Common Misconceptions Of Hyper-Grace

[PeterJens]

We are praying for you Peter....we know you don't understand this.............God bless you!

Dear reader, if anyone makes a simple basic observation and points out an emotional failure or contradiction to someones belief system or theology, saying they do not understand, is just stupid and self delusional.

When lying is second nature and not understanding the normal spiritual walk, all I can conclude is these people are strangers to Jesus. One thing is obvious, when people get proud, condemn others and think they have it made, He gives a great delusion in their minds so no longer is their a choice they are bound to their fate. It strikes me this is where these guys are going.

 

[Grace777x70]

What I mean is that this is misunderstood by you as we all have talked to you so many times in the past and it is obvious either we are not articulating it in a manner you understand or you are not open to it.....which is fine....I don't think we can help you in this...we have all tried so it's probably best to leave you with this....The Lord Bless you abundantly!

.Acts 20:32 (NASB)
[SUP]32 [/SUP] "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

We are praying for you Peter....we know you don't understand this.............God bless you!

 

[Willie-T]

Now, if we can get back on track, I'll try to continue with what Ben asked for in this thread.

The Hyper-Grace Gospel is Unbiblical

For starters, you may be shocked to discover that “hyper-grace” is really the only adequate description for grace in the first place, according to the Bible. For example, when Paul wrote in Romans 5:20 that “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more” he was literally referring to God’s grace as “hyper.”

The Greek term for the phrase “increased all the more” (NIV) is huper-perisseuo which literally means “super-abounded.” Hyper is simply a transliteration of the prefix “huper” in Greek and means “above and beyond” in scope or quality. The term “perisseuo” refers to that which is “in far excess of what might be expected, superfluous or gratuitous.”

So in Paul’s description of God’s amazing grace, he is literally saying that because of the abundance of sin in this world, God’s grace has super-abounded in order to rescue us from sin! Paul literally describes God’s grace as HYPER in this passage. It is super-abundant and unfathomably plentiful and powerful. In fact, a few verses later Paul would state that the very reason sin is no longer our master is because we are no longer under law, but under this hyper-abounding grace (Rom. 6:14)!

If this is what one means by “hyper-grace,” then count me in as one of the “grace-heretics!” It is a label that was applied to both Paul and Jesus by the Pharisees of their day, so I am more than happy to wear it in ours. As the late scholar D. Martin Lloyd-Jones famously pointed out (and this is my paraphrase), "If people do not sometimes misunderstand and falsely accuse you of being soft-on-sin or against God’s law, you are not preaching the real gospel!"

 

[phil36]

Now, if we can get back on track, I'll try to continue with what Ben asked for in this thread.

The Hyper-Grace Gospel is Unbiblical

For starters, you may be shocked to discover that “hyper-grace” is really the only adequate description for grace in the first place, according to the Bible. For example, when Paul wrote in Romans 5:20 that “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more” he was literally referring to God’s grace as “hyper.”

The Greek term for the phrase “increased all the more” (NIV) is huper-perisseuo which literally means “super-abounded.” Hyper is simply a transliteration of the prefix “huper” in Greek and means “above and beyond” in scope or quality. The term “perisseuo” refers to that which is “in far excess of what might be expected, superfluous or gratuitous.”

So in Paul’s description of God’s amazing grace, he is literally saying that because of the abundance of sin in this world, God’s grace has super-abounded in order to rescue us from sin! Paul literally describes God’s grace as HYPER in this passage. It is super-abundant and unfathomably plentiful and powerful. In fact, a few verses later Paul would state that the very reason sin is no longer our master is because we are no longer under law, but under this hyper-abounding grace (Rom. 6:14)!

If this is what one means by “hyper-grace,” then count me in as one of the “grace-heretics!” It is a label that was applied to both Paul and Jesus by the Pharisees of their day, so I am more than happy to wear it in ours. As the late scholar D. Martin Lloyd-Jones famously pointed out (and this is my paraphrase), "If people do not sometimes misunderstand and falsely accuse you of being soft-on-sin or against God’s law, you are not preaching the real gospel!"

And yet Martyn LLoyd Jones would (if you ever getting around to reading his work) disagree with the 'hyper grace/exagerated theology.

And yes Christians who know Greek, know about ὑπερπερισσεύω - However, the overflowing aboundantly is different from the erroneous theology of the Hyper/exagerated grace theology

 

[Willie-T]

And then we go on to continue what Ben asked for, answering claimed misconceptions of Hyper-Grace...

