Question: “Is the gospel that we preach, classed as hyper-grace? People like Dr. Michael Brown who is an Arminian, who believes you can lose it, which I don’t agree with, say that this hyper grace that is being preached is from Satan. Joseph Prince apparently, a word of faith prosperity gospel preacher, teach it too. Can you clarify this up for me please?”
Answer:
I believe it’s important to see what the Bible says on a topic and work from that statement. Here’s what the Bible says the Gospel is. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.” Clearly, the Bible teaches that the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the message which Christians are to faithful broadcast to the world. Now, the message is what a person must decide on to become saved. What does the Bible say about this? “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:30-31.” “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39.” Clearly, the Bible teaches that belief in Jesus Christ as an individual’s satisfactory payment for sin is what makes them saved.
Dr. Brown and Joseph Prince may know what the gospel is, but they are not clear in how one becomes saved. Consider this quote from Dr. Brown’s personal testimony on his website. “Turn back to God and ask Him to forgive you. Acknowledge your guilt and say, “God, have mercy on me! I turn away from my sins.” Ask Him to cleanse you and wash you through the blood that Jesus shed. Put your faith in the Son of God. He died for you and rose from the dead. Believe in Him and submit to Him as your Lord. You will never be the same! And you will never have a regret.” This message is first, unclear. Here are the requirements to be saved according to this quote. A person must first turn back to God, then ask for forgiveness, followed by an admission of guilt, then belief in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and lastly a submission of your life to Him as Lord. Does the Bible preach this message? Remember Acts 13:38-39 tells us that forgiveness of sins was already offered by Jesus, and all who BELIEVE become justified. Is this a message of hyper-grace? No! in fact, I believe this is hyper-clear, which is what we are commanded to be when it comes to the Gospel. “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 2 Corinthians 3:12.” Our message is not hyper-grace. Hyper-grace implies that grace is highlighted above another required part of the gospel. I ask this, what is not being addressed in the Gospel message or the decision required to become saved more than grace? The entire gospel message and the decision required is grace! “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6.”
Christians must be confident of a person being saved by grace through faith. We cannot waiver on this message, at all! Why? If we give a little bit of works in the gospel then we have poisoned the entire message. This is the goal of the devil. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3.” “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.” I do not believe the message we preach is hyper-grace.