Paul Ellis's Blog, page 7

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 pastor, I have preached on Galatians countless times. It’s the standard sermon on why we need to stay free from the law.

But here’s something odd.

While writing this book, I browsed numerous commentaries and found none that was free from mixture. Every one of them preached law, inclu...

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 of, yes, it depends.”

I am fascinated by “the law” because the phrase means different things to different people. In my article, “What is the law in the Bible?” I identify no less than 12 types of law that are mentioned in scripture. These include the Royal Law, the Law of Christ, and t...

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 not trying to be the Church Policeman, but we have been called to preach the good news (Mark 16:15). It’s what the world most needs to hear, and if Christians don’t share it, who will?

You can preach the good news a thousand different ways. You can preach it from any book in the Bible...

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, some said I should write a book. “Not going to happen.” It happened.

Because I love unpacking scripture, some suggested I make a Bible commentary. “Not a chance.” And now I’m writing a commentary.

It’s funny how life works out.

Despite my initial reluctance to do these things, I...

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 crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)

I have been crucified with Christ. My old self – the one that was co...

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)

One way that we show that we are disciples of Christ is by bearing his fruit (see John 15:8). But how do we do that? How do we become spiritually fruitful? And why are some Christians unfruitful?

Fruitfulness is the product of intimacy. So the way to a fruitful life is knowing God in yo...

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 someone will invariably point to those scary seven letters to the churches at the back of your Bible.

“Haven’t you seen how Jesus spoke harshly to the Revelation churches? ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline’ (Rev. 3:19). God expects us to be holy. If we’re not holy, we can ex...

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 what does God do when you sin? Here’s a list of 7 things God doesn’t do when you sin:

God does not smite you with judgmentGod does not condemn youGod does not scourge youGod does not give you sicknessGod does not withdraw his presence from youGod does not kick yo...

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 17:11). And we test our Bible commentaries to see if they fully proclaim the gospel of Christ.

I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:19b)

In an earlier article I said that your pastor reads two books – a Bible and a Bible commentary. Many Christians have been profou...

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 lack the courage to maintain my faith in the face of persecution. As an occasional Bible smuggler, I sometimes wondered what I might do to avoid a Chinese prison sentence.

If someone held a gun to my head would I deny the Lord? And if I did, would he deny me? Would he kick me out of the ...