Hyper-Grace Preachers are Soft on Sin

This is a common one, of course. The idea here is that because of our high esteem of the finished work of Christ and our insistence upon keeping our eyes fixated on Jesus as Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), we are either afraid to preach against sin or do not take sin seriously enough.

Far from being “soft on sin” – we who preach grace are extremely big on Jesus. Any gospel worthy of the hyper-grace label is a gospel which points all fingers toward Jesus rather than judgmentally pointing them at those He came to save.

There are definitely many contexts in which it is appropriate to talk about sin, warn about sin and preach against sin. I do this routinely in my preaching ministry, as do my friends who are also labeled as hyper-grace preachers. Sin is bad. It is ugly. It brings death to everything it touches. It grieves God. It makes us miserable. It comes with a variety of consequences.

No legitimate grace-preacher that I am aware of minimizes the reality that sin is evil, wrong, bad, unproductive and unfitting for a new creation in Christ. What we DO focus on, however, is the Answer to sin, which is Jesus – and the fact that His grace alone is precisely what delivers us from its penalty (death), its power (enslavement) and eventually even its very presence (when we live in the fullness of His heavenly kingdom one day).

I talk about sin all the time, but not as a means of manipulating, judging or condemning people. I talk about sin so as to help people understand both their daily and eternal need for Jesus as Savior and Lord. We hyper-grace preachers are simply standing with Paul on the promise that it is the grace of God which “teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-13).

Paul taught that the power of sin is the law (1 Cor. 15:56). If a person wants to ensure that they will remain in slavery to life-dominating sin and addiction, one simple way to do that is to live under a law-based mentality. A grace-saturated life, however, frees us from the grip of sin’s mastery over us. Far from being soft on sin, we take sin very seriously. So seriously that we are pointing people unapologetically to the only Source of rescue from it! That Source is not trying harder to be a good person, culturally-espoused self-help tactics or pop-psychology. That Source is Jesus Christ and the grace He alone offers.

 

[phil36]

And then we go on to continue what Ben asked for, answering claimed misconceptions of Hyper-Grace...

Hyper-Grace Preachers are Soft on Sin

This is a common one, of course. The idea here is that because of our high esteem of the finished work of Christ and our insistence upon keeping our eyes fixated on Jesus as Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), we are either afraid to preach against sin or do not take sin seriously enough.

Far from being “soft on sin” – we who preach grace are extremely big on Jesus. Any gospel worthy of the hyper-grace label is a gospel which points all fingers toward Jesus rather than judgmentally pointing them at those He came to save.

There are definitely many contexts in which it is appropriate to talk about sin, warn about sin and preach against sin. I do this routinely in my preaching ministry, as do my friends who are also labeled as hyper-grace preachers. Sin is bad. It is ugly. It brings death to everything it touches. It grieves God. It makes us miserable. It comes with a variety of consequences.

No legitimate grace-preacher that I am aware of minimizes the reality that sin is evil, wrong, bad, unproductive and unfitting for a new creation in Christ. What we DO focus on, however, is the Answer to sin, which is Jesus – and the fact that His grace alone is precisely what delivers us from its penalty (death), its power (enslavement) and eventually even its very presence (when we live in the fullness of His heavenly kingdom one day).

I talk about sin all the time, but not as a means of manipulating, judging or condemning people. I talk about sin so as to help people understand both their daily and eternal need for Jesus as Savior and Lord. We hyper-grace preachers are simply standing with Paul on the promise that it is the grace of God which “teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-13).

Paul taught that the power of sin is the law (1 Cor. 15:56). If a person wants to ensure that they will remain in slavery to life-dominating sin and addiction, one simple way to do that is to live under a law-based mentality. A grace-saturated life, however, frees us from the grip of sin’s mastery over us. Far from being soft on sin, we take sin very seriously. So seriously that we are pointing people unapologetically to the only Source of rescue from it! That Source is not trying harder to be a good person, culturally-espoused self-help tactics or pop-psychology. That Source is Jesus Christ and the grace He alone offers.

Hi Willie,

You see this is a major problem. I am not accusing you of being soft on sin. Please, start readig what is being said.

I am saying your interpratation of sin and repentance and its repercussion for the christian, in regards to running the race (nice verb there from Paul) is in error.

Also I keep pointing out that true believing chrisitians believe in grace alone, faith alone etc etc. You seemed very confused on what true believers believe and have always believed.

BTW, believing that 'sanctification' is synergistic is not legalism, which you guys keep trying to say..you do know that don't you?

 

[Grace777x70]

Then there is the common mis-perception about how or if the holy Spirit deals with believers in the gospel of the grace of Christ.

