I am revising and reposting a blog post I did back in 2013.
The topic is as relevant today and some of the so-called "Grace
Teachers" have gotten more extreme. They have taken the critiques
against them and have sought to strengthen their arguments. Dr. Michael
Brown has met a couple of times with one of the Grace teachers (Joseph Prince)
and although he was encouraged by the meetings, and they were able to affirm
areas of agreement, and Brown wrote an article for Charisma magazine wherein he
lists the areas where they agree. In that same article Brown clearly
states however, that "Our principal area of disagreement remains his
teaching that the moment we are saved, our future sins are already pronounced
forgiven". ("My Meeting with Pastor Joseph Prince", Charisma
News. 26 Jan 2017).
So logically Prince continues to teach that a believer would
never have to ask forgiveness for any current and/or future sin because all
sins in the life of a believer are "pronounced forgiven" at the
moment of conversion. This is a false teaching. The early
Christians knew NOTHING of it. I can quote dozens of quotations from the
early Church fathers (in the 2nd and 3rd centuries). Some of whom were
actual disciples of the Apostle John himself (Polycarp, Ignatius, Papias).
Whenever they speak about this topic/doctrine ALL OF THEM, to the man,
disagree/contradict Prince's understanding of this critical doctrine.
They would all consider this a false teaching. I don't think they
would consider Prince entirely a false teacher (as the concept of a false teacher
is more comprehensive than someone who teaches a single false doctrine).
I fully concede that there are things I currently believe and teach that
may not be accurate (that would make them "false") but that wouldn't
make me a "false teacher" which the NT clearly describes as someone
who is not a believer or who is a total apostate. My prayer for Prince is
that he is willing to be corrected doctrinally by Dr. Brown and that he would
forsake the aforementioned falsehood.
Here is my original 2013 post for a 2017 audience:
Over the past couple of months, I have surveyed all of
Paul's letters in the New Testament (and the other books other than the
Gospels) and have found the following things to be true which the "Hyper
Grace" teachers are not saying. My contention is that these teachers
are very "selective" and cherry- pick verses (otherwise called
“proof-texting”) from Paul's Epistles that support their "novel"
concept of Grace and neglect dozens of other Scriptures that bring balance to
the precious New Testament doctrine of grace. In other words, what you
are about to read IS "The Grace Message" by the TRUE "Grace
Teachers" (i.e. the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Peter, the Apostle James,
the Apostle John).
I would agree with both Mike Bickle and with Dr. Michael
Brown that the error of these so-called "Grace Teachers" is they have
taken a truth to an extreme. They have had to do some serious
hermeneutical gymnastics to explain away the problem verses for their position
that everyone knows, and then "silent" about the dozens of others
that are not-so-well-known (see below).
I only spent about 2 hours with a concordance doing word
searches and so I would say that in no way is this an exhaustive list. Of
course what I have listed are the verses that challenge the Hyper Grace
teachings and by themselves would lead to another extreme position. The
balanced truth of the NT is found only when we bring all of these verses
together.
Here are some of the things I found which the verses
following will confirm:
1. Paul's letters are full of commandments he expects
believers to obey. Paul echoes Jesus' commandments and teachings in the
Sermon on the Mount and the Gospels on nearly every major point. The
irony is that Paul actually gives us more commandments to keep in all of his
writings than Jesus did in the Gospels!
Why would Paul reiterate supposedly Old Covenant
commandments (as the Grace teachers consider most of Christ's teachings in the
Gospels due to their appearance before the Cross)?
2. Paul speaks over and over again about sanctification as a
process – the grace teachers deny this.
3. Paul speaks about believers dealing with their
CURRENT and future sins.
4. Paul encourages believers to repent and
cleanse/purify themselves.
5. Paul teaches we still have an "earthly
nature" that needs to be killed. (Col. 3:5)
Why are the Hyper Grace teachers teaching that we no longer
have any sin to ever be dealt with?
Why would Paul command us to be/do things (i.e. "be
holy", "purify yourselves") that the Hyper Grace teachers say we
already are and to pursue things we already possess?
