Free Grace Theology (FGT) is propagated primarily through a fantastic group of local churches. Most Bible colleges and seminaries teach either works salvation or some form of Lordship Salvation. As a result, most local churches do as well.
But there are pastors who have come to believe and teach FGT! And we rejoice in that. The aim of GES is to aid local churches in their promotion of FGT. Of course, we also want to aid Bible colleges and seminaries as well, since they are helping prepare the next generation of pastors, missionaries, and parachurch workers.
I discovered that an accredited seminary actually offers a course on FGT! To see the course syllabus, click here.
There have been quite a few Free Grace authors since GES was founded in 1986. Zane Hodges was and still is one of the most recognizable names of Free Grace authors. His writings and his teachings were instrumental in my life and in the lives of many people associated with GES.
It is a bit surprising, therefore, that the course on FGT mentioned above does not require any of the books by Zane Hodges in the course reading list.*
More surprising still is that one of the required books takes an unfavorable view of Zane Hodges and his writings.
I think a course on FGT should require at least one book by Zane Hodges, since he has been so instrumental in developing FGT.
As I was walking on the treadmill a little over a month ago (in preparation for a marathon I racewalked on Feb 27), I thought “How can GES help rectify this situation?” The idea hit me that we can give a free digital copy of Zane Hodges’s book A Free Grace Primer, which is three books in one, to all seminary students who request it.
In addition, we will give a free electronic copy of my book The Ten Most Misunderstood Words in the Bible to any seminary student who requests it. And we will throw in a pdf copy of Shawn Lazar’s book on assurance, Beyond Doubt. And we will also make available an electronic copy of Ken Yates’s book, Hebrews: Partners with Christ.
To receive electronic copies of these FGT books, just indicate your name and school in an email to ges@faithalone.org and on the subject line put “4 free electronic books on FGT for a student.”
GES is here to help. We think that all seminary students should read at least one book by Zane Hodges, especially seminary students who are taking a class in FGT.
By the way, GES plans to offer an online course, taught by me, on FGT this September-December. Required will be watching eight or nine 30–45-minute videos by me, weekly reading assignments that will include reading Zane Hodges, Shawn Lazar, Ken Yates, and me, writing six 1-to-2-page papers, writing one 8-to-10-page paper, and participating in an hour a week online discussion. The purpose of this course is to aid seminary students, pastors, church leaders, and others who want to have a solid grasp of FGT. The cost is $200 for people from the U.S. and other developed countries and $50 for people in developing nations. However, any student that completes the course with a grade of B or better will have his tuition payment refunded.
We do not yet have a web page for this course or a way to register for it. That should be put in place in June. But if you are interested in taking our course on FGT, email us at ges@faithalone.org and we will put you on a list of interested students, and as soon as the web page on the course is ready, we will let you know.
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*Later in the day in which this blog posted, March 23, I was informed that the school in question does require the book Absolutely Free by Zane Hodges in its soteriology course taught by the President, Dr. Dave Anderson. That course is a required course for every student at the school.