How Does the Holy Spirit Convict Us?

Through the law,” says the mixed-grace preacher. “It is by God’s law that we are convicted. When you sin, the Holy Spirit will remind you of God’s holy commands and show you the way to go.”

The Bible says you are not under law, but grace. But if we get rid of the law, how will we know how to please the Lord? How will the Holy Spirit set us on the straight and narrow? Or to use a recent example I read on Charisma News, how will we know it’s a bad idea to steal from Walmart?

The mixed-grace preacher says the law shows us the way of life. Yet the hyper-grace preacher Paul said the law ministers death (2 Cor. 3:7). Something doesn’t add up.

The mixed-grace preacher describes the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of law, but the writer of Hebrews said he is the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29). Again, something doesn’t add up.

I have heard people say they were convicted of sin while reading the law and that this caused them to run to God in repentance. These experiences testify to the true ministry of the law—it helps us recognize sin and our need for grace. But the law is not the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Grace does not minister to you through the law.

The ministry that brought death, … was engraved in letters on stone… If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! (2 Cor 3:7-9)

Look into the mirror of the law and you will feel condemned, every time. That’s what the law does. It points out your faults and failings. But that is not what the Holy Spirit does.

That is not the more glorious ministry that brings righteousness.

When you sin it takes no faith to look into the mirror of the law and agree that you made a mess. It takes faith to listen to the Holy Spirit and agree that in Christ you are as righteous and holy as He is!

This is the good news that turns sinners into saints. This is the startling revelation that empowers you to go and sin no more.

How does the Spirit of grace convict us?

A law-conscious preacher will define conviction (elegcho in John 16:8) as fault-finding and rebuke. But an interpretation of conviction which is more consistent with the Holy Spirit’s gracious character is expose, or bring into the light. (More here.)

How does the Holy Spirit convict us? He does it by turning on the lights, not to shame you (Jesus carried your shame), but to show you the way to life. Ian Thomas describes it like this:

The Holy Spirit is like a man with a lamp entering a dark and dirty room, and what you have learned to live with in the dark becomes repugnant in the light.

Think of Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3). By his own account he was chief of sinners. Then the lights went on and he became a different man.

I have written elsewhere about the need for a new covenant definition of conviction, one that does not emphasize your badness but God’s goodness and grace.

But the simple fact is the Holy Spirit will never convict you of your sin. When you sin, your conscience may condemn you, the law will condemn you, the judge and jury may condemn you, the religious may condemn you, and the devil will certainly condemn you, but against the chorus of condemners stands the sweet Holy Spirit who defends you and draws you to grace.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction as a believer has nothing to do with your sin and everything to do with God’s grace. It’s not about the bad thing you’ve done but the good thing he wants to do in you right now.

 

[phil36]

Then there is the common mis-perception about how or if the holy Spirit deals with believers in the gospel of the grace of Christ.

How Does the Holy Spirit Convict Us?

Through the law,” says the mixed-grace preacher. “It is by God’s law that we are convicted. When you sin, the Holy Spirit will remind you of God’s holy commands and show you the way to go.”

The Bible says you are not under law, but grace. But if we get rid of the law, how will we know how to please the Lord? How will the Holy Spirit set us on the straight and narrow? Or to use a recent example I read on Charisma News, how will we know it’s a bad idea to steal from Walmart?

The mixed-grace preacher says the law shows us the way of life. Yet the hyper-grace preacher Paul said the law ministers death (2 Cor. 3:7). Something doesn’t add up.

The mixed-grace preacher describes the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of law, but the writer of Hebrews said he is the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29). Again, something doesn’t add up.

I have heard people say they were convicted of sin while reading the law and that this caused them to run to God in repentance. These experiences testify to the true ministry of the law—it helps us recognize sin and our need for grace. But the law is not the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Grace does not minister to you through the law.

The ministry that brought death, … was engraved in letters on stone… If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! (2 Cor 3:7-9)

Look into the mirror of the law and you will feel condemned, every time. That’s what the law does. It points out your faults and failings. But that is not what the Holy Spirit does.

That is not the more glorious ministry that brings righteousness.

When you sin it takes no faith to look into the mirror of the law and agree that you made a mess. It takes faith to listen to the Holy Spirit and agree that in Christ you are as righteous and holy as He is!

This is the good news that turns sinners into saints. This is the startling revelation that empowers you to go and sin no more.

How does the Spirit of grace convict us?

