Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Is the Label “Free Grace” Negative?

Is the Label “Free Grace” Negative?

May 5, 2017 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Free Grace

A few years ago J. B. Hixson gave a message at a 2013 Pastor’s Conference entitled, “Why I Am No Longer Free Grace.” In the message he indicated that his theology had not changed, but that other people who call themselves Free Grace had changed their theology. That’s why Hixson no longer calls himself Free Grace.

Yesterday I received a surprising email from a reader. The Free Grace Alliance is considering changing its name to the Grace Alliance because of branding. The leadership of the FGA feels that Free Grace now has negative connotations for some people and thus they feel a need to consider a change of name. Now it may become the GA. I suppose people from Georgia will like the change.

Frankly, I was shocked four years ago when I saw Hixson’s talk online and I’m shocked all over again today that the FGA may drop the word Free from its name.

Last year Wayne Grudem came out with a book criticizing Free Grace Theology: Free Grace Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel. In that book he criticizes both the FGA and GES, though he mentions the FGA about twice as much as he mentions GES (see Subject Index, p. 153). I personally think that now more than ever we need to defend Free Grace Theology and the label Free Grace.

The expression Grace Theology doesn’t mean much today since every flavor of Christianity claims to believe in grace: Catholic, Orthodox, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Churches of Christ, Calvinists, Arminians, Lordship Salvationists, etc.

I think the label Free Grace is a great one, even though that exact expression is not found in the Bible. The closest we get is Rom 5:15 which speaks of “the free gift.” However, there are lots of references to the free gift of everlasting life (e.g., John 4:10; Eph 2:8-9; Rev 22:17) and there are lots of references to grace in salvation (e.g., Acts 15:11; Rom 3:24; 4:4-5; 11:6; Gal 1:21; 2:21; Eph 2:8-9).

Free grace is a wonderful title. It is descriptive. It is an accurate summary of what the Bible teaches.

The FGA will vote on the proposed name change at its October annual conference. I hope they decide not to change their name. I hope those of us who believe in everlasting life as a free gift which is received by faith alone in Christ alone will continue to use the expression Free Grace to identify our position.

Is the Label “Free Grace” Negative?

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...
February 2, 2023

Romans–Part 04–The Problem

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright continue this short series about Romans. Jumping to Chapter 3, they begin with...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • The Journey of Faith $15.00 $9.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube