Hyper-grace
teaches us that, after our one-time confession of sin at conversion, believers
no longer need to confess our sins. When God looks at us, all He is going to see is
Christ’s blood, not our sins whether it is past, present or future. We merely rest in the ‘imputed righteousness of Christ’.
Is it true that sin
need not be dealt with after conversion since we merely rest in the ‘imputed
righteousness of Christ’? Is it true that sin has been dealt with ‘once and for all’ at conversion and therefore we need not
confess our sins anymore?
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Is such a doctrine
biblical? Can it stand the test of scriptures?
Let's examine the following seven references:
As
a result of Philip’s ministry, Simon the sorcerer believed in Christ and was
subsequently baptised (Acts 8:13). But when the fledgling believer offered
money to Peter to obtain the power gifts of the Holy Spirit, Peter chided him:
“Repent,
therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible,
the intent of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22).
Many believers in Ephesus, when convicted by the miraculous
works of the Holy Spirit, confessed their sins. They also paid
a heavy price when they repented: “Many who became
believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of
them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned
them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars”
(Acts 19:18-19).
The
church at Laodicea was chided because they were lukewarm. They thought that
they were rich but, in God’s eyes, they were wretched, pitiable, poor, naked
and blind. Thus the angel delivered this rebuke: “Those whom I love, I reprove
and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19).
“Therefore confess
your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed”
(James 5:16).
If
you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew
6: 14-15). (Why did Jesus bring up this matter of conditional forgiveness if the believer’s sin is no longer an issue?)
Paul
had to pass
judgment on the believer who committed
incest (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). (If sin is no longer an issue for believers, why
is there a need to deal with it seriously?).
“If
we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). (Why do believers still have to confess their sins if all their sins have been
forgiven on the basis of imputed righteousness?)
Hyper-grace contends that the book of 1 John was written to Gnostics and not believers.
Is
that so?
Please watch this arresting video
before you make up your mind:
You
can fast forward to 6.37 min to access that part on 1 John.
Now
we can be sure after reviewing the above seven references and the video that there is no biblical basis
for the hyper-grace
teaching that after our one-time
confession of sin at conversion, believers no longer need to confess our sins.
What
are the possible responses when we believers sense we have sinned?
- Confess our sins.
- Harden our heart.
- Believe that the ‘sin issue’ is all behind us. We need not do anything but rest in the ‘imputed righteousness of Christ’.
Notice, out of the three responses, only the first restores
our relationship with God and frees us from His judgment.
If we
sin and the Holy Spirit convicts us that we have sinned, we should not ignore or suppress the
voice of conscience but confess our sins (1 John 1:9) and repent (Acts
26:20).
“First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the
Gentiles, I preached that they
should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance
by their deeds” (Acts 26:20).
“Any
message that doesn't give the full or complete Gospel is a false Gospel. This
means not only Jesus saves but also about sin, damnation, and repentance. Without
conviction of sin there is no repentance. Without repentance there is no
salvation. Jesus took the punishment of our sin in our place on the cross. He
rose from the grave to defeat death. The wages of sin is death and godly sorrow
produces a repentance leading to salvation.”
— David Whittlesey
RELATED POSTS
IS REPENTANCE MERELY CHANGING ONE’S MIND?
Some say that believers only need to change their mind (correct their past erroneous thinking) when they repent. Is this what the Bible teaches?
Some say that believers only need to change their mind (correct their past erroneous thinking) when they repent. Is this what the Bible teaches?
SHOULD WE BANISH SIN CONSCIOUSNESS?
Once we commit our lives to Christ, our sins are forgiven. We who have been set free from the power of sin should no longer feel condemned. To continue to dwell on our past sin would nullify Christ’s work at the cross because God has already declared us righteous in His eyes.
That said, should believers completely get rid of sin consciousness in our lives?
Once we commit our lives to Christ, our sins are forgiven. We who have been set free from the power of sin should no longer feel condemned. To continue to dwell on our past sin would nullify Christ’s work at the cross because God has already declared us righteous in His eyes.
That said, should believers completely get rid of sin consciousness in our lives?
FUTURE SINS AUTOMATICALLY FORGIVEN?
Are the future sins of Christians automatically
forgiven (FSAF)?
WILL TRUE GRACE PLEASE STAND UP?
False grace was exposed in a video in which Dr Michael Brown was being interviewed by Sid Roth. It's a clear, compelling, well-balanced, Word-based presentation.
False grace was exposed in a video in which Dr Michael Brown was being interviewed by Sid Roth. It's a clear, compelling, well-balanced, Word-based presentation.
MOTHER
OF ALL BATTLES
A
clear understanding of the ongoing battle between the “old man” and “new man”
is essential before we can walk in victory.
REPETITIVE SINNING
What fate awaits those
who sin repeatedly after they have believed?
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