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Do Paul and James differ on the matter of faith and works?

It has long been suggested that Paul and James are at odds when it comes to matters of faith and works. Some suggest that while Paul teaches salvation

Preach the Law, Then Preach Grace

Dec 1, 2020

To appreciate the good news we must first hear the bad news:

It is always amazing just how biblically illiterate some folks are. Worse yet, there are plenty of Christians who think they know everything about the Bible, when it

Just what is the scandal of the cross, and why is it so offensive?

The cross of Christ is scandalous. The Apostle Paul made that clear in 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 where we read: “For Jews demand signs and Greeks

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, and the Christian Life

Jul 24, 2020

Some absolute gems from the C. S. Lewis classic:

As a fairly new Christian I was introduced to the great Christian apologist C. S. Lewis almost 50 years ago. Soon I had bought nearly all of his books and I

Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner?

Jun 1, 2020

Thoughts on ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’:

There are plenty of maxims, sayings, and clichés that routinely flow from the lips of believers. Some are more or less faithful to biblical truth while some are much less so. The

Christians cooperate with God in their growth:

Let me preface my remarks with a few qualifying words. First, this will be a rather brief piece. I am on the road again doing some speaking and things are rather busy. So

On Religious Sectarianism, Once Again

Jan 28, 2020

I need to keep saying why I believe what I believe:

While there are different forms of sectarianism out there, I am here focusing on that found in the Christian camp. One definition of sectarianism is this: “excessive attachment to

“Test Yourselves To See If You Are In the Faith”

Oct 17, 2019

We all must examine ourselves in the light of the parable of the sower:

The admonition of my title comes from 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB). Other versions speak about examining ourselves, and so on. The point is to make sure

Do You Ever Feel Like Giving Up?

Sep 12, 2019

When you are tempted to give up, think on these things:

I don’t know about you, but being a bit of a melancholic, I can often get discouraged and even be tempted to give up. Not to give up on

Did Jesus Take the Father’s Wrath? Part 1

Sep 10, 2019

Was Jesus punished by the Father, receiving his wrath at Calvary?

Some Christians find it problematic, questionable, or even false, to suggest that the Father poured out his wrath on his Son at Calvary, and that the Son accepted –

Did Jesus Take the Father’s Wrath? Part 2

Sep 10, 2019

Was Jesus punished by the Father, receiving his wrath at Calvary?

In Part 1 one of this article I looked at two answers to the question raised in my title. I looked at one key passage on this, Isaiah 53,

Here we find combined great art and great theology.

Those who are somewhat switched on not just to basic Christianity but to the world of great art will know that I have a double meaning in my title. I refer

Difficult Bible Passages: Galatians 3:13

Sep 5, 2019

What does it mean when we are told that Christ became a curse for us?

This first half of this verse says this: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” It is

Sin, Adam, Christ, and a Little Latin

Jul 22, 2019

An odd title, but some might find theology to be a little odd. But theological investigations can be of real use in helping us better understand Scripture. And sometimes knowing a bit of Latin can be rather useful as well.

On Original Sin – Part One

Jul 18, 2019

Let me begin with a few prefatory remarks. This is just an overview of one Christian issue which Christians can well differ on. I happen to have a point of view on this, but I realise that there is some

On Original Sin – Part Two

Jul 18, 2019

The first half of this article introduced the concept of original sin and looked at a number of biblical passages that can be used to support the idea. Here I need to offer some remarks about how this has played

Christian Assurance

Jul 12, 2019

Most Christians can struggle at times with doubts about their walk with God. They might question if they really are Christians or not. Such internal struggles may be a good sign indeed – those who are not believers would not

The God of Israel

Jul 1, 2019

“I the Lord do not change.” We find that statement in the Old Testament – in Malachi 3:6. The New Testament affirms the same truth. For example James 1:17 says this: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming

Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians 2

Oct 27, 2018

I have often written about the incredibly gifted and anointed Welsh preacher and teacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Many times I have spoken about his tremendous 14-volume set of expository sermons on the book of Romans. No Christian library should be without

The Vital Importance of the Biblical Doctrine of the Fall

Oct 10, 2018

Biblical revelation tells us about what God first intended, what went wrong, and how things can be corrected. That is, Scripture gives us the story of creation – including the creation of man and woman; it presents to us the

About CultureWatch

We live in an age where we see evidence of cultural decline, the erosion of values, the decline of civility, the denial of truth and the elevation of unreason. Many people are asking, “Where is our culture heading?” This website is devoted to exploring the major cultural, social and political issues of the day. It offers reflection and commentary drawing upon the wealth of wisdom found in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It offers reflective and incisive commentary on a wide range of issues, helping to sort through the maze of competing opinions, worldviews, ideologies and value systems. It will discuss critically and soberly where our culture is heading. Happy reading!

Bill Muehlenberg

CultureWatch

Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day...

James, Paul, Faith and Works

Do Paul and James differ on the matter of faith and works?

Preach the Law, Then Preach Grace

To appreciate the good news we must first hear the bad news:

The Scandal of the Cross

Just what is the scandal of the cross, and why is it so offensive?

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, and the Christian Life

Some absolute gems from the C. S. Lewis classic:

Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner?

Cooperating With God

Christians cooperate with God in their growth:

On Religious Sectarianism, Once Again

I need to keep saying why I believe what I believe:

“Test Yourselves To See If You Are In the Faith”

We all must examine ourselves in the light of the parable of the sower:

Do You Ever Feel Like Giving Up?

When you are tempted to give up, think on these things:

Did Jesus Take the Father’s Wrath? Part 1

Was Jesus punished by the Father, receiving his wrath at Calvary?

Did Jesus Take the Father’s Wrath? Part 2

Was Jesus punished by the Father, receiving his wrath at Calvary?

The Raising of the Cross

Here we find combined great art and great theology.

Difficult Bible Passages: Galatians 3:13

What does it mean when we are told that Christ became a curse for us?

Sin, Adam, Christ, and a Little Latin

On Original Sin – Part One

On Original Sin – Part Two

Christian Assurance

The God of Israel

Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians 2

The Vital Importance of the Biblical Doctrine of the Fall

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