Did you know that the spectrum of theological belief within all of Christendom can be viewed as a spectrum of belief about grace? That spectrum ranges from Universalism (everyone will be saved in the end) to Legalism (salvation is earned by rule-keeping), and everything in between. Most Christians fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The teaching that follows is designed to help you identify precisely where you are at on that spectrum, as well as evaluate if you should move from where you are. If you are, for example, Calvinist/Reformed in your theological perspective, you may be surprised to learn how near you are on the “Spectrum of Grace” to Universalism.

My wife and I recently watched Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin., a movie that I would recommend. An alternate title could have been, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Changes His Theology about Nonresistance.

Along those lines, I’ve got some food for thought for those who believe that the early church universally held to an Anabaptist view of nonresistance—the idea Christians should never physically do anything to defend themselves or others (the latter of which many of us consider to be a transgression of the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves).

One of the most liberating events of my Christian life was the moment I decided I was going to read the Bible honestly, believing everything as it is written, without trying to find ways to force my theology into passages that, on the face, seemed to contradict my theology.

As you might imagine, my theology started changing. It was so liberating to finally be able to accept many passages that I previously rejected—albeit unconsciously—because I was sure, yet self-deceived, that I was a “Bible-believer.”

If some Evangelicals (“born-again” Christians) are ever given the option to vote one verse from the Bible, I suspect it would be James 2:24: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

At face value, James 2:24 flatly contradicts the cardinal evangelical doctrine of “salvation by faith alone.” And that is the primary reason Reformer Martin Luther referred to the book of James as “the epistle of straw.” His disdain set the tone for all Evangelicals who followed him.

Now having 66 years to look back on, I can recall lots of ups and downs, and plenty of twists and turns, of my life’s journey. I’ve learned so many lessons along the way. How I wish I could have begun adulthood with the wisdom I’ve accumulated over the past five decades. It would have saved me so much pain!

I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith (Phil. 3:8-9).

According to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ name was given to Him by His Father. Recall that the angel Gabriel, whom He sent to Mary, said to her, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Facebook is full of posts containing “Christian” clichés, often presented as if they are profound truths.

Whenever we read one, however, we should first look for a Scripture reference that is offered for its support. I’ve noticed that many of them include no supporting Scripture reference. That should serve as the first warning. Biblical truth should be based on the Bible.

Imagine for a moment that you are fishing at the edge of a pond. You’ve been standing there all day, every day for months, continually casting your line, lashing the waters to foam. Thousands of worms have sacrificed their lives in the process. But for all your efforts, the only thing that has happened is that on one day, one fish jumped out of the water and spit in your direction. Pretty discouraging fishing.

There is a very simple reason that I don’t preach the false-grace gospel: I believe the entire New Testament, not just select verses that fit my theology.

For example, I don’t just believe Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.