Category Archives: Rebuilding the Foundations

Rebooting Redemption: An Ancient Perspective on Jesus’ Atonement

Posted on 08/27/2024 by Paul Pavao

Purpose of This Series of Posts Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 are written. Honestly, I probably wrote too much and got too far into the definitions of “redeem” and “redemption” in this first post. You should skim … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Evangelicals, Gospel, Holiness, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations, Teachings that must not be lost, Through the Bible, Verses Evangelicals Ignore | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Danger of False Assurance: Can a Saved Person Go to Hell?

Posted on 08/16/2024 by Paul Pavao

Assurance We like to assure a new convert that they have eternal life. We point them to verses like John 6:47 and 1 John 5:13 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. (John 6:47) … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Evangelicals, Gospel, Holiness, Modern Doctrines, Protestants, Rebuilding the Foundations, Teachings that must not be lost | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jesus Triumphantly Rescued Us! Atonement by Ransom

Posted on 04/30/2024 by Paul Pavao

From a comment I put on Facebook: It was not until yesterday that I realized the full import of Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14. Both are saying we have been released because we were ransomed by his blood (Gr. apolutrosis), … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Christianity, Gospel, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations, Teachings that must not be lost | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Galatians Promotes and Requires Works, Which Can Only Be Done by the Spirit, Not by Flesh/Law

Posted on 10/16/2021 by Paul Pavao

This stuff isn’t deep or hard to find. It is sitting right on the surface. Walk in the Spirit, and you will be “perfected,” which, as he goes on to say, means producing the fruit of the Spiriit and continuing in good works. You will need those good works to reap eternal life (Gal. 5:19-21; 6:8-9), but you will never get them by the law. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Evangelicals, Gospel, History, Modern Doctrines, Protestants, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The “Broader Framework” of Salvation at the Heart of the Apostle Paul’s Teaching

Posted on 02/13/2021 by Paul Pavao

Today I wrote on Facebook that I would pay my entire retirement account if by doing so I could magically impart an understanding of the preface of Matthew J. Thomas’ new edition of Paul’s “Works of the Law” in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Early Christianity, Evangelicals, Gospel, Holiness, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

When Christians Conquered a Nation

Posted on 01/25/2021 by Paul Pavao

This was written very close to the year 200, to the Roman emperors, who almost certainly never read it, but the words have been preserved. This is what conquest of an empire by real Christians looks like: This is long, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Early Christianity, Evangelicals, History, History (Stories), Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations, Teachings that must not be lost | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Steadfast and Trustworthy Love of God

Posted on 01/05/2021 by Paul Pavao

Job 9:32-35 (NIV): [God] is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Kind and Merciful Judgment of God

Posted on 12/04/2020 by Paul Pavao

Biblical teaching on the judgment is critically important. Many churches insult God by portraying him as merciless, a cruel deity who would torture a human for eternity for one sin because he is “holy” and “just.” (What sort of holiness … Continue reading →

Posted in Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Evangelicals, Gospel, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Elementary (First) Teachings of Christ: Hebrews 6:1-2

Posted on 11/20/2020 by Paul Pavao

In Hebrews 6:1-2 is a list of the foundational teachings of the Christian faith. These are the “first things” of the teachings of Christ, and from these we “go on to maturity.” The six foundational teachings listed by the writer … Continue reading →

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The Judgment by Works: The Most Important Doctrine to Learn from the Early Church Fathers

Posted on 11/02/2020 by Paul Pavao

I wrote the following in a comment on Patristics for Protestants about what is the most important thing to learn from the early church fathers. There are several quotes from the earliest fathers in my comment, but I give you … Continue reading →

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