Articles By Portraits of Grace

Some blame the Jews, others the Romans. But who is really responsible for Jesus' death?

Is sharing the gospel in a postmodern age baffling you? John shows you the best way, the only way, to handle the postmodern mind.

Some say God's love is reserved only for the elect, that He has no love for the unbelieving world. Others say God loves everyone the same with an unconditional love. John points us back to a balanced biblical view of God's love.

History is crowded with men who wanted to become gods, but there is only one God who became a man - and His condescension is our salvation!

Some today say Christ has already returned; some flatly deny His return; but the Bible is very clear: Jesus is coming!

Let's be brutally honest: most of Jesus' teaching is completely out of sync with the mores that dominate our culture. The real Jesus was no domesticated clergyman; he was a bold, uncompromising Prophet who regularly challenged the canons of political correctness.

John MacArthur gives seven simple principles that will shed light on your decision-making.

John MacArthur identifies the effects of pragmatism that are subtly undermining the foundations of our faith.

If Christians are to become in practice what they are in position, then they've got to know their position — do you know yours?

The doctrine of sovereign election has always generated controversy. Maybe it's time to see what Scripture really says about it.

More than a decade ago, John MacArthur called modern churches to return to sound doctrine - we need to hear that call again.

What's so important about the doctrine of justification by faith?

Is sharing the gospel in a postmodern age baffling you? John shows you the best way, the only way, to handle the postmodern mind.

I have in my library a book by the spiritual father of a quasi-Christian cult. It argues that structured doctrine and systematized theology are contrary to the spirit of Jesus' ministry. The idea that Christ is anti-doctrine is a foundational belief of that cult. No idea is further from the truth. The word doctrine simply means "teaching." And it's ludicrous to say that Christ is anti-teaching. The central imperative of His Great Commission is the command to teach (Matthew 28:18-20).

Contrary to what some suggest, there is no magic phrase or mantra we can say that will bind Satan. But John MacArthur reminds us that God has not left us without a divine strategy for dealing with our enemy.

I am amazed at some of the things that have been said and written in recent years about the gospel.

One of the favorite topics on the evangelical agenda these days is how the church should "engage the culture." Do Christians need to imitate the boorish aspects of a quickly-decaying civilization in order to remain "relevant"? Some evidently think so.

John MacArthur examines the net result of the modern church-growth movement.

It's become common in every tier of society to pit doctrine against practice, as if right doctrine has no real significance in day to day life. In the ivory tower and on the street, ethics, social justice, and reducing our carbon footprint are the new vogue. But how do we as Christians approach the society and culture if our concepts of ethics and justice are not tethered to doctrines from the Bible?

Many evangelicals, ignorant and unconcerned of their Protestant roots, are blithely embracing Roman Catholics as brothers and sisters in Christ. They've become more concerned about offending and alienating Roman Catholics than they have in clearly articulating the truth.

Recently, while recovering from knee-replacement surgery, I decided to sample some of the current fare on TBN. It left me outraged and frustrated - and eager to challenge the misperceptions in the minds of millions of unbelievers who see these false teachers masquerading as ministers of Christ on TBN.

There are five groups of difficult people in your church that you have to deal with. Keep reading - you may be in one of them!

Jesus once told an inquiring lawyer that loving God with heart, soul, and mind is the greatest commandment. And the second, He said, is like it - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." That's no minor command - it's indispensable. So, what does it mean?

Showing sacrificial love to your wife is a daily responsibility, not a once-a-year act on Valentine's Day.

Well may we pause to pay honor to her who after Jesus Christ is God's best gift to men, mother. It was she who shared her life with us when as yet our members were unformed, into the valley of the shadow of death she walked that we might have the light of life.

Does the Bible denigrate women? Liberals and feminists repeatedly level that charge against the Bible - but that charge could not be further from the truth. Read on to see how John MacArthur helps to set the record straight.

Movies, myths, and traditions have many people confused about the birth of Christ. The real story is rooted in history, and the eyewitness testimony is recorded in Scripture. John MacArthur helps you separate fact from fiction in this timely article.

