Dr Paul Allen

When it comes to Christian theology , just about all roads lead through Romans. Paul’s letter to the Romans is arguably the single most important piece of literature in the history of the world.  And chapter 8 is perhaps its greatest section. And Romans 8:31–39 is the climax. It is actually an inference from everything Paul says in Romans 5:1–8:30 about the glorious results of our justification. It’s as if the apostle takes a deep breath as he thinks back over Romans 5:1–8:30 , and then asks God’s people, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” ( Rom. 8:31 ). That second question is rhetorical, so it has the force of a proposition: Since God is for us, nothing can be against us. Paul then supports what he asserts with four proofs. Proof 1: God will graciously give us all things (Rom. 8:32). Paul is arguing from the greater to the lesser. If God gave us the greatest gift (i.e., he did not spare his own Son but gave him up...

Birth of Jesus Matthew 2:1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Even though the fact of Jesus’ virgin birth is clearly and concisely stated in Scripture, the unconverted mind of sinful humanity, as with all essential doctrines of the Christian faith , resists embracing the truth of His unique birth. First of all, ancient mythologies and world religions counterfeited Christ ’s virgin birth with a proliferation of bizarre stories and inaccurate parallels. These stories undercut and minimized the uniqueness and profound impact of our Lord ’s birth.  Several accounts illustrate the point. The Romans claimed that Zeus impregnated Semele without contact and produced Dionysus, lord of the earth. Babylonian religion asserted that a sunbeam in the priestess Semiramis conceived Tammuz, the Sumerian fertility god (Ezek. 8:14). Buddha’s mother allegedly saw a large white elephant enter her belly when she conceived the deified Indian philosopher. Hinduism teaches that the divine Vishnu, after livi...

The Holy Spirit ultimately makes the truth of Christianity certain in the hearts of believers ( 1 Corinthians 2:12–13).  He gives us absolute confidence in both God ’s Word and God’s Son, assuring us of our salvation and our heavenly hope (Romans 8:14–17).  As Josh McDowell and Don Stewart explain,  “To those outside the Christian faith , Christianity can be shown to rest on strong evidence and have a high degree of probability for its truth claims. But when a person becomes a Christian, the ‘assurance’ or ‘certainty’ becomes a reality. Christianity from a ‘morally certain’ standpoint becomes as undeniable as one’s own existence.” For Christians, then, the reasons surveyed in this book only confirm what they already know to be true. By the same token, it is the Holy Spirit who finally convinces the non-Christian of his need for a Savior (cf. John 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Evidence alone is not enough; only God can bring spiritual life where there...

Sarah Trimmer (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Giving all diligence , add to your faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge , etc." 2 Peter 1:5-6 If you would enjoy the eminent grace of the full assurance of faith , under the blessed Spirit's influence, and assistance, do what the Scripture tells you, "Give diligence." Take care that your faith is of the right kind--that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith, depending on Christ , and on Christ alone. Give diligent heed to your courage. Plead with God that he would give you the face of a lion, that you may, with a consciousness of right, go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get knowledge; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to confirm faith. Try to understand God's Word; let it dwell in thy heart richly. When you have done this, "Add to your knowledge temperance." Take heed to your body: be temperate without. Take heed to your soul: be temperate within. Get tempe...

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” ( Ephesians  3:12 )   There is a wonderful exhortation and promise in  Hebrews  4:15 -16 : “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted [that is, ‘tested’] like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”   We are not to come  presumptuously  or  arrogantly  to God in prayer, but we  can  come  boldly ! This is not by virtue of our own merits, of course, but because Christ Himself has opened the way for us. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus , By a new and living way, which he hath cons...

The Holy Spirit depicted as a dove, surrounded by angels, by Giaquinto, 1750s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) How, then, do we receive assurance? The Scripture declares that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God . This inner testimony of the Holy Spirit is as vital as it is complex. It can be subjected to severe distortions, being confused with subjectivism and self-delusion. The Spirit gives His testimony with the Word and through the Word, never against the Word or without the Word. Since it is possible to have false assurance of salvation , it is all the more urgent that we seek the Spirit's testimony in and through the Word. False assurance usually proceeds from a faulty understanding of salvation . If one fails to understand the necessary conditions for salvation, assurance would be at best a lucky guess. Therefore, we insist that right doctrine is a crucial element in acquiring a sound basis for assurance. It may even be a necessary...