Dr Paul Allen

English: Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Miniature of Saint Matthew. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) What saved us in the past, when we were still in our sins —fallen sons of Adam by nature—was the grace of God in the gospel.  Nowhere is that put more succinctly than in Ephesians : "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God , not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:8–9). But the New Testament can also speak about our salvation in the present tense—we are "being saved" (1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15)—as well as in the future tense—we "shall . . . be saved" (Rom. 5:9). There is only one salvation and one way of salvation. What occurred in our past, works itself out in the present, and comes to consummation in the future is all of a piece. Justification now leads to glorification then (Rom. 8:29–30). True, some talk unadvisedly about being "saved again," as though salvat

Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai. NB - slightly cut down - for full size see here (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 7:24-29 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock" ( v. 24 ). Some liberal scholars want us to believe that the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) do not share John's understanding of Christ 's authority (8:58; 10:30 ) since the first three evangelists record few, if any, of Jesus' self-identifications with Yahweh Himself. However, this "scholarly" assumption is false. In particular, Matthew records several teachings of Jesus that reveal the evangelist's high view of our Lord 's person and work (Christology). For example, Jesus claims for Himself the right to