There is a very simple reason that I don’t preach the false-grace gospel: I believe the entire New Testament, not just select verses that fit my theology.
For example, I don’t just believe Ephesians 2:8-9:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
I also believe the very next verse, verse 10:
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
And, I also believe Ephesians 5:3-5, just three chapters later:
But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints…. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
All those passages were written by the same person within the same letter. So, intelligent interpreters realize they must harmonize Paul with Paul.
And I don’t just believe Galatians 1:6-8:
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
I also believe Galatians 5:19-21, written by the same person in the same letter, just four chapters later:
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
And I don’t just believe the middle 19 words of 1 Corinthians 1:7-9:
Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe all 52 words found in in that passage—written by the same person in the same letter—which three times mention Jesus Christ as being “our Lord.” Those whose Lord is Jesus will He “confirm blameless to the end.” If Jesus is not our Lord, we have no right to the promise.
I also believe 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, just five chapters later:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
And I could go on and on in a similar fashion utilizing all the proof texts of the false grace preachers. They are not “ministering the gospel.” Rather, they are violently twisting the gospel and promoting what amounts to heresy. They are not servants of Christ. They are servants of Satan, the great deceiver, who loves his proof texts removed from their biblical context—as demonstrated when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness by quoting Scripture.
Run from false-grace preachers! Run for your life!
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of bour great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Tit. 2:11-14, emphasis added).
