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Two Lists
I want to show you a list of 7 names. Count how many you recognize: Leonardo da Vinci Johann Sebastian Bach Ludwig van Beethoven Johannes Brahms Rembrandt George Gershwin Jackson Pollock I’m guessing...
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Why Read the Seven Letters to the Churches?
Did you know that Jesus sent letters from heaven? I suspect 90% of people do not know, and many of those who do know dismiss them as irrelevant. “The seven letters to the Revelation churches are not...
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The Dangers of Taking Bible Verses out of Context
Two men go to see the doctor. The first is suffering from advanced cancer and needs immediate treatment. The second is completely healthy and is going for a routine check-up. The doctor is a perfect...
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What Does it Mean that Judgment Begins at the House of God?
Yesterday I heard from a pastor who is a long-time Escape to Reality reader. He asked me about a particular scripture, and I directed him to the relevant page on the Grace Commentary. “What’s the...
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Why Do I Still Sin If I Am Saved?
Saint, you don’t have a sinful nature. The old sinner you used to be has been crucified with Christ. One with the Lord you have his heart, his desires, his spiritual DNA, his mind, and his holy...
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What is the New Covenant?
Imagine going through 12 years of school and never being taught how to read or write. Your teachers taught you maths, music and physical education, but they neglected to teach you the basics of...
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The Old vs the New Covenant
Are you familiar with Biblical covenants? Reading the Bible without understanding covenant is like going to a medicine cabinet when you are ill and swallowing whatever pills you find. You might get...
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Keywords of Grace and Law
Every Bible teaching, sermon or message you have ever heard has been one of three kinds: law-based, grace-based, or a mixture of grace and law. A law-based interpretation puts the emphasis on you and...
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The Two Books Your Pastor Reads
My dad was a pastor and when he died young I inherited all his books, Bibles and commentaries. When I became a pastor, I bought more Bibles and commentaries. I have quite the library. Your pastor...
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Which Bible Commentaries Are Grace Based?
As a young preacher preparing to preach, I needed to take care that I didn’t say anything stupid. For this reason, I would check my sermon notes against one or two of my favorite Bible commentaries. I...
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Does God Accept Me?
Recently I was listening to a podcast that said young men are becoming emasculated because they live life through a screen. They don’t take risks, they don’t leave home, and they definitely don’t ask...
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What If I Deny the Lord?
List all the verses that scare people and this one would be near the top: “If we deny him, he will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:12). Having been raised on a diet of Chick Tracts, I used to worry that I might...
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How To Tell if Your Commentary is Grace Based?
Do you know how to stay free? We stay free by testing everything. We test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). We test teachings to see if they align with scripture (see Acts...
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How Does God Respond When I Sin?
We all stumble from time to time. We all make mistakes. Even you. Even though you are 100% righteous and holy in Christ, your behavior is not 100% righteous and holy. From time to time… you sin. And...
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What About the Rebukes of Revelation?
“God is not mad at you, he’s mad about you.” “Oh, yeah? What about the rebukes of Revelation? How does that fit your lovey-dovey grace theology?” Tell people that God loves them just as they are and...
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Why Am I Not Spiritually Fruitful?
Did you know you have been chosen by God to bear fruit? Jesus said: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last… (John 15:16)...
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Gems from Galatians
Galatians is a small but precious epistle. It is full of treasures. It has 149 verses and in my forthcoming book, The Grace Bible: Galatians, I unpack every one of them. Here’s a taste: I have been...
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God’s Plans Are Better Than Your Plans
The story of my life: I made a plan and God laughed. Because I am a pastor’s kid, many assumed I would become a pastor. “Not me. No way. No how.” Then I became a pastor. Because I blog about grace,...
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What Does It Mean To Have Our Ears Tickled?
When I visit church websites one of the first things I look at is their sermon index. I want to see what is being preached. Do they preach the good news of Jesus? Or do they preach something else. I’m...
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Are the Gentiles Under the Law?
Are the Gentiles under the law? Were the Gentiles ever under the law? Your answers to these questions depend on how you define “the law.” My answers to these questions are “no, with a but” and “sort...
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Out today: The Grace Bible – Galatians
The latest installment in the Grace Bible series has just been released. It’s called The Grace Bible: Galatians and you can get it on Amazon. Why do we need another book on Galatians? Like every...
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Kept in Custody Under the Law
When you see the law mentioned in the Bible, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think “the law” = the Law of Moses. If so, you may dismiss chunks of the New Testament as “not for me.” You might think,...
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7 Reasons Why You Can’t Lose Your Salvation
If you are worried about losing your salvation, here’s a question: When you were born again, did you do it? Did you remake or re-create yourself? Did you somehow join yourself in spiritual union with...
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Blessed With Every Blessing
Back in the 1980s, I smuggled Bibles into China. I can remember the tears of joy that Chinese believers shed had when they received their first Bibles. Until they got a Bible, Chinese believers mostly...
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Is the Grace Bible the New Covenant Study Bible You’ve Been Waiting For?