A law-conscious preacher will define conviction (elegcho in John 16:8) as fault-finding and rebuke. But an interpretation of conviction which is more consistent with the Holy Spirit’s gracious character is expose, or bring into the light. (More here.)

How does the Holy Spirit convict us? He does it by turning on the lights, not to shame you (Jesus carried your shame), but to show you the way to life. Ian Thomas describes it like this:

The Holy Spirit is like a man with a lamp entering a dark and dirty room, and what you have learned to live with in the dark becomes repugnant in the light.

Think of Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3). By his own account he was chief of sinners. Then the lights went on and he became a different man.

I have written elsewhere about the need for a new covenant definition of conviction, one that does not emphasize your badness but God’s goodness and grace.

But the simple fact is the Holy Spirit will never convict you of your sin. When you sin, your conscience may condemn you, the law will condemn you, the judge and jury may condemn you, the religious may condemn you, and the devil will certainly condemn you, but against the chorus of condemners stands the sweet Holy Spirit who defends you and draws you to grace.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction as a believer has nothing to do with your sin and everything to do with God’s grace. It’s not about the bad thing you’ve done but the good thing he wants to do in you right now.

Can I ask you a simple question?

If even as a christiand you stole some money...say $10. would you be guilty of theft? (only oone answer really)

Now, Are you guilty of not obeying what God has commanded His children not to do... remember it is not loving your neighbour by stealing of him, and more importantly... Your Father is the one who you offend most. ?

Do you not feel 'remorse' (that deep regret/guilt) when you do the above and offend your Father and grieve the Holy Spirit.?


[QUOTE]However, their guilt-free brand of Christianity not only burdens guilty people with more guilt, but also strips away the only means to alleviate the guilt of sin-confession. Rather than helping Christians draw near to God, they are reinforcing the barrier of sin that interrupts their relationship with God. But that's not the end of the story.The Bible clearly teaches that Christians should seek forgiveness. Consider this:
- In each one of the penitential psalms (Ps. 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143), the psalmist is demonstrating the heart of a justified believer when he seeks forgiveness. In each case the psalmist is already a believer, fully forgiven.
- In the gospels, Christ taught believers to ask the Father to forgive their sins (Matt. 6:12; Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4). Some of those to whom He spoke were already born again. In 1 John 1, the verb tenses show that confession and forgiveness should be a continuous experience. Verse 7 literally reads, "The blood of Jesus His Son keeps cleansing us from all sin," and verse 9 likewise says, "If we are continually confessing our sins." Those to whom John wrote were already fully forgiven believers (cf. 5:13).
But the question remains: Why are you supposed to seek God's forgiveness if He has already justified you? If justification takes care of sin past, present, and future, so there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1), why pray for forgiveness? Aren't you praying for something that is already yours?
The answer is that divine forgiveness has two aspects. One is the judicial forgiveness God grants as Judge. It's the forgiveness God purchased for you by Christ's atonement for your sin. That kind of forgiveness frees you from any threat of eternal condemnation. It is the forgiveness of justification. Such pardon is immediately complete — you'll never need to seek it again.
The other is a parental forgiveness God grants as your Father. He is grieved when His children sin. The forgiveness of justification takes care of judicial guilt, but it does not nullify His fatherly displeasure over your sin. He chastens those whom He loves, for their good (Heb. 12:5-11).
Let me show you the difference:
- Judicial forgiveness deals with sin's penalty — parental forgiveness deals with sin's consequences.

- Judicial forgiveness frees us from the condemnation of the righteous, omniscient Judge whom we have wronged — parental forgiveness sets things right with a grieving and displeased but loving Father.

- Judicial forgiveness provides an unshakeable standing before the throne of divine judgment — parental forgiveness deals with the state of our sanctification at any given moment and is dispensed from a throne of divine grace. So the forgiveness Christians are supposed to seek in their daily walk is not pardon from an angry Judge, but mercy from a grieved Father.
Some object to the idea that God could ever be displeased with His own children. They ask: Can our once-and-for-all forgiven sins ever provoke divine displeasure? The answer is a resounding "Yes." In fact, it is because of God's righteous displeasure over your sin that He refuses to leave you the way you are — sinful.[/QUOTE] J. Macarthur If We Confess Our Sins - Grace to You with John MacArthur

 

[Willie-T]

I'm really enjoying your posts, 777. Keep them coming. This is the kind of thread that has been sorely needed.

 

[Grace777x70]

There is a thread on parental forgiveness for those that are interested in that subject. Click below.

http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...-forgiveness-rebuilding-veil-jesus-broke.html

Here is an excellent video to answer the question..is there a 2 - tier system for forgiveness...Those that have an interest in this subject can watch it. It'll bless you and make you fall deeper in love with the perfect sacrifice of our Lord!

