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
→
Grace in Focus Articles
→
Does a Biblical View of Grace Actually Promote Sin?

Does a Biblical View of Grace Actually Promote Sin?

January 1, 1989 by Bob Wilkin in Grace in Focus Articles

Never. Never. Never. Never. Never!1


Notes

1In the great tradition of dramatic disclaimers, such as the Apostle Paul’s in Romans 6:1-14, Shakespeare’s in King Lear, and Sir Winston Churchill’s in his famous Harrow School address, GES says “Never!”

People who hold to Lordship Salvation or Works Salvation are rarely charged with promoting sin because they don’t teach that salvation is a free gift which costs the recipient nothing. Rather, they say that one must buy salvation by paying a heavy price-“all that I am or ever hope to be.”

We who hold to a free grace view of salvation are often charged with promoting sin since we teach that salvation is a free gift which costs the recipient nothing and that one can be absolutely sure of his eternal salvation at the moment he puts his trust in Christ.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines the word “promote” as “to publicize a product in order to sell it” or “to help the progress of” (p. 535).

We certainly do not publicize so as to sell sin. Nor do we help its progress. Rather, we preach against it.

We warn believers that sin pays terrible wages in this life and in the life to come.

We teach that God disciplines His children and that the severity of the discipline increases with the degree of sinful behavior. The more a believer sins, the more he invites and receives painful chastising from the heavenly Father(1 Cor. 11:30; Heb. 12:3-11; James 5:19-20).

We point out that believers who indulge in a life of sin forfeit the contentment, joy, and peace that marks the lives of obedient believers (Gal. 5:22-23).

We preach and teach the Judgment Seat of Christ. Faithful believers will have treasure and a special abundance of joy eternally (Matt. 6:19-21; Gal. 6:7-9). They will rule with Christ (Luke 19:11-19; 2 Tim. 2:12). However, by contrast, unfaithful believers will not have treasure or an abundance of joy and they will not rule with Christ (Matt. 6:1-21; Luke 19:20-26; Gal. 6:7-9; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 John 2:28). To squander the potential abundance of one’s eternal life by living an unfaithful life now means that forever one will be limited to enjoying the minimum amount of joy possible.

The Apostle Paul wrote a number of letters to a church which he founded which contained many carnal believers. These believers were living like the unsaved people around them (1 Cor. 3:3). Yet when Paul wrote them he did not question their salvation (1 Cor. 1:2; 3:1-3). Rather, he affirmed their salvation but told them that those who indulge in sin will forfeit joy, peace, and contentment now and will forfeit rewards in the kingdom (1 Cor. 3:10-15; 6:9-11; 9:24-27; 11:30). If even the Apostle Paul couldn’t ensure that all of his converts would live holy lives, neither can anyone today.

We, like Paul and the other authors of Scripture, preach and teach against sin. We promote holiness. We simply do not do so in the way Lordship Salvation or Works Salvation teachers do (i.e., by altering the gospel and eliminating assurance).

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • 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.

Cart

Recently Added

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...
February 2, 2023

Are Believers Today Under the New Covenant? 

A pastor friend whom I’ll call Dave has been studying the New Covenant lately. We’ve had a few excellent conversations about it. I thought I’d...
February 1, 2023

Romans–Part 03–Wrath

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates are continuing their discussion of the book of Romans. How is the book...

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

  • Inerrancy for Dummies $7.95 $5.00
  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
  • The Journey of Faith $15.00 $9.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $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