6. Paul speaks in numerous places about judgments coming
upon believers after the Cross if they don't walk according to God's
commandments and keep their commitments to the Lord (Rom. 13:2,4; 1 Cor. 5:1-3;
1 Cor. 11:29, 31; 1 Tim. 5:12, Heb. 10:26-27, 29-31 – also in Acts 5:5, 10,
James 5:9, 1 Pet. 4:17)
Why do so many grace teachers teach that there are no more
judgments when Paul makes so many references to judgments AFTER the
Cross? Not to mention the judgments of AD70 and the other judgments at the
End of the Age. Even if one is a Preterist (one who views most of the
judgments as being fulfilled in the 1st century), WHY would there have been any
need for any of them AFTER the Cross?
7. Paul speaks in many places of handing down the
"teachings" ("traditions")
8. Paul exhorts and rebukes (sometimes in strong and
seemingly negative and harsh ways)
9. Paul and the Church continued to fast (Acts 16:23)
10. Paul encourages self-examination – “examine yourselves
and see if you be of the faith” (1 Cor. 11:27;
11. Paul speaks of the need to endure, to persevere and of
rewards and punishments.
12. Paul conditions promises on obedience.
13. Paul teaches that apostasy is possible – people can and
do fall away and lose their salvation.
In addition the other authors of the New Testament (the
Apostle John, James, Peter) all teach exactly the same thing - I've included a
summary of their writings after summarizing Paul's.
Here is a summary of the teachings, commandments and
practices of the Apostle Paul which directly challenge the Hyper Grace
teachers.
Note: all of these are written to and for believers
Acts 13:2 - While they were worshiping the Lord
and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for
the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 16:23 - Paul and Barnabas appointed
elders for them in each church and, with prayer and
fasting, committed them to the Lord
(In include these two references from the Book of Acts
because they involved the Apostle Paul)
Rom. 13:2, 4 - Consequently, whoever rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do
so will bring judgment on themselves…But if you do wrong, be afraid
Rom. 13:12 - The night is nearly over; the day is
almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put
on the armor of light.
Rom. 14:23 - But whoever has doubts is condemned if
they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does
not come from faith is sin
1 Cor. 3:1-3 - Brothers and sisters, I could not
address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still
worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food,
for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You
are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you,
are you not worldly?
1 Cor. 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All
other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins
sexually, sins against their own body.
1 Cor. 7:19 - Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
1 Cor. 8:12-13 - When you sin against them in this
way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against
Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to
fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them
to fall.
1 Cor. 11:27-32 So then, whoever eats the bread or
drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of
sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone
ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from
the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the
body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why
many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But
if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come
under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this
way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not
be finally condemned with the world.
1 Cor. 15:33-34 - Do not be misled: “Bad company
corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you
ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say
this to your shame.
1 Cor. 15:22 - If anyone does not love the Lord, let
that person be cursed! Come, Lord!
2 Cor. 7:1 - Therefore, since we have these promises,
dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates
body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Cor. 7:8-10 - Even if I caused you sorrow by my
letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter
hurt you, but only for a little while 9 yet now I am happy, not
because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to
repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in
any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to
salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Cor. 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2 Cor. 12:20-21 - For I am afraid that when I come I
may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to
be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that
when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved
over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the
impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Col. 3:5 - Put to death, therefore,
whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,
lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Galatians 6:1 - Brothers and sisters, if someone
is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person
gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
1 Thes. 4:3-7 - It is God’s will that you should be
sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each
of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and
honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not
know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take
advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who
commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did
not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 Tim. 1:19-20 - holding on to faith and a good
conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with
regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and
Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to
blaspheme.
1 Tim. 5:11-2 - As for younger widows, do not put them
on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to
Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on
themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.
1 Tim. 5:20-22 - But those elders who are
sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take
warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and
the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do
nothing out of favoritism. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of
hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
1 Tim. 6:11 - But you, man of God, flee from all
this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and
gentleness.
2 Tim. 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training
in righteousness
Heb. 3:12 - See to it, brothers and sisters, that
none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the
living God
Heb. 5:8-9 - Son though he was, he learned
obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he
became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
Heb. 10:26-27 - If we deliberately keep on
sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no
sacrifice for sins is left,27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment
and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…29 How much
more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the
Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of
the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the
Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to
avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his
people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.