Politics and government. We seem to see them as necessary evils, bringing frustration in the present but still giving us hope for the future. Our contradictory attitudes about politics are revealing. We recognize the failure of human solutions, but at the same time we know something must be done to fix what's broken in the world. What man can't do, God has done; He's given the Messiah.

John MacArthur discusses the fundamental distinctives that all legitimate churches share.

The Master Builder has a blueprint for building the church. Are you following the plan?

John MacArthur examines the disturbing trend that has replaced true worship with entertainment.

There are five groups of difficult people in your church that you have to deal with. Keep reading - you may be in one of them!

More than a decade ago, John MacArthur called modern churches to return to sound doctrine - we need to hear that call again.

Depending on how closely your church adheres to the biblical pattern, it can be a valuable spiritual asset or a debilitating liability. Join John MacArthur in a careful study of Acts 2, where you'll see the divine blueprint for making a church all it was designed to be.

Depending on how closely your church adheres to the biblical pattern, it can be a valuable spiritual asset or a debilitating liability. Join John MacArthur in a careful study of Acts 2 where you'll see the divine blueprint for making a church all it was designed to be.

One of the favorite topics on the evangelical agenda these days is how the church should "engage the culture." Do Christians need to imitate the boorish aspects of a quickly-decaying civilization in order to remain "relevant"? Some evidently think so.

John MacArthur examines the net result of the modern church-growth movement.

The saturation in today's world of television, movies, and other forms of visual media has had an adverse effect on our ability to listen, think, and reason. It's as if the entire society is suffering from attention deficit disorder. Sadly, many preachers decided to make major accommodations to the appetites of a generation weaned on media and entertainment; but they left biblical preaching behind.

Many evangelicals, ignorant and unconcerned of their Protestant roots, are blithely embracing Roman Catholics as brothers and sisters in Christ. They've become more concerned about offending and alienating Roman Catholics than they have in clearly articulating the truth.

The systematic, expositional, theological, and God-centered preaching of God's Word should always be the heart and the focus of the church's ministry (2 Tim. 4:2). Sadly, that kind of preaching is in short supply these days.

Human philosophies come in and out of style. Every field of science known to man is constantly in a state of flux: changing, growing, discarding one maxim and replacing it with another. But one thing that never changes is the eternal Word of God. The Bible alone will give you the honest truth.

Many Christian counselors are guilty of ignoring the divine Counselor. It's time to rediscover His role.

Having trouble taking the gospel to postmodern people? Follow Paul's method of evangelism — they'll get the message.

The headlines tell the tale - gay is here to stay. What was unthinkable 20 years ago has become normal, and more changes are on the horizon. How should you respond to the gay agenda?

As society continues its mad quest to eliminate the family, and as our whole culture therefore unravels more and more, it becomes more important than ever for Christians to understand what the Bible teaches about the family, and to put it into practice in our homes.

Biblical integrity is so foreign to our world that those who have it are treated like aliens from another planet. Nonetheless, true integrity is the only way the unbelieving world will ever see Christ.

In an increasingly secular and ungodly culture, many Christians wonder about their role and duty. Should we lobby for rights that have traditionally belonged to us? Should we make every effort to implement a Christian agenda? Should we completely reform the government? The Bible speaks clearly about our duty, and it's all about governing…governing our character.

Some Christians dismiss environmental concerns as needless distractions. Others are ready to ban SUVs and live earth-friendly lifestyles. So where does John MacArthur stand on environmentalism?

One of the favorite topics on the evangelical agenda these days is how the church should "engage the culture." Do Christians need to imitate the boorish aspects of a quickly-decaying civilization in order to remain "relevant"? Some evidently think so.

John MacArthur examines the net result of the modern church-growth movement.

Society has suffered terrible decay as the love of iniquity has trumped noble character. Sadly, what Western culture once regarded as virtuous and good has become almost unrecognizable. Take a few minutes to consider the importance of character, find its source, and commit yourself to the quest - the quest for character.

The world may value compromise and tolerance as supreme virtues, but they have a devastating effect on preaching. As more and more evangelical pulpits reflect the surrounding culture, it's time for Christians to proclaim a distinctively biblical worldview.

