The Peripheral issues of “Free Grace Theology”

The PeriPheral issues of “Free Grace Theology”

This document lists items which are often mistaken to be a part of the conflict between Free Grace Theology/The Teacher’s View (FGT) and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Listed below are issues to avoid focusing too much on because they are not an integral part of the fallacy with the FGT doctrine. 

1. The conflict does not involve whether or not salvation is by 100% grace. Both views agree that salvation is a free gift granted by grace through faith, not of works. 

However, the true Gospel involves the certain progression in sanctification in all believers as a result of this free gift. Thus, the progress in sanctification is itself a free gift. The FGT view states that this pre-death progress in sanctification is distinct from post-death eternal Life and is not present in all believers.  

2. The conflict does not involve the use of perilous hypothetical discussion. Rather, the conflict involves differences in understanding of the Scriptures’ descriptions of regenerate and unregenerate souls. We consider the many “If anyone…”, “Everyone who…”, “The man who…”, etc. statements in the Bible. 

3. The conflict does not involve whether eternal security is granted to all believers, but rather whether a person is saved in the first place.  

The true Gospel involves the maintenance of a believer’s faith until the end. Thus a true child of God will be kept in the faith until the end. If someone falls away, this is proof that the person was never a true child of God (1 John 2:19). The FGT view assumes that eternal security is granted to all who have had at least a moment of intellectual affirmation of the Gospel at some point in their lives. 

4. The conflict does not involve whether we have a right to pass condemnation/judgment charges on professing believers. Both views agree that final judgment is left to the righteous Judge, and we can only speak the Word of God and show Christ’s love to all, rebuking in love when necessary. 

5. This conflict does not involve whether or not a Christian can fall into sin, go astray, or commit a terrible crime. Both views agree that Christians do sin, and God forgives the sin of His children. However, the true Gospel removes the possibility for a Christian to continue in sin without repentance. We do not know the exact amount of time that God will allow His child to go astray, but we know that He will bring them to repentance, and that He allows this straying to reveal His glory and power in the face of the child’s weakness as He perfects obedience in him/her. The FGT view suggests that not only can a saved person fall into sin, but he/she can remain astray from God with no repentance until death.  

6. The conflict does not involve whether there are differences in maturity and progress in the process of sanctification among true believers. Both views agree that there is a broad range of maturity among believers and that believers are at different places in their journeys of sanctification.  

However, the true Gospel involves the certain progression in the Spirit-driven sanctification process for all believers. The FGT view suggests that though God initiates the sanctification process in all believers, some believers choose not to respond, and thus do not progress to any degree in the sanctification process.  

7. The conflict does not involve a dispute about the desire of God for the sanctification of His children. Both views agree that God desires for all of His children to be sanctified. 

The true Gospel involves the omnipotent result of God’s desire for His children to progress in the sanctification process: their increasing holiness. Whereas, the FGT view suggests that God’s desire for His children’s’ progress in holiness is not fulfilled in some of His children.  

8. The conflict does not involve whether or not there are professing believers who are not truly saved. Both views agree that there are professing believers who do not have faith, and are thus not saved. 

9. This conflict does not involve whether or not the sinful flesh is present in true believers. Both views agree that the sinful flesh remnant is present in true believers and should be resisted. 

However, the true Gospel involves the daily death to the sinful nature and the certain growth in submission to the Spirit rather than to the desires of the flesh. The FGT view suggests that some Christians remain exclusively in the flesh until death. The FGT view also believes that the sinful man is not dead, but remains alive, whereas the true Gospel involves the death of sinful man with Christ at the time of regeneration.

10. The conflict does not involve whether or not God’s disciplinary action is present towards all His children. Both views agree that God disciplines all of His children. 

However, the true Gospel involves the effectiveness of this certain discipline in the lives of all believers. The Father’s perfect and effective discipline results in the increased sharing of the child in the Father’s holiness. The FGT view suggests that though God disciplines all of His children, this discipline is not effective for some individuals. 

Why is Free Grace Theology so dangerous?

The understanding of the nature of a truly regenerate child of God has been dying in our nation in the recent time. The heresy of the modern day church culture is the granting of eternal security to professing unregenerate believers. Among large numbers of professing believers, there are a surprisingly smaller number of regenerate saved souls. The FGT doctrine seeks to bandage this fatal heresy and to whitewash this darkness. For those who are not brought to their senses and who do not repent, their false assurance will result in damnation. Rather than to proclaim the heretical FGT doctrine, we have a great need to preach to our churches about true conversion. Much of the New Testament explains the life of obedience that always results from true conversion. There is a Spiritual demand to preach on the characteristics of a truly regenerate soul. And for us who seek eternal security, may we continue in our belief in the Gospel. True belief in the Gospel always results in obedience. And when we are convicted as we read the Scriptural examinations/tests of our faith, may we seek Christ ever more strongly, and plead with Him to give us more faith and a deepening understanding of His Gospel, the fountain from which we draw each hour. As God tells us, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13), “The one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37), “None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned” (Ps 34:22), that He “is patient with you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (1 Peter 3:9), “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). When the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is a seal and guarantee of our inheritance, we understand that because the Spirit continues to convict us, inspire repentance and obedience, comfort, counsel, teach, lead…us, we know that we are His children and are known by Him. Without experiencing the ongoing work of the Spirit, the Scriptures grant us no assurance of eternal Life.