Arthur Tappan Pierson, I gained a greater appreciation for the salvation that Christ has accomplished for us. I highly recommend you read the free, online version … Continue reading
There’s More to the Romans Road to Salvation
In most cases of the gospel proclamation, the message preached is about entering into salvation. The Romans Road is often used to lead a person to faith in Jesus Christ. (To learn more about this method of chaining verses, see … Continue reading
Our “silly little sins”
I recently answered a question sent to me from gotquestions.org. This person, who is quoted below, thought her sins were silly little sins and she wondered why she was unable to get over them and stop repeating them. My reply … Continue reading
How does the Christian overcome?
The Bible tells us that Christians have the victory, or that they overcome. What does that mean? What does that victory look like? How can we know that we are overcoming? First John 5:2-5 tell us that we have the … Continue reading
If I do many good works, will I go to heaven?
Think about what the question implies. It assumes that because of doing many good works, we’ve put God on the spot; the Creator of the universe is in our debt! We’re saying that He owes us heaven because of all … Continue reading
Posted in Sin and Salvation
Tagged faith, good deeds, good works, Heaven, Jesus Christ, sin
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Is it fair for good people to end up in Hell just because they didn’t receive the salvation of Jesus?
Of course it is fair. Heaven is God’s home. If a person arrived at your doorstep saying they’re a good person, would you let him in to live with you as long as he wanted? Of course not! If you … Continue reading
Posted in Sin and Salvation
Tagged forgiveness, good deeds, good works, hell, salvation, sin
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Why does the Bible tell us to reckon ourselves as dead?
Here is the full passage from Romans 6:10-13: For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed … Continue reading
Posted in Sin and Salvation
Tagged alive to God, dead to sin, faith, in Christ, reckon, reckoning faith, sin, victory over sin
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If the punishment for sin is eternal punishment, then how could Jesus’ 3 days in the grave be enough?
Some question whether Christ suffered enough for our sins. After all, He was on the cross for only a few hours, and less than four days in Hell. So how could that be punishment enough for the sins of the … Continue reading
If God had already chosen me, why should I worry about the judgment?
God chose us for a purpose. At the judgment, he will evaluate whether we have made good use of our time on earth to fulfill that purpose. In this life we prepare for the kingdom to come. “But seek ye … Continue reading
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What is sin?
Someone once asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment among all the laws. Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). The moral Old … Continue reading
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What does it mean to be saved?
Jesus died that we may be saved. That salvation has several aspects that you might not be aware of. Saved from the penalty of sin We have broken God’s laws, so we should receive the death penalty. But when Jesus … Continue reading
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What is deliverance from sin?
Jesus died to save us from our sins. Here are various ways sin has hurt us and how Jesus has saved us. Sin corrupts the image of God in us Jesus saved us so that we may be more … Continue reading
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If Jesus saves us from sin, then why do I still say and do the wrong things?
When we receive Jesus into our lives, some powerful forces go to work against sin. When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, he was suffering the punishment due sinners. His death satisfied a righteous God’s justice. When we believe … Continue reading
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How can you say you’re saved, but then expect Jesus to judge you?
We believe that Jesus will judge us simply because the Bible says so: “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every … Continue reading
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Is it possible for Christians to lose their salvation?
A simple Yes or No answer ignores the fact that salvation has different aspects to it, like a house has several rooms. A house may catch on fire, but only a room or two may be lost, not the whole … Continue reading
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How is it that a child need not have to atone for her deeds, since the child was born with sin?
According to 1 John 2:2, Jesus atoned for the sins of the whole world. According to John 3:16, God limited the benefits of the atonement only to those who would trust in his Son Jesus. In other words, God has … Continue reading
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What is eternal life?
Eternal life is the state of enjoying communion with God. We enter into it by faith, but it is maintained by a faith that is demonstrated by good works and obedience. The person with eternal life has personal conviction of … Continue reading
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