“Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel

by Wayne Grudem

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2016

Overview

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?”

Contents

Top Highlights

“While I believe that repentance from sin is a necessary part of saving faith, and while I believe that repentance must include a sincere resolve to turn from one’s sins and begin to obey Christ, I do not think it is accurate to say that saving faith therefore must include obedience to Christ. I believe that saving faith will result in obedience, and saving faith will include a sincere resolve to turn from sin and to begin a new pattern of obedience, but a resolve to turn from sin and begin obedience is not the same as obedience itself. And we must guard jealously the fact that faith alone is what saves us, not faith plus obedience.” (Pages 70–71)

“The Free Grace view must find its support only from the claim that the New Testament teaches this view. But where is it in the New Testament? Where does the New Testament ever say that saving faith can occur by itself in a person who is saved, without repentance from sin and without good works following? I think nowhere.” (Page 34)

“I suspect that the Lord would have us not only disagree graciously with those who hold the Free Grace position but also think carefully about our own understanding and practice regarding the nature of the gospel, repentance, saving faith, and assurance of salvation.” (Page 18)

“its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.” (Page 31)

“It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone” (Page 29)

Product Details

• Title: “Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel
• Author: Wayne Grudem
• Publisher: Crossway
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Grace (Theology); Salvation › Christianity
• ISBNs: 9781433551147, 9781433551178, 9781433551154, 9781433551161, 1433551144, 1433551179, 1433551152, 1433551160
• Resource ID: LLS:FRGR5DMNSHSGSPL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:04:17Z

About Wayne Grudem

Wayne Grudem is a New Testament scholar turned theologian, author, and research professor of Bible and theology at Phoenix Seminary, Arizona. He earned a BA from Harvard University, an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. In 2001 Grudem moved to Phoenix Seminary after having taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for more than twenty years where he was also the chairman of the Department of Biblical and Systematic Theology.