Grace and the Illusion of Control
By Ryan Couch
06/22/26
17mins

Grace and the Illusion of Control

The life we are trying to manage, improve, and secure is not something to be mastered. It is something to be surrendered. And this is where everything changes. Because in Christ, the approval we are seeking has already been spoken.
The Turk at the Door: Luther, Islam, and the Fate of Christendom in the 16th Century
Adam Francisco
Adam Francisco
06/19/26

The Turk at the Door: Luther, Islam, and the Fate of Christendom in the 16th Century

It is within this charged atmosphere that Luther’s writings take on their full significance. His responses to the Turkish threat were not merely reactions to military events; they were rooted in a deep theological reflection on the nature of God’s rule over the world, the responsibilities of Christian rulers, and the role of the Church in times of crisis.
AI Can't Save You
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
06/17/26

AI Can't Save You

Your God is not artificially intelligent, but the source of all intelligence (including yours).

All Articles

Seth Moorman
Seth Moorman
06/30/25

What Makes A Saint: A Saint Suffers

This is the third installment in the 1517 articles series, “What Makes a Saint?”
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/27/25

Tongues of Fire & Breath of God

The Church speaks not with the cleverness of men, but with the breath of God.
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
06/26/25

Dignity is not Enough: Thinking Biblically About Assisted Dying

I always imagined dying a faithful death for Christ would mean burning at the stake. Now, I suspect it will mean dying in my bed of natural causes.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/24/25

Modern Israel and Biblical Israel: What’s the Difference?

Is modern Israel the heir of the promises and covenant God made with ancient Israel?
Zack James Cole
Zack James Cole
06/18/25

A Cross in the Road: How Jesus Chooses You

Decisionalism expects you to raise yourself through a choice, but Scripture says only Christ raises the dead.
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
06/12/25

Dorothy Sayers and the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity is not so much the story of a “who-dunnit” as it is the story of the “who-is-it.”
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
05/27/25

Psalm 9: Blood Avenger and Mercy Seat

Should you then abandon David’s plea that God use his law against his enemies and send a Legal Avenger? No, the law must be preached to the Christian (insofar as he is not one).
Ryan Matthias
Ryan Matthias
05/22/25

At the Edge of the Abyss

Jesus dove into the waters of baptism, plunging into our deepest need to rescue us.
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
05/21/25

A Review of "Raised in Splendor: The Hope of Glorification for a Secular Age by Jason B. Alligood

Alligood is at pains to stress that glorification is not the result of our own efforts any more than sanctification or justification.
Aaron Boerst
Aaron Boerst
05/20/25

Gone Fishin'

Forgiveness from Jesus is always surprising to us.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
05/19/25

On Pornography, Hunger, and Holy Rescue

The Christ who rescues does not wait for you to be clean. He comes to clean you. He does not need your strength. He brings his own.
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
05/16/25

How to Remember Your Baptism

When you remember your baptism, you're not recalling a ritual. You're standing under a current of divine action that has not ceased to flow since the moment those baptismal waters hit your skin.
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
1517.org
Search
Academy
Donate

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.