Ask anyone today, "What is truth?," and you're sure to start an interesting conversation. Try it on a university campus and you're likely to receive laughter, scorn, and derision. The concept of truth has clearly fallen on hard times, and the consequences of rejecting it are ravaging human society. So let's go back to the starting point and answer the question: What is truth?

Let's be brutally honest: most of Jesus' teaching is completely out of sync with the mores that dominate our culture. The real Jesus was no domesticated clergyman; he was a bold, uncompromising Prophet who regularly challenged the canons of political correctness.

Former NASDAQ chairman Bernie Madoff ran a ponzi-scheme swindle for nearly 20 years, bilking an estimated $18 billon from Wall Street investors. It was the largest and most far-reaching investment fraud ever. But the wickedness of Madoff's embezzlement pales in comparison to an even more diabolical fraud perpetrated in the name of Christ under the bright lights of television cameras on religious networks worldwide every single day.

It may be hard work, but according to John MacArthur, self-discipline will yield more than temporal benefits.

John MacArthur discusses the marks and the chief ambition of a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

What does your knowledge of Christ have to do with running a race? John MacArthur shows you how effort relates to reward.

How you live your life makes the gospel believable or unbelievable. The world doesn't judge you by your theology; it judges you by your behavior. That's why the way to reach the lost has little to do with methodology and everything to do with holy living.

In an increasingly secular and ungodly culture, many Christians wonder about their role and duty. Should we lobby for rights that have traditionally belonged to us? Should we make every effort to implement a Christian agenda? Should we completely reform the government? The Bible speaks clearly about our duty, and it's all about governing…governing our character.

What makes a Christian minister successful: far-reaching influence, captivating oratorical delivery, soaring attendance figures at his church? John MacArthur takes you back to God's Word to find out what a true servant of Christ looks like and how God will judge him in the end.

John MacArthur provides an encouraging perspective about the kind of people God chooses to do His work.

The shift in American culture from character to image has turned vanity and pride into virtues. Where does that leave the virtue of meekness? Will the meek really inherit the earth? What is meekness, anyway?

Freedom or slavery - what's the distinguishing mark of Christianity? In a generation fixated on freedom, fulfillment, and autonomy, the vote has been cast early and often for freedom. But the Bible is abundantly clear - slavery is the heart of what it means to be a true Christian. It's time to reassert this unpopular notion: true Christians are slaves of Christ.

John MacArthur explains how the greatest injustice of all time is at the foundation of the sinner's redemption.

As questions come up about The Passion of the Christ, don't forget what makes Christ's death unique--He's not dead!

Rearing godly children means looking past their behavior to their heart — John MacArthur takes you there.

As society continues its mad quest to eliminate the family, and as our whole culture therefore unravels more and more, it becomes more important than ever for Christians to understand what the Bible teaches about the family, and to put it into practice in our homes.

Have you ever seen an irritated parent berating a child in public? Watching another parent give a verbal lashing or a brow-beating to a child can bring some healthy parenting introspection. You wonder, "Do I ever do that?" Here are some practical tips about what not to do in parenting.

Soccer, dance lessons, school activities - involvement options for families today seem to have no end. But how do all those "family" commitments affect local church ministry? Is it possible to put too much emphasis on the family?

John MacArthur provides an encouraging corrective to Christians who are prone to worry.

Some today say Christ has already returned; some flatly deny His return; but the Bible is very clear: Jesus is coming!

On February 9, 1969 John MacArthur preached his first sermon as a new, young pastor of Grace Community Church. This month marks 40 years in that pulpit, faithfully preaching the Word of God to generation after generation. Why does he do it? Here are John's top ten reasons.

John MacArthur calls church leaders back from the power politics of corporate executives to the humble--but noble--role of a shepherd.

When high-profile religious leaders are exposed in compromising scandals, it's tempting to think all Christian pastors are suspect. They aren't. But perception can often be greater than reality. The publicity of religious scandals make people think gross sin in the clergy is widespread, even normal. Many have asked, "Should we restore these pastors to ministry?"

Read an excerpt from John's latest book, The Book on Leadership.