The “check engine” light had been showing on my dashboard, so last week I took my car in to get checked by the mechanic. Turns out my car has been running lean. Too much air and not enough gas was...
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What is a Grace Bible Church?
I have visited hundreds of churches, and I have discovered that some churches may have “grace” in their name, but not in their DNA. They don’t provide what they’re advertising. Which is a shame,...
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Out today: The Grace Bible – Ephesians
Ephesians may be the most important letter Paul ever wrote. In this epic epistle Paul covers the full sweep of God’s plan to rescue you, restore creation, and reunite heaven and earth under one head....
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Because of His Great Love
When I read a book in the Bible, I like to list my favorite verses and words in that book. As you may know, I spent much of the past year diving deep into Ephesians. My favorite words from Ephesians...
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Once Saved, Always Saved?
Ever broken a promise, failed to keep your word, or been late for an engagement? Of course you have. Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may disappoint God. After all, isn’t...
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How to Find a Grace Bible Church?
Back when I was a brand new pastor, there was one kind of phone call I got more than any other. “Hi Paul, do you have the number for John (or Jane or Joe)?” I thought people would ring me for...
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Reading the Bible with Humility
The number one reason why we have trouble growing in grace, is we don’t have a teachable heart. “Repent and believe the good news,” said Jesus. That’s not just for unbelievers; that’s for all of us....
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Why do I Need a Bible Commentary?
“Why does anyone need a commentary to tell them what the Bible ‘really’ means?” This question was put to me by someone on Facebook. It’s a fair question and it was followed by another: “Isn’t God’s...
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Is “Love your Neighbor” Part of the New Covenant?
If there is one book that highlights the dangers of mixing grace with law it’s Galatians. Which is why I am always surprised when people use Galatians to mix grace with law. You wouldn’t think it was...
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Am I Completely Forgiven?
You’d be surprised how hard it is to convince some people that God has forgiven all their sins – past, present, and future. “Sure, I believe God loved me enough to send his Son to rescue me, but has...
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What Did James Say About Grace?
“Did James understand grace? Were he and Paul on the same page? Are we saved by faith plus works like he said? Should his book be in the Bible?” People have been asking these questions for hundreds of...
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What is the Hope of His Calling?
There is a prayer in the Bible that goes right over our heads. Here it is: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of his calling, what are the...
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What is the Grace Bible?
What is the Grace Bible? The Grace Bible is your grace-based, easy-to-read, new covenant study Bible. Unlike other study Bibles that burden you with guilt and leave you confused, the Grace Bible has...
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Your Christmas Sorted
Christmas is the season of giving, so next week I plan to send Escape to Reality subscribers a special gift. It’s a little something I think you will love. (Not a subscriber? Sign up now. It’s free!)...
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Bad News, Good News, Thank Yous
In my last email, I promised E2R subscribers a special Christmas treat. I said I had “a little project” I was working on. Well, I have bad news and good news. The bad news is I didn’t get it finished...
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Is the Christian Life a Marathon or a Sprint?
Have you ever noticed how the older you get, the harder it is to run? I used to run 10ks and half-marathons. I once jogged a 50km trail in seven hours. But that was a long time ago. These days, my...
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Why do I need a New Covenant Bible Commentary?
The Bible is a big book. We need help if we are to make sense of it. This is why people write Bible commentaries and study Bibles. Commentaries and study Bibles illuminate scripture by describing the...
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Have I Shipwrecked My Faith?
Some people spend more time thinking about their faith than they do about Jesus. They worry they don’t have enough faith or they may lose it. Which is a pity. If they spent more time thinking about...
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The Most Underrated Book in the Bible
The book of Philemon may be the most underrated book in the Bible. Like some of Shakespeare’s obscure plays, Philemon is a book people say they’ve read when they haven’t. Have you read it? Do you know...
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Beware Dogs and Evil Workers
On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the...
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Out today – The Grace Bible: Philippians, Colossians & Philemon
Two weeks ago, E2R readers got a free copy of my grace-based commentary on Philemon. If you prefer a printed book, you will be pleased to know that the new book goes on sale today. It is available on...
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Let No One Disqualify You
I enjoy watching marathons and ultras. I love watching runners flog themselves for miles and miles, and I cheer when they cross the line. But recently, I saw something that made me shout with despair....
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Get The Silent Queen FREE – today only
When I wrote my book encouraging women to speak up in church, I got three types of responses from readers: This is unbiblical – women need to know their place/stay silent, etc. This is unnecessary –...
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What Verse Should they Display in Churches?
Imagine you have been asked to pick a verse to display in your church sanctuary. What verse would you pick? Some churches display the Ten Commandments, which is not a good choice. The law is holy,...
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God is Righteous in Making the Sinner Righteous
Years ago I heard Joseph Prince say, “God is righteous in making the sinner righteous.” When I heard this, my spirit responded with a hearty “Amen!” But this was one of those times when my spirit...
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What is the Most Important Word in the New Covenant?
We who preach grace like to draw lines between the old and new covenants. We say things like, “In the old covenant, the emphasis was do, do, do, but in the new it is done, done, done.” We talk about...
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