Must the gospel message include a call for people to repent of their sins? “No,” say Free Grace advocates. Is evidence of a changed life an important indication of whether a person is truly born again? “No, again,” these advocates say. But in this book, Wayne Grudem shows how the Bible answers “Yes” to both of these questions, arguing that the Free Grace movement contradicts both historic Protestant teaching and the New Testament itself. This important book explains the true nature of the Christian gospel and answers the question asked by so many people: “How can I know that I’m saved?”
There are many voices out there today that give conflicting messages about what we must do to receive and know that we have eternal life as a secure and sure possession. The world's religions all point to the works of man for the reception of eternal life. Reformed Theology looks to the works of man to know we have it and Arminianism looks tot he same to keep it.Free Grace Theology stands in sharp contrast to these. It teaches that anyone can receive everlasting life by faith alone in the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, and that he can know he has it as a sure and secure possession based on God's promises alone. Free Grace Theology: 5 Ways It Magnifies the Gospel sets out to demonstrate that this is not only biblical, but that it magnifies the gospel, giving glory to God.
A powerfully biblical and thorough answer to the Lordship Salvation controversy. There is no more important issue than how to become a Christian. Lordship Salvation is a view that has confused many people about the nature of the gospel itself. Based on a Ph.D. dissertation, this is an academic and biblical response to the Lordship view. - The crucial issues of faith, repentance, lordship, and discipleship - Over 65 important passages explained - A helpful Scripture index - Can be used as a textbook - Retains its original academic form and content You will find out how Lordship Salvation undermines the assurance of Christians as you gain a new confidence in the gospel of God's sure salvation. Read it, use it as a Bible study reference, or teach from it; it is a valuable resource in a critical and controversial issue. Charles C. Bing obtained his Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. As founder and president of GraceLife Ministries he is active as an author, conference speaker, and adjunct professor.
Dr. Ken Wilson exposes the development of a modern heresy first introduced by Zane Hodges and then promoted by Bob Wilkin's Grace Evangelical Society (GES). As a friend and former financial supporter of Hodges, Dr. Wilson details Hodges' development of a new heresy from the late 1980s until his death in 2008. He compares Hodges' theology with the current theology of Bob Wilkin and his GES. As a Patristics scholar, Wilson demonstrates why this novel theology is a modern Christian heresy and why the majority of Free Grace proponents adamantly reject it. He then recounts the failed efforts of friends and academic colleagues to bring Zane Hodges, Bob Wilkin, and his Grace Evangelical Society out of their heretical theology back into traditional Christian orthodoxy."Kenneth Wilson has written a sensitive and accurate assessment of the theology of Zane Hodges and Bob Wilkin in their departure from the Gospel of Christ. I have watched this movement from its development over the decades that has minimized and confused belief in the person of Christ with the benefits of Christ's work. This is a much needed book for Christians who desire to be orthodox in their theology." - Professor H. Wayne House, Past President, Evangelical Theological Society
Many Bible passages are difficult to understand, especially when it comes to the issues of eternal salvation and following Jesus Christ as a disciple. In "Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship" you will find how to approach over 130 difficult Bible passages. Beginning with a clear understanding of God s grace and using a unique paradigm of A Truth, B Truth, you will discover from the context whether the passage is about salvation or the Christian life. In this book Dr. Charles Bing will help you to answer the questions: Is becoming a Christian the same as becoming a disciple? Do I have to work to earn or keep my salvation? How many good works do I need to prove I am saved? Can I be absolutely certain I am going to heaven? How should I deal with doubts about my salvation? How does sin affect my relationship with God? How can I have a richer experience of God in this life and the next? A correct understanding of salvation and discipleship is crucial to understanding the Bible and growing in the Christian life. Only when we clearly understand what God says can we effectively share a clear gospel, be assured of our salvation, and grow in our relationship with Him. I have added it to my short list of recommended books on biblical difficulties. Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D.,"
We are saved by faith when we trust that Jesus died for our sins. This is the gospel, or so we are taught. But what is faith? And does this accurately summarize the gospel? Because faith is frequently misunderstood and the climax of the gospel misidentified, the gospel's full power remains untapped. While offering a fresh proposal for what faith means within a biblical theology of salvation, Matthew Bates presses the church toward a new precision: we are saved solely by allegiance to Jesus the king. Instead of faith alone, Christians must speak about salvation by allegiance alone. The book includes discussion questions for students, pastors, and church groups and a foreword by Scot McKnight.
