Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 30:58 (Spring 2017)
Article: Does Free Grace Theology Diminish The Gospel? A Review Of Wayne Grudem’s, "“Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes The Gospel", Part 2
Author: Bob Wilkin

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JOTGES 30:58 (Spring 2017) p. 17

Does Free Grace Theology Diminish The Gospel? A Review Of Wayne Grudem’s, “Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes The Gospel, Part 2

Bob Wilkin

Executive Director
Grace Evangelical Society

I. Introduction

In Part 1 I considered the first two chapters of Dr. Wayne Grudem’s recent book in which he argues against Free Grace Theology (FGT).

I had intended to complete my review in this article. However, there is so much to say about his interpretations of the eleven tough texts of Chapter 5 that I will need to cover the final chapter separately.

Therefore, in this second article we will consider Chapters 3 and 4.

II. Chapter 3: FGT Diminishes The Gospel By Giving Assurance To Unbelievers

Grudem, like most Evangelicals, does not believe that it is healthy for people to be certain that they have everlasting life. Such certainty, in his view, leads to complacency and a dearth of good works. Worse yet, such certainty actually keeps people from being saved, as he argues in his first subheading of Chapter 3 (see below).

The subheadings which follow (for Chapters 3 and 4) are all Grudem’s subheadings. We will consider the issues as he lays them out, paying special attention to the Scriptural support he cites.

JOTGES 30:58 (Spring 2017) p. 18

A. The Result Of The Weakened Free Grace Gospel Is Many Unsaved People

That heading suggests Arminianism, not Calvinism. According to Calvinism all of the elect will ultimately be born again no matter what messages are preached in various churches. The number of people who will ultimately be saved never changes. But here Grudem says that “the weakened Free Grace gospel” results in “many unsaved people.”

Grudem first presents an argument from experience. He says that people who hold to FGT “wonder what is wrong with their Christian lives. Why do they not have the joy they see in Christians around them? Why does the Bible never seem to make much sense? Why is prayer not very meaningful?” (p. 78).

We are not told who he has in mind. Is he writing about some of the people he cites in the book like Jody Dillow, Charlie Bing, Fred Chay, Dave Anderson, and Zane Hodges? I know those people and I do not know any of them who wonder what is wrong with their Christian lives, why they have less joy than other believers, why the Bible doesn’t make sense, or why their prayers are not meaningful.

This is a straw man argument. Even if he had provided examples, that would prove nothing. I suppose if he could finance a random study of ten thousand Lordship Salvation folks and ten thousand Free Gra...

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