When you think of an evangelical pastor, what images come to mind? Salesman? Stand-up comic? Corporate executive? Sadly, too many pastors today fit those professions better than the biblical prototype. But the apostle Paul paints a different picture in 1 Thessalonians, and it's all about character. That's John MacArthur's message to the men training for pastoral ministry at The Master's Seminary.

In a world of spineless compromise, it's refreshing to see anyone with a backbone. Do you have one?

John MacArthur has been preaching the Bible in the same pulpit for forty years. During those years, fads have come and gone, new theories have been proposed and dismissed, and John has stayed a course he set from the beginning - "Preach the Word!" Find out why preaching the Bible has been his singular commitment.

What makes a Christian minister successful: far-reaching influence, captivating oratorical delivery, soaring attendance figures at his church? John MacArthur takes you back to God's Word to find out what a true servant of Christ looks like and how God will judge him in the end.

The world may value compromise and tolerance as supreme virtues, but they have a devastating effect on preaching. As more and more evangelical pulpits reflect the surrounding culture, it's time for Christians to proclaim a distinctively biblical worldview.

The saturation in today's world of television, movies, and other forms of visual media has had an adverse effect on our ability to listen, think, and reason. It's as if the entire society is suffering from attention deficit disorder. Sadly, many preachers decided to make major accommodations to the appetites of a generation weaned on media and entertainment; but they left biblical preaching behind.

The systematic, expositional, theological, and God-centered preaching of God's Word should always be the heart and the focus of the church's ministry (2 Tim. 4:2). Sadly, that kind of preaching is in short supply these days.

Recently, while recovering from knee-replacement surgery, I decided to sample some of the current fare on TBN. It left me outraged and frustrated - and eager to challenge the misperceptions in the minds of millions of unbelievers who see these false teachers masquerading as ministers of Christ on TBN.

Return to God's pattern for marriage and discover the blessing God intended.

Having trouble taking the gospel to postmodern people? Follow Paul's method of evangelism — they'll get the message.

Jesus prayed for the lost with His dying breath--how important is evangelistic prayer to you?

Biblical integrity is so foreign to our world that those who have it are treated like aliens from another planet. Nonetheless, true integrity is the only way the unbelieving world will ever see Christ.

In an increasingly secular and ungodly culture, many Christians wonder about their role and duty. Should we lobby for rights that have traditionally belonged to us? Should we make every effort to implement a Christian agenda? Should we completely reform the government? The Bible speaks clearly about our duty, and it's all about governing…governing our character.

Well may we pause to pay honor to her who after Jesus Christ is God's best gift to men, mother. It was she who shared her life with us when as yet our members were unformed, into the valley of the shadow of death she walked that we might have the light of life.

As we think about Mother's Day, I'd like to approach it from a different angle this year. Many mothers work very hard, doing thankless tasks that seem to make no eternal difference. Do you ever wonder if your work is noticed? Do you ever wish someone would lift a finger to help you? Well, those thoughts aren't the sole possession of mothers, and they don't escape the attention of Scripture either.

As you go about the business of the day - working, attending school, driving, paying the bills, serving others, rearing children, caring for aging parents, or whatever it is - it's easy to lose sight of what's really important in life. That's why the narrative of Martha and Mary, the worker and the worshiper, is one of my favorites in Scripture. Here's one more lesson we can learn from these two extraordinary women.

Are you passing one of the greatest tests of your spirituality?

How you think about money and material possessions affects your desire for the highest call—the kingdom of God.

Some Christians dismiss environmental concerns as needless distractions. Others are ready to ban SUVs and live earth-friendly lifestyles. So where does John MacArthur stand on environmentalism?

John MacArthur has never been known to avoid political issues.

Let's be brutally honest: most of Jesus' teaching is completely out of sync with the mores that dominate our culture. The real Jesus was no domesticated clergyman; he was a bold, uncompromising Prophet who regularly challenged the canons of political correctness.

Former NASDAQ chairman Bernie Madoff ran a ponzi-scheme swindle for nearly 20 years, bilking an estimated $18 billon from Wall Street investors. It was the largest and most far-reaching investment fraud ever. But the wickedness of Madoff's embezzlement pales in comparison to an even more diabolical fraud perpetrated in the name of Christ under the bright lights of television cameras on religious networks worldwide every single day.

