Author: David Ellis

Don: The idea of the narrowing of the Way is mentioned twice by Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is…

Jay: At the end of last week’s discussion we began to explore a seeming contradiction in scripture. On the one hand, we are shown a picture suggesting that most people will be saved: After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and…

Don: Is Jesus truly the only way to God? After all, he said no-one comes to the Father except through him. Does this mean that only Christians can be saved? What about the billions today and throughout history who do not know or have not not known Christ, including those who lived before he came…

Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love…

Don: If we are saved by grace, what is the purpose of works? Scripture appears conflicted over the matter: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Romans and Galatians repeat…

Jay: Fruit is mentioned often in the Book of Matthew, For example: Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already…

Continued from last week The allegory of the vine and the branches is primarily about the bearing of fruit and not about salvation or ultimate judgment. If that is true then we should focus more on what fruit-bearing means. The scripture refers to four types of branch: 1. Non-fruit-bearing branches in Jesus. (John 15:2) 2….

Continued from last week Don: On the face of it, this seems to be a simple metaphor about those who are saved, those who are lost, and so on. But on closer inspection, it grows more puzzling. It seems as if the purpose of the vine is to produce fruit. Fruit is apparently the key…

Don: We have studied several of the “I am” statements of Jesus, including: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) which emphasizes God’s creative power. God created light in the Genesis, and he will create a world of light in the Revelation. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) which emphasizes God’s…