[video=youtube;QS2mzHP1Cx4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS2mzHP1Cx4[/video]

 

[phil36]

Hi grace777x70,

Ive seen this already.. Its just the same old hyper grace/exagerated theology. scripture being wrongly. And the usually ahnd picking.. I think Mr Prince needs to read Luther properly. Personally I think he needs to read the bible properly. His exegesis of 1 John is quite frankly in error. Just a new erroneous theology.

 

[damombomb]

What I like about grace is it is unmerited favor. He chooses who he wants and does a work in their life and it confounds others. Just like with Paul.

 

[BenFTW]

Thank you so much Willie-T and Grace777x70 for posting in this thread and addressing misconceptions.

I came back to see all these edifying posts and it truly is encouraging.
This thread might just have the best fruit out of all my previous posts, because unity is taking place and you guys are chiming in full of grace. I really feel this thread is going to open people's eyes and may the Lord be giving revelation to all of us and may we all continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I don't know why but I am excited for this thread.

 

[Willie-T]

Thank you so much Willie-T and Grace777x70 for posting in this thread and addressing misconceptions.

I came back to see all these edifying posts and it truly is encouraging.
This thread might just have the best fruit out of all my previous posts, because unity is taking place and you guys are chiming in full of grace. I really feel this thread is going to open people's eyes and may the Lord be giving revelation to all of us and may we all continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I don't know why but I am excited for this thread.

Well, you asked for legitimate replies to misconceptions, so I didn't figure we needed another of the dozens of threads full of just useless bickering and squabbling. And that is what I think we both tried to offer.

 

[BenFTW]

Whatever you guys think you believe your very description of what you believe denies the basic faith of normal simple believers.

What you say you believe is a different version of the same words and concepts, and you are convinced those you call your enemies are actually blind, deaf and dumb. Until you wake up and understand the view others have, you will always just be repeating the same words and ideas, claiming people are lying and miss-representing what you are saying.

Starting new threads, is not going to change how people react to you.

Calling me a Spirit filled, Holy Spirit filled, born again believer a legalist trying to justify myself by self righteousness is simply your own invention and a lie. It is not hard for me to understand exactly what you accuse me of, but it is your delusion.

King David is as much my brother as you are. Until you see Jesus as the intimate fulfillment of the old covenant and the final seal of its further expansion into the new covenant you do not see the power of God in Christ. You can create you own faith or version of faith, but do not expect the people of the Kingdom to follow you.

Hey Peter, I just want to let you know that I love you and that God loves you. I understand where you're coming from and all is well. May you find peace and may the Lord give you that peace. I'm sorry if titles and names have been attributed to you and have offended you. Lets put that behind us and just be in awe of God's great love. I'm sorry for your pains and struggles and may the Lord give you deliverance and comfort you.

God bless.

 

[PeterJens]

Hey Peter, I just want to let you know that I love you and that God loves you. I understand where you're coming from and all is well. May you find peace and may the Lord give you that peace. I'm sorry if titles and names have been attributed to you and have offended you. Lets put that behind us and just be in awe of God's great love. I'm sorry for your pains and struggles and may the Lord give you deliverance and comfort you.

God bless.

I am not offended by being called anything, I find it part of my walk with Jesus. I forgive those for calling me evil, a hypocrite, a double minded man, a legalist, following satan. Pains and struggles are part of walking with the Lord, so please do not be sorry for me but rejoice that the Lord is refining my soul with His pruning shears and discipline.

Amen to standing in awe of Jesus and His father and the great work He has done through Israel, the Law, the Prophets, the Apostles and His church. I stand on this legacy. God works through it all, from the garden of Eden and the fall to the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we have the victory.

The psalms are a wonderful book of songs of praise and spiritual insight by a man of God. I wonder, do you see David as a man of God who you can count as a brother? One of Jesus's tests for walking with God was seeing how you regarded the prophets and their teaching? You seem remarkably silent in this regard.

Unfortunately I doubt you are talking about Jesus and faith like I am, and the image you have of walking in faith is again different. You call all I stand for works, sin, evil, carnal, so I cannot agree with you from the very core of my faith and my walk with the Lord. Someone suggested I am kicking against the goads, when it is actually the other way around.

I do not know why everytime these "grace" preachers preach they talk against another group. I would suggest that is the real problem, the unresolved aggression against something they feel has done them harm. I once felt that about my fellowship until the Lord taught me forgiveness starts first with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Until I walk in His ways, with His grace, how can I know how to see or minister or be a blessing.

