A Defense of Free Grace Theology: With Respect to Saving Faith, Perseverance, and Assurance

by Fred Chay

Publisher:

Grace Theology Press

, 2017

Overview

Today there are many theological issues and arguments concerning a variety of significant theological topics. However, the topic of, and biblical evidence for, soteriology is perhaps the most important issue of the day or for any day. Although evangelicals do agree salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, they do not always agree on some of the implications and consequences.

A Defense of Free Grace Theology is a rejoinder to Dr. Wayne Grudem’s critique of Free Grace Theology and a response to other Reformed theologians’ articulations and conclusions. The contributors to this book seek to biblically describe and defend a true Grace Theology and answer the deficiencies and criticisms that have been expressed.

Key Features

• Clarifies certain theological definitions and doctrinal positions regarding soteriology
• Describes and defends a true Grace Theology in a charitable way
• Answers the common deficiencies and criticisms

Contents

Part I: Theological Topics

• The Perennial Problem for Protestants
• A Theological and Historical Investigation
• The Faith That Saves
• The Role of Repentance in Salvation
• The Role of Works in Justification
• Can That Faith Save Him?
• What is Dead Faith All About?
• Finding Assurance
• Hebrews 6:4-6 and the Question of Christian Perseverance: A Case for Christian Rebellion Met by Temporal Judgment and Loss of Reward
• The Possibility of Failure in the Christian Life
• The Doctrine of Rewards
• Degrees of Glory

Part II: Biblical Texts

• Introduction
• The Rich Young Ruler–Luke 18:18-30
• I Never Knew You–Matthew 7
• Who Are the Branches?–John 15:1-2
• The Vine That is Cast Out–John 15:6
• Justified by the Law, Known by Your Works—Romans 2
• The Do-It-Yourself Kit—Romans 7-8
• Examine Yourself to See If You Are in the Faith—2 Corinthians 13:5-6
• Faith Working Through Love—Galatians 5:6
• The Nature of Death–Ephesians 2:1
• The Conditional Nature of Unconditional Assurance—Colossians 1:22-23
• Make Your Calling and Election Sure—2 Peter 1:10-11
• Fellowship with the Father–1 John
• Final Thoughts . . . A Final Plea

Top Highlights

“Theological truth is not primarily measured by its antiquity, but by its conformity to Scripture and logic. The 500-year-old theology of John Calvin was directly derived from Augustine who strayed from the foundation of traditional Patristic theology over 1,000 years prior to Calvin. We need to explore the foundation on which Augustine laid his novel Christian theology. This will expose the fact that Augustinian Calvinism’s impressively logical edifice has been built upon an unstable foundation of pagan syncretism (mixing pagan and Christian ideas). In contrast, the foundation of Grace theology was laid in general by AD 180 and was specifically taught since AD 400.” (Page 34)

“The past will not tell us what we should do, but it will often tell us what we should avoid.’⁵ It is neither to the recent past nor the reformational past but to the ancient past of the Scriptures that we must turn to find ultimate truth.” (Page 4)

“As a paradigm for doing theological studies, it is agreed that the best paradigm is one that handles the most data with the least assumptions.” (Page 11)

“Tertullian (c.200) defended humanity’s current free choice as the epitome of the image and likeness of God” (Page 62)

“But the foundational and fundamental topic of soteriology is essential for present and eternal life” (Page 2)

Contributors

• David R. Anderson
• Fred Chay
• Joseph Dillow
• J. Paul Tanner
• Ken Wilson

Praise for the Print Edition

The Free Grace movement has been accused by some within the Reformed tradition of being new or novel and diminishing the gospel. Is that a fair characterization? A Defense of Free Grace Theology is a scholarly yet irenic response to the overextended criticism of Grudem and others of Free Grace theology by five of its leading scholars. The nature of faith and its relationship to assurance is a crucial issue in theology and practice. Here is a work of clarity and charity that not only addresses the concerns of the critics but outlines a robust theology of Salvation solidly built on a biblical foundation. For all of us who are concerned about the gospel, this is a must read.

—David L. Allen, Ph.D. Dean and Distinguished Professor of Preaching, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Those committed to a clear proclamation of the gospel of grace do not have to dot every “i” and cross every “t” the same way. We do have to agree though that we are saved by grace through faith and secure by grace through faith. Both our salvation and our assurance of it is not based on what we have done for Christ but gratefully on what He did for us on a cross. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, you will be helped by studying what these authors have to say and why they say it. One must applaud them for the fact that their conclusions are based on their personal study of Scripture and presented in a positive and caring way. It is incumbent upon ever believer to study the Scripture with the same thoroughness so we know what we believe and why we believe it.

—Dr. R. Larry Moyer, Founder and CEO, EvanTell

What step of faith begins a relationship with God that lasts forever? What steps of faith can deepen your relationship with God and transform you forever? This book carefully examines the Biblical texts that answer these two questions.

—C. Craig Glickman, D.Theol. J.D.

Product Details

• Title: A Defense of Free Grace Theology
• Editor: Fred Chay
• Publisher: Grace Theology Press
• Publication Date: 2017
• Pages: 640
• Resource Type: Collected Essays
• Topic: Soteriology/Salvation

About Fred Chay

Fred Chay has been in the ministry for more than 40 years. He has pastored churches in Arizona, California, and Texas and also served as the Western Director of the Christian Medical Association. He was a professor of Theological Studies at Phoenix Seminary and was the Director of the D.Min. program for over twenty years. He is the founder and president of Grace Line, a ministry devoted to motivating Christians toward maturity in their faith. He is currently Dean of Doctoral Studies and Professor of Theological Studies at Grace School of Theology.

He is also Managing Editor of Grace Theology Press. He is the author of The Faith That Saves-The Nature of Faith in the New Testament, The Glorious Grace of God, Medical Ethics, and Suffering Successfully.