Paul Ellis's Blog, page 14

Do Christians have a Sinful Nature?

Ever heard the one about how you have two natures wrestling inside you and the one that dominates is the one you feed the most?

It’s not true.

Christian, you do not have a sinful nature. One with the Lord, you have a new heart and a new mind with new desires (1 Cor. 2:16). As a new creation, you get to share in the divine nature of Christ (2 Pet. 1:4).

You don’t have a sinful nature, but the devil would love for you to think that you do.

He will tell you that you are wic...

What is the True Significance of the Virgin Birth?

One of the central tenets of the Christian faith is the miracle of the virgin birth. Jesus had no earthly father but was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born from the Virgin Mary (Matt. 1:23, Luke 1:30–35).

What is the significance of the virgin birth?

The traditional explanation is that a virgin birth meant Jesus was unstained by Adam’s sin. Since he did not have a natural father, he did not inherit Adam’s sinful nature.

It is an oft-repeated explanation, but one that is not...

The Gospel in Ten Words – Tenth Anniversary

Ten years ago this week, my book The Gospel in Ten Words was released. To mark the anniversary, I thought I’d answer a few questions nobody ever asked, such as…

Why did you write The Gospel in Ten Words?

I blame readers. When I began writing Escape to Reality, readers would ask me, “When are you going to write a book?” Never. Having just spent two years writing a dense statistics text for a major university press, I had no interest in writing any more books. I was done.

What changed...

Is a Silent Wife a Gift from the Lord?

Recently in New Zealand, there was a job advertisement calling for a couple to manage a holiday camp. According to the ad, the ideal wife would have knowledge of Microsoft Office, know how to work the telephone, and be “of a quiet disposition.”

The implication was that vocal or outspoken wives would not be suitable for the job.

The ad created no small stir because in New Zealand we consider ourselves egalitarian when it comes to women’s rights. In fact, it is against the law to discrim...

How to Get Paul’s New Book Before It Goes on Sale

“You’re being selective with scripture.”

Ever heard that one? Tell people about the unconditional love of God and you’ll hear things like:

“You’re cherry-picking verses. You’re forgetting (insert tough scripture here).”

There is a perception that we who love grace ignore inconvenient scriptures. In response to this, I started a website called the Grace Commentary.

The commentary is a popular tool, but many people prefer books. I know I do. I want something I can hold in my hands and ...

Judged for Our Work and Living in Fear

A reader asked me how to read the following verse through a new covenant lens:

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth. (1 Peter 1:17)

Hmm, sounds scary.

Didn’t Jesus say something about having to give an account for every careless word? And didn’t Paul say something about being tested with fire?

Sounds like we’ve got some kind of big exam coming, and it’s going to b...

New Testament Scriptures Used to Support Original Sin

The doctrine of original sin says you were born bad to the bone and hostile to God. You inherited Adam’s rebellious and sinful nature and your kids are going to hell.

Contrary to what you may have heard, original sin is not Biblical. This manmade teaching comes straight out of Judaism and was introduced into the church by Tertullian and Augustine. It has been preached by just about everyone (including me).

In my last article I looked at several Old Testament scriptures which are ...

Old Testament Scriptures Used to Support Original Sin

Since publishing my article attacking the doctrine of original sin, several readers have asked “What about this scripture?” Some people seem to think original sin is biblical. It isn’t. Original sin is an old Jewish teaching wrapped up in Christian jargon. Augustine taught it, not Paul, and we would do well to get rid of it.

For those who came in late: Original sin says you inherited Adam’s sinful nature. You were hardwired to rebel. (Too bad if your parent’s were believers with a new nat...

The Religious Origins of Original Sin

For 2000 years the doctrine of original sin has taught that you were a natural born sinner, stained with Adam’s sin. From the moment you drew your first breath, you were hostile to the things of God and hardwired to sin.

My strong view is that original sin is unbiblical. Original sin is a manmade doctrine that is illogical and graceless. Like smoking, original sin is harmful to your health.

But if the Bible doesn’t say it, from where did Augustine et al. get the idea that we are ta...

Original Sin is Unbiblical

For years, readers have been asking for my views on original sin. While I have been happy to respond privately, I have never gone on record – until now. My latest ebook, Original Sin: What Does the Bible Really Say? will be released exclusively on Patreon this Friday, 5 August 2022. Here’s a taste…

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The doctrine of original sin is one of the most damaging lies ever inflicted on the human race. Developed by Tertullian and popularized by Augustine, original sin says we all inherite...