So I pray that you might see the victory over sin and death the Lord brings to our hearts, His very words testify to it, yet your life and faith does not. I pray that you might come to believe in this victory and walk in it, learning to take responsibility for what you do and who you are in Christ. We have the victory, if in faith we reach out and claim it, and walk in it. It is called purity, walking in the Spirit and not the flesh, it is our inheritence, the fruit of the words of Christ sown in our hearts.

So may God bountifully bless you in His glorious victory and power through the Holy Spirit, that you might walk as He walked, in abundant overflowing life.

 

[ladylynn]

And then we go on to continue what Ben asked for, answering claimed misconceptions of Hyper-Grace...

Hyper-Grace Preachers are Soft on Sin

This is a common one, of course. The idea here is that because of our high esteem of the finished work of Christ and our insistence upon keeping our eyes fixated on Jesus as Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), we are either afraid to preach against sin or do not take sin seriously enough.

Far from being “soft on sin” – we who preach grace are extremely big on Jesus. Any gospel worthy of the hyper-grace label is a gospel which points all fingers toward Jesus rather than judgmentally pointing them at those He came to save.

There are definitely many contexts in which it is appropriate to talk about sin, warn about sin and preach against sin. I do this routinely in my preaching ministry, as do my friends who are also labeled as hyper-grace preachers. Sin is bad. It is ugly. It brings death to everything it touches. It grieves God. It makes us miserable. It comes with a variety of consequences.

No legitimate grace-preacher that I am aware of minimizes the reality that sin is evil, wrong, bad, unproductive and unfitting for a new creation in Christ. What we DO focus on, however, is the Answer to sin, which is Jesus – and the fact that His grace alone is precisely what delivers us from its penalty (death), its power (enslavement) and eventually even its very presence (when we live in the fullness of His heavenly kingdom one day).

I talk about sin all the time, but not as a means of manipulating, judging or condemning people. I talk about sin so as to help people understand both their daily and eternal need for Jesus as Savior and Lord. We hyper-grace preachers are simply standing with Paul on the promise that it is the grace of God which “teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-13).

Paul taught that the power of sin is the law (1 Cor. 15:56). If a person wants to ensure that they will remain in slavery to life-dominating sin and addiction, one simple way to do that is to live under a law-based mentality. A grace-saturated life, however, frees us from the grip of sin’s mastery over us. Far from being soft on sin, we take sin very seriously. So seriously that we are pointing people unapologetically to the only Source of rescue from it! That Source is not trying harder to be a good person, culturally-espoused self-help tactics or pop-psychology. That Source is Jesus Christ and the grace He alone offers.

Well said Willie. To be able to rest in the finished work of Christ is a daily gift. When things go wrong in a day like the car breaks down or the plumbing has issues or we lose a job situation., I've been able to rest in the love of Christ. Before the truth of the gospel of grace and truth sunk into my heart and mind I would just about be worried sick. (and was often)

Questions like - how will I manage., what if it costs more than I have? What if it takes my whole savings account? What if God is mad at me and I'm supposed to learn something from this? What if I'm being punished? What if I lose my job? What if I lose my home? What if I become homeless? What if I get sick? .... etc...etc....etc....

The change that will take place in someone who is assured of God's love for them is first and foremost., God is not punishing me., God is not mad at me. Those truths alone will take a major burden off and will also take the enemies most powerful tool he uses on Christians away and demolish a major stronghold; Condemnation from God and doubt that God still loves you and cares for you.
We begin the joyful learning of how to "rest" in Christ.

 

[ladylynn]

Hyper-Grace Preachers are Against God’s Law More of Jeremy

Some take this claim so far as to suggest that we even want to throw out or ignore the Old Testament. Wow! What wild imaginations these accusers have! The truth is that we are by no means antinomian (against the law of God), nor do we disbelieve or avoid teaching the Old Testament. Most of us actually esteem the power and purpose of God’s law so highly that we understand grace to be the only way of escape from its impossibly stringent demands.

Paul shared in Romans 3 and elsewhere that God’s purposes for the law were two-fold: 1) to stop our self-righteous excuses, minimizations and justifications of our sin and 2) to reveal our desperate need of a Savior by grace through faith. The entire thrust of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was to bury His very self-righteous audience under the weight of one inescapable reality: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the world’s most stringent law-keepers (the Pharisees and teachers of the law) you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.5:20).

