All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).
In my second year at Dallas Theological Seminary, I took a course with someone with an unusual first name. Zane Hodges was teaching an elective on the book of Hebrews. In Greek. That class and that man changed the trajectory of my life. I had been what we now call Free Grace since I was born again in college, eight years earlier. But I had very little grasp of eternal rewards and of problem passages.
Over the next five years, I took every elective Zane offered. He was my first reader on my thesis and my dissertation.
After seminary, he mentored me from the founding of GES in 1986 until he departed to be with the Lord in 2008.
I am eternally grateful to Zane Hodges.
Among the many things he taught me was this gold nugget: “Don’t take my word for it.” He never wanted me to blindly accept what he taught. He taught me to be a Berean, to search the Scriptures and see if what he was saying was true (Acts 17:11).
There were multiple times when I disagreed with Zane’s interpretation of a given verse. We would discuss our disagreement. He did not mind at all. In fact, a few times I was influential in changing his view.i
I’m getting up there in years. I hope to be able to head GES for some time. But I don’t know the future.
I don’t want you to take my word for anything now. And I don’t want you to take my word for anything after I depart this life. That isn’t healthy.
The Free Grace movement has lots of patriarchs: Lance “Doc” Latham, R. B. Thieme, A. Ray Stanford, Zane Hodges, Earl Radmacher, Charles Ryrie, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Chet McCalley, Dick Seymour, and many others. But we must take care not to say (or even think), “I am of Radmacher,” “I am of Thieme,” “I am of Hodges,”ii or “I am of Ryrie.”
The apostle Paul rebuked a party spirit in the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians. He lamented: “Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor 1:12-13). iii
I love to read the writings of the Free Grace pioneers who preceded me. But unless and until I am persuaded by the text of Scripture (and by the Holy Spirit’s opening my eyes to the truth, Luke 24:45), I don’t accept as true what they write simply because I hold them in high regard.
GES does not follow the teachings of any one man or woman. That is a characteristic of cults and is deeply concerning. (BTW, this fall in our online seminary we are offering a course on cults, taught by Dr. Jeff Spencer.) It is our aim to follow Christ and His teachings. We are Biblicists.
Keep grace in focus, and you will remain a Berean.