David R. Anderson, Ph.D. (President, Grace School of Theology) Fred Chay, Ph.D. (Professor of Theology, Grace School of Theology) Joseph Dillow, Th.D. (Retired President, BEE World) J. Paul Tanner, Th.M., Ph.D. (Middle East Director, BEE World) Ken Wilson, M.D. (D. Phil., University of Oxford, Patristics) "The Free Grace movement has been accused by some within the Reformed tradition of being new or novel and diminishing the gospel. Is that a fair characterization? A Defense of Free Grace Theology is a scholarly yet irenic response to the overextended criticism of Grudem and others of Free Grace theology by five of its leading scholars. The nature of faith and its relationship to assurance is a crucial issue in theology and practice. Here is a work of clarity and charity that not only addresses the concerns of the critics but outlines a robust theology of Salvation solidly built on a biblical foundation. For all of us who are concerned about the gospel, this is a must read." David L. Allen, Ph.D. Dean and Distinguished Professor of Preaching Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Today there are many theological issues and arguments concerning a variety of significant theological topics. However, the topic of, and biblical evidence for, soteriology is perhaps the most important issue of the day or for any day. Although evangelicals do agree salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, they do not always agree on some of the implications and consequences. A Defense of Free Grace Theology is a rejoinder to Dr. Wayne Grudem's critique of Free Grace Theology and a response to other Reformed theologians' articulations and conclusions. The contributors to this book seek to biblically describe and defend a true Grace Theology and answer the deficiencies and criticisms that have been expressed.
Living by Grace attempts to make the case for grace in every corner of our lives. It makes sense that since we were saved by grace, we should live by grace. Since God is grace, we should not only experience His grace but also live within it and give it to others. David R. Anderson, Ph.D. Dr. Anderson and his wife, Betty, have pastored in the Houston area for thirty years and have helped to plant eight churches. He was the founder of Covenant Christian School in Conroe, Texas. The Woodlands Christian Academy, and Grace School of Theology, a fully accredited college and seminary with students in fort-two countries and classes in seven languages. He is also the author of Maximum Joy, Free Grace Soteriology, Betwitched; The Rise of Neo-Galatianism, Triumph through Trials, Position and Condition, and Saving the Saved. Charles Bing, Ph.D. Before founding and directing GraceLife Ministries (GraceLife.org), Charles Bing served 25 years in pastoral ministry-19 of those as pastor of a church he planted in Texas. He also helped found the Free Grace Alliance and served as its president. He as authored many articles and his books include Simply by Grace, Lordship Salvation, Living in the Family of Grace, and Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship. Fred Chay, Ph.D. Dr. Chay has been in the ministry for more than 40 years. He has pastored churches in Arizona, California, and Texas. He is the founder and president of Grace Line, a ministry devoted to motivating Christians toward maturity in their faith. He is currently the Academic Dean, Dean of the DMin Program, and Professor of Theological Studies at Grace School of Theology. He is also the Managing Editor of Grace Theology Press, and the author of The Faith That Saves, The Glorious Grace of God, Medical Ethics, and Suffering Successfully. Philip F. Congdon, Th.M. Phil pastored church plants in Kansas and Texas, and served as senior pastor of New Braunfels Bible Church for the last 17 years. He taught Bible and theology at Adelaide College of Ministries in Australia for 5 years, was an adjunct instructor in Worldviews at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, and has taught at Word of Life Bible Institutes in Australia and the Philippines. Phil was also involved in founding the Free Grace Alliance, served on its board, and is presently a board member for GraceLife Ministries. Mark "Dean" Haywood, DMin Dr. Mark "Dean" Haywood is the Pastor Emeritus and Founder of God's Household of Faith in Houston, Texas. Additionally, he serves as the Provost (Chief Academic Officer) for Grace School of Theology. At Grace, Dr. Haywood conducts administrative matters, offers guidance counselling to students and their families, recruits students for admissions, and teaches Hermeneutics, Expository Preaching, along with Bible Exposition courses. His combined education, training, and experience have opened ministry doors around the globe. Mark Rae, M.Div. Mark Rae spent 25 years in church and para-church ministry as an Associate Pastor, COO of an evangelistic ministry, Executive Director of a discipleship ministry and Senior Pastor. He is passionate about sharing the Word simply, clearly, and creatively, and currently serves as Vice President of Community Development with Grace School of Theology and Executive Director of Grace Center for Spiritual Development.
This substantive collection of essays by Serene Jones explores recent works in the field of trauma studies. Central to its overall theme is an investigation of the myriad ways both individual and collective violence affect one's capacity to remember, to act, and to love; how violence can challenge theological understandings of grace; and even how the traumatic experience of Jesus' death is remembered. Of particular interest is Jones's focus on the long-term effects of collective violence on abuse survivors, war veterans, and marginalized populations, and the discrete ways in which grace and redemption might be exhibited in each context. At the heart of each essay are two deeply interrelated faith-claims that are central to Jones's understanding of Christian theology: first, we live in a world profoundly broken by violence; second, God loves this world and desires that suffering be met by words of hope, of love, and of grace. This truly cutting-edge book is the first trauma study to directly take into account theological issues.