That Jesus came to “fulfill” the Law (Matt. 5:17) means that He came to keep its demands perfectly because He knew that we couldn’t and wouldn’t. He fulfilled the stringent demands of the Law on our behalf as our Substitute so that His record of perfection could be credited to our spiritual account when we received Him by grace through faith. He did what you and I couldn’t and wouldn’t, and the Sermon on the Mount is a damning indictment of anyone who thinks they can measure up to God’s standards on their own effort.

And have you heard of this “cheap grace” idea? Sometimes the term is ripped off and redefined from Bonhoeffer’s vocabulary to insinuate that the hyper-grace movement has cheapened the grace of God by making it “too easy” for people to attain. After all, we live in a world where there’s no such thing as a free lunch, right? We certainly don't believe or teach that grace is cheap. It cost Jesus His life! But we DO agree with the New Testament that His grace is FREE to those who receive it freely by faith.

The truth of the matter is that hyper-grace teachers are not guilty of promoting cheap grace at all. Rather, our critics are often guilty of promoting cheap Law! Far from being anti-law, WE are the ones who esteem God's Law so highly as to conclude that there is no escape from its condemnation apart from faith in Christ alone! The Law is an all-or-nothing proposition. To stumble in just one aspect of keeping it is the equivalent of breaking all of it (James 2:10). The Law is a ministry of death and condemnation (2 Cor. 3:7-11). The Law is not the bad guy, however. It simply points out who the bad guys are (the world, the flesh and the devil)! The Law is holy and pure and designed to show us what sin is (Rom.7:7).

But living under Law cannot save, change or transform a single heart – only grace can! And this is why we are so adamant about never mixing a law-based mentality with a grace-based mentality toward spiritual life or growth under God’s New Covenant. The New Testament repeatedly affirms that our salvation and sanctification are either completely by law or completely by grace, but cannot be a result of mixing the two.

Conclusion:

With all of that said, the idea of trying to somehow “balance grace” with anything is ludicrous according to both Scripture and plain reason. Grace, by definition, is radically IMBALANCED in our favor! If it were not, it would cease to be grace on that very basis! The term “hyper-grace” is far from insulting! It is in fact the ONLY kind of grace taught, supported and promoted in the Bible.

God understands that His grace is open to the possibility of abuse by those who might misunderstand it. He understands that people may take His grace for granted or even at times misrepresent it as a license to sin. Paul addressed those concerns very clearly, as did Jesus and the other New Testament writers.

However, the fact that grace is open to misinterpretation and the possibility of abuse does not give us license to water it down, explain it away or cheapen its glory by adding a single measure of law into it as an attempt to stay "balanced.” There is nothing balanced whatsoever about the grace of God! We rejoice in that! We celebrate that! We proclaim that without apology!
May God reveal His hyper-grace more clearly to you in the days ahead!

Ben said to feel free to chime in with your thoughts below, I'm through for awhile.

That was an excellent read. Thank you very much for posting it. What an excellent reference and this is a really good thread Ben. I didn't realize it was new until beginning to read the posts here. Never heard of this teacher either Willie., and agree with you, he is very clear in his explanation of grace. I do hope many take the time to read these posts as they are full of truth and grace!!

 

[ladylynn]

Hyper-Grace Preachers say God is not Grieved by your Sin

Hyper-grace preachers say God doesn’t care when we sin.” Actually, we say God cares very much because sin hurt the objects of his affection—us! Sin damages people, fractures friendships, and destroys families. Sin hurts you, and that makes your Father sad.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph. 4:30–32)

Is God oblivious to our shortcomings and sins? When you sin does he act like Sergeant Schulz and say, “I see nothing”? Of course not. God sees everything. Our choices bring him pleasure and pain. Paul would not have written, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” if that wasn’t possible.

But you need to understand why God is grieved. He’s not grieved because you disappoint him. (Since he knows everything you’ve ever done and will ever do, it’s not possible to disappoint him.) Nor is he grieved because you broke his rules. (You are worth more to him than any rule.)

Our sins grieve him because they hurt his kids.

Look at the sins Paul lists above and you will see they are all relational sins. They are the sins of quarreling, backbiting, and being a jerk. When we act this way we hurt those around us and make our Father sad. When we sin out of anger we give place to the devil and open a door to trouble (Eph. 4:26–27). That doesn’t make your Father happy and it won’t make you happy either.

Critics of the hyper-grace gospel say things like, “Grace teaches that God turns a blind eye to our sin.” It would be more accurate to say, “Grace teaches that God chooses to remember our sins no more.” But that doesn’t mean our sins don’t trouble him. He is our loving Father. He cares deeply for us. He is not happy to see us destroy ourselves through sin.