John MacArthur details one sure-fire method for taking your spiritual temperature.

It may be hard work, but according to John MacArthur, self-discipline will yield more than temporal benefits.

Jesus prayed for the lost with His dying breath--how important is evangelistic prayer to you?

When was the last time you really worshiped God? Take these practical steps to knock the rust off your spiritual life.

John gives practical, biblical advice on how to sharpen the divinely-implanted tool for Christian growth - your conscience.

When was the last time you really worshiped God? Take these practical steps to knock the rust off your spiritual life.

How you live your life makes the gospel believable or unbelievable. The world doesn't judge you by your theology; it judges you by your behavior. That's why the way to reach the lost has little to do with methodology and everything to do with holy living.

Question: What should a Christian have in common with a drunk? Answer: A life lived under the influence – and that's all.

The doctrine of sovereign election has always generated controversy. Maybe it's time to see what Scripture really says about it.

Drugs, therapy, entertainment - they're all used to silence a guilty conscience. But for the Christian, the conscience is the key to freedom.

What's so important about the doctrine of justification by faith?

Is sharing the gospel in a postmodern age baffling you? John shows you the best way, the only way, to handle the postmodern mind.

Do you live an unfulfilled life? Are you dominated by bad habits? Jesus may not be what you're looking for.

If you think the Bible's genealogies are just a boring list of names, consider Jesus' lineage - it's a fascinating picture of God's grace.

The Prodigal Son is one of the most beloved (and most misunderstood) stories of all time. Discover for yourself what Jesus was really driving at - you'll never read it the same again.

As questions come up about The Passion of the Christ, don't forget what makes Christ's death unique--He's not dead!

To look at the church today, you'd think the grace of God was like a gift from Santa Claus - no strings attached, no obligation required. Grace is a precious gift, but it's one that has a continuing effect on those who truly possess it.

Drugs, therapy, entertainment - they're all used to silence a guilty conscience. But for the Christian, the conscience is the key to freedom.

If God has forgiven all of your sins, why do you still need to confess them? The answer is more important than you think.

Most people are blithely unaware of the serious danger posed by sin's deadly grip on the human race. John MacArthur sounds the alarm on sin so that sinners will heed the warning, before it's too late.

Contrary to what some suggest, there is no magic phrase or mantra we can say that will bind Satan. But John MacArthur reminds us that God has not left us without a divine strategy for dealing with our enemy.

Jesus' exposition of the law is a devastating blow against the lie that image is everything.

Human philosophies come in and out of style. Every field of science known to man is constantly in a state of flux: changing, growing, discarding one maxim and replacing it with another. But one thing that never changes is the eternal Word of God. The Bible alone will give you the honest truth.

There's only one place to go to gain life's most valuable commodity. Why look anywhere else?

It is my conviction that the Bible is not difficult for the believing heart to understand. And the more I understand, the more unshakable is my conviction that the Bible is the living, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. It has this remarkable effect on me: the more I study it, the more I hunger to know. So God's Word not only satisfies my appetite, but also arouses an even deeper hunger for more. That's a craving I want you to have too, and here's a simple process to get you started.

John MacArthur has been preaching the Bible in the same pulpit for forty years. During those years, fads have come and gone, new theories have been proposed and dismissed, and John has stayed a course he set from the beginning - "Preach the Word!" Find out why preaching the Bible has been his singular commitment.

Bible study. Does the thought of it turn you on or off? Do you quake with guilt or tremble with eagerness? Here are some helpful guidelines on Bible study that can help you get more out of your personal study and enjoy it more, too.

If you think the Bible's genealogies are just a boring list of names, consider Jesus' lineage - it's a fascinating picture of God's grace.

The Prodigal Son is one of the most beloved (and most misunderstood) stories of all time. Discover for yourself what Jesus was really driving at - you'll never read it the same again.

The Thanksgiving season is a wonderful time to heighten your sensitivity to the blessings bestowed by God.