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
  • Seminary
    • Seminary Info
    • Fall 2023 Classes
    • GES Seminary Curriculum
    • GES Seminary Faculty
  • 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 Free Grace Turn Heaven into Hell?

Does Free Grace Turn Heaven into Hell?

January 1, 1992 by Bob Wilkin in Grace in Focus Articles

A few months ago I presented a paper on Gal 5:21 at a meeting of Bible scholars in Kansas City, Missouri. During the question and answer time after my presentation, a striking question was raised. I had suggested in my paper that failure in the Christian life will result in loss of kingdom rewards, not exclusion from the kingdom. The question was thus raised, if liars, murderers, adulterers and the like will get into heaven, then wouldn’t heaven be hellish?

What is it about the idea that there will be those in heaven (i.e., in the kingdom) who in this life were liars, murderers, adulterers and the like that makes heaven hellish?

My questioner didn’t come up with a clear answer.

I pointed out that we of the Free Grace perspective do not believe that anyone with glorified bodies will sin in eternity. Thus those persons in question will be sinless in the kingdom, though they were carnal in their Christian experience.

That still didn’t satisfy my interrogator. He felt that it would be impossible to enjoy heaven knowing that some of our cohorts had been terrible people in their pre-glorification.

Frankly I don’t get it. If sinners can’t participate in God’s kingdom, then there won’t be any human being, other than the Lord Jesus, in it.

If some level of sinfulness disqualifies a person from kingdom entrance, then salvation is by merit through works, not by grace through faith. Such a system would likely produce pride and boastfulness in this life. Indeed this is exactly what we find in the case of the self-righteous Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). Of course, it is instructive to note that the boastful, self-righteous Pharisee is identified by Lord as being unsaved.

And why did Jesus need to die on the Cross if we must add something to what He did? Didn’t the Lord Jesus say that with men salvation is impossible? Didn’t Paul say that salvation is not of works (pre- or post-salvation) lest anyone should boast?

If carnal believers go to hell then Solomon will be there, for he ended his life as an idolator (1 Kings 11). Even his father, King David, would have to be considered suspect since after he was justified (Rom 4:6-8) he committed adultery and murder. What, too, about Peter who denied even knowing Christ three times on the night in which He was betrayed and who later contradicted the Gospel by withdrawing from Gentile believers in Antioch (Galatians 2)?

No, we of the Free Grace message do not turn heaven into hell. Rather, we hold forth the only hope of eternal life: faith alone in Christ alone! He did it all. “Nothing in our hands we bring. Simply to the Cross we cling.”

This issue and discussion has prompted me to write a poem with which I close.

Heaven for Sinners

Heaven for sinners? What a thought!
If we don’t pay, how is it bought?
The blood of Jesus, could that be the price? If it is, that would suffice.

A place for me in the City of Gold?
Can it be? Am I not too bold?
Yet if He paid it all, what’s left for me?
Only to accept that gift so free.

Whoever believes in Him will not perish.
That’s a promise I can cherish!
Not of works, it’s absolutely free.
Yes, heaven is even for me!

What a Savior! What a plan!
That saves an undeserving man.
Thank you Lord! I have no merit;
The praise is Yours and none can share it.

  • 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

September 22, 2023

What Does it Mean to Have “Great Faith”?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio/podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are talking something Jesus mentioned, namely “Great Faith.” What was Jesus talking about?...
September 22, 2023

Believing in Jesus for an Insecure Salvation? 

We post many of the messages from our annual conference on our YouTube channel. We’ve been putting up one per week. I like looking at...
September 21, 2023

Is Faith a Choice?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio/podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are responding to a question about faith. What is it? Which comes first–faith...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen on Google Podcasts

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

  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Six Secrets of the Christian Life (Second Edition, Includes Study Questions) $6.00 $4.00
  • Tough Texts: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works? $15.00 $10.00
  • Elisabeth: Christ's Medal of Honor Recipient $11.95 $10.00
  • The Gospel Under Siege: Faith and Works in Tension $15.00 $10.00
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