If Jesus didn’t care about the effects of sin, he would not have gone to the cross. Nor would he have warned the churches in Revelation about their bad behavior and unhealthy habits.

The gospel declares that God’s love is unaffected by our choices, but it does not follow that we can act without consequences.
Your behavior matters to God because you matter to God. He wants you to prosper and thrive in every area of your life. He doesn’t want you opening the door to trouble by sowing to the flesh.

But even if you do—even if you make one dumb mistake after another—he will still be your Father and you will still be his dearly loved child. Your actions may be harmful and saddening to him but you will always be the apple of his eye.

Act like a sinner and you’ll grieve the Holy Spirit, but here’s what won’t happen: The Holy Spirit won’t record your sins, for he promised not to (Heb. 10:15–17); nor will he send you on a guilt-trip, for he’s the Spirit of grace not the spirit of guilt; and he won’t withdraw from you until you get your act together, for Jesus said he would never leave you (John 14:16).

When you sin, the Holy Spirit will always point you to Jesus. He knows that as we behold the kindness and compassion of Christ, we become kind and compassionate ourselves. As we gaze at his forgiving face, we become forgiving. As we marvel at his beauty, we become beautiful. As we behold Jesus we are transformed into his shining testimonies of grace.

This makes the Holy Spirit happy.

These are such good posts!! Amen! To know we are loved each day brings great joy and the JOY of The Lord is our strength. It's like an amazing puzzle when truth upon truth is found in the Bible and verses from the OT fit perfectly with verses in the NT. When doctrines agree with other doctrines and then if we don't have an answer right away., we can be confident that we can still stand on the promises and truths now and He will bring the rest to our learning.

 

[ladylynn]

Hyper-Grace Preachers Disregard the Words of Jesus

Hyper-grace preachers say the words of Jesus are not for us. They have no authority and are irrelevant to the modern church.”

One of the strangest claims made against hyper-grace preachers is that we are dismissive of the pre-cross teachings of Jesus. In point of fact, hyper-grace preachers are the only ones taking Jesus seriously. When Jesus is preaching law, we say that’s authentic law, not to be taken lightly. And when Jesus is revealing grace, we bow in awestruck gratitude. We would not dare re-interpret his words with qualifiers and caveats.

In contrast, those who preach a mixed-grace message dismiss the hard words of Jesus as hyperbole and exaggeration. “Jesus didn’t mean what he said about chopping off limbs or being perfect.” Like the Pharisees of old, they pick and choose those commands which are to be followed while disregarding others as metaphorical, unreal, and not to be taken seriously.

To be fair, the misperception that hyper-grace preachers reject the teachings of Jesus is based on a kernel of truth, which is this: Everything Jesus said is good, but not everything Jesus said is good for you. Or to put it another way, Jesus spoke words the whole world needs to hear, but you are not the whole world.

What you hear in the words of Jesus reflects what is in your heart. If you are standing on your own righteousness you will hear law like you’ve never heard it before. “You have heard it said … but I say unto you …”

Jesus preached tough, merciless law that leaves no margin for error. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). The message is clear. Either you must be perfect or you must be represented by One who is.

However, if you already know that you are not perfect, you need to hear Jesus’ words of grace. You need to hear him speak about his Father who loves you, cares for you, and offers you his righteousness (Matt. 6:33).

A mixed-grace preacher reads the words of Jesus selectively but a hyper-grace preacher values everything Jesus says. He recognizes that Jesus is the perfect Physician who always prescribes the perfect medicine. He gives law to the smug and grace to the needy. No matter who you are or where you are on your journey, Jesus has life-saving words for you.

Amen again! This ministers such freedom and joy to the soul! So many believers do not understand why they are not joyful like other Christians they meet. And this is why. When a believer who is not aware of the grace of God hears something that is scary from what they read in the Bible. They will tend to fear first and try to manage their lives to fit what they think God says in order to be accepted so they are not condemned.

But when we are reading the context of what is being said in the Bible such as what Jesus said about the law and then what He says about grace, we are able (by the Holy Spirit's ministry to us) to link the two together in a way that rightly divides and properly adheres to our spirit. That is why the natural man can't understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit. It is just a book of seemingly contradictions they make fun of OR feel condemned by. If we read something that is hard., we need to keep reading to learn it's meaning. But always be led by the truth that God's love for us is unending and present and constant.

The enemy will always seek to short circuit us before we can do that.