A Warning To All Preachers Of Grace

Charles Finney once said, “Many professing Christians are pleased if their minister adopts a low standard and is ready to hope that almost everybody is a Christian. It is easy to see why they are pleased with such an exhibition of Christianity – it serves their main plan and helps them maintain what they call a ‘comfortable hope’, although they do so little for God. Opposite them is the man whose main plan is to rid the world of sin. He wants all men to be holy and wants to have the true standard of holiness held up. He wants all men to be saved, but knows they cannot unless they are truly holy. A godly man would just as soon think of Satan’s going to heaven as getting a man there by cheapening the Bible standard of holiness.”

The following is intended for those who, in the name of “grace”, dare to twist God’s Word by cheapening the bible standard of Holiness into damnable lectures that cannot conform its audience into the image of Christ.

A Warning To All Preachers Of Grace

The Bible accurately portrays the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: “You must understand this: In the last days there will be violent periods of time. People will be selfish and love money…They will love pleasure rather than God. They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people.” God’s Word Translation

While undoubtedly we are in the days just before the Blessed Hope, the return of our Lord Jesus, we are in perilous times as well; for there are ministers among us as identified in Jude: (1) “Some people have slipped in among you unnoticed…They use God’s kindness as an excuse for sexual freedom and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” God’s Word Translation

With these sobering verses in mind the following are warranted: Do you preacher pride yourself in the Grace of God? Do you have it on the name of your place of worship? Have you continuously exulted in the Goodness of God? Have you magnified only His Love to sinners?

“Why yes”, you say, “and what is the tone with these questions?” “What contradiction do you mean by raising such inquires?”

Have you comforted your gatherers with words of ease, so as to carefully remove all fear of a Holy God? Have you spoken of God’s Grace as that wonderful unimaginable virtue that routinely forgives without the offering of repentance? Do you label “disciple” that which does not obey God’s commands? Do you herald a Grace that does not challenge? Does your gospel omit remorse for the sins of the seeker before acceptance from Almighty God?

“But I have never said such things!” you falsely retort.

You have by your indifference to that which is Holy and by your love of pleasure spoken more noisily than vocabulary could ever convey that you hate God. You have made yourself an enemy by becoming a friend of that which is unclean. You have labeled Christian that which knows not Christ. You have excused as “carnal” that which is worldly, of the devil, and yet unconverted.

Do you remain occupied with your busyness and hobbies; while your sheep are devoured for lack of truth? You will no doubt join them for “those who teach will receive the stricter judgment” (2).

If you preach the acceptance of sinful enjoyments even if “in moderation” and if you have taught approval of worldly amusements even in the smallest degree, then you, according to God’s Word, are a “godless man” (3) and “your destruction is not sleeping” (4). You have subtly twisted God’s grace, His life-transforming power, into a permit for depravity.

You are not the solution in the perilous times we now live. You are the catalyst. You oppose the true Grace of God delivered through Jesus and the Holy Apostles. You make converts “twice the child of hell” (5) as you are.

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” New International Version

If the Grace you preach fails to instruct men everywhere to come out (6), be separate (7), be holy (8), be transformed (9) and touch no unclean thing before a Righteous Judge, then these indictments against you are valid.

Repent of this “other gospel” (10) and perhaps (11) the Lord will have mercy on you.

To you who genuinely desire Truth in the “inwards parts” this note will be found compelling and challenging; while you whom this admonition faithfully portrays will regard it as but flatulence in the wind as you hasten back to your vomit (12).

Note 1 – Jude 1:4