Heb. 10:36 - You need to persevere so that
when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Heb. 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us,
Heb. 12:4-5 - In your struggle against sin, you have
not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you
completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father
addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s
discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Heb. 12:14-16 - Make every effort to live in
peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will
see the Lord.15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of
God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile
many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,
Heb. 12:25, 28-29 - See to it that you do not
refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him
who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from
him who warns us from heaven? 28 Therefore, since we are
receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so
worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a
consuming fire.”
Here is a summary of the Teachings and Commandments of the
Apostle John, James, the Apostle Peter and Luke in Acts that challenge the
Hyper Grace teachers (Note: all written AFTER the death, resurrection and
ascension of Jesus Christ so therefore fully in the New Covenant.
Acts 5:5, 10-11 - When Ananias heard this, he
fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had
happened..…10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and
died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her
out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the
whole church and all who heard about these events.
James 2:24 - You see that a person is considered
righteous by what they do and not by faith alone
James 4:4-10 - You adulterous people, don’t you know
that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who
chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do
you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit
he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is
why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the
humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come
near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter
to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before
the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 5:9 - Don’t grumble against one another, brothers
and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each
other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous person is powerful and effective.
1 Peter 1:13-16 - Therefore, with minds that are alert
and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when
Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do
not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in
ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy
in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 2:1 - Therefore, rid yourselves of all
malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as
foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war
against your soul.
1 Peter 3:8-9 - Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be
sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not
repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with
blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a
blessing.
1 Peter 4:17-18 - For it is time for judgment to begin
with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be
for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is
hard for the righteous to be saved what will become of the ungodly and the
sinner?”
2 Peter 1:5-11 - For this very reason, make every
effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,
knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and
to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection,
love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is
nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their
past sins. (note: but NOT future sins) 10 Therefore, my brothers
and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and
election. For if you do these things, you will never
stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Pet. 3:14-18 - So then, dear friends, since you are
looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless,
blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s
patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you
with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all
his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things
that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort,
as they do the other Scriptures, to their own
destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned,
be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the
lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory
both now and forever! Amen.
1 John 2:3-6 - We know that we have come to know him if we
keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what
he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if
anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This
is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must
live as Jesus did.
1 John 3:7 - Dear children, do not let anyone
lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as
he is righteous.
1 John 3:23-4 - And this is his command: to believe in
the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded
us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
1 John 5:2-3 This is how we know that we love the
children of God: by loving God and carrying out his
commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.
And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God
overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our
faith.
1 John: 5:16-18 If you see any brother or sister commit
a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.
I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to
death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All
wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to
death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin;
the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm
them.
2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience
to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you
walk in love.
2 John 1:9-11 Anyone who runs ahead and does
not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have
God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the
Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching,
do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who
welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Rev. 3:3 - Remember, therefore, what you have
received and heard; hold it fast, and repent
Rev. 12:17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and
went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s
commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Rev. 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the
part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to
Jesus.
From all of these passages, it is clear that there are
commandments that we must obey, there are promises that are conditioned on that
obedience, that sanctification is a process, that believers are instructed to
confess their sins and repent, that people can and do fall away from the faith,
that we are expected to produce works (not works of the law but works of
faith), that the Apostles in no way contradict the teachings of Christ in the
Sermon on the Mount but rather confirm those teachings, strengthen them and
expand them. What is true is that we are empowered by Grace to do all of
this - this is the Grace message! We are saved by God's provision but we
must cooperate with that Grace. We are saved by Grace and that grace
produces works, works of faith. Legalism is a completely different issue
related to Paul's teaching regarding the Law of Moses and the Jewish belief
that they could keep it and thus become righteous through it. To accuse
people who believe and teach the above-mentioned verses as being
"legalistic" and somehow in opposition to the Gospel of Grace is
actually to "insult the Spirit of Grace and to fall short of the Grace of
God (Heb 10:29/12:15).
So to be balanced, it is to these passages that we ALSO
teach the finished work of Christ, our position in Christ, that we are adopted
sons and daughters who have been born again, set free, made holy and righteous
and whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. As we hold all of
these truths together, that we are "contending for the faith that was once
for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). This is the full
counsel of God; this is the Apostolic Grace message and according to Romans 5:2
it is this grace in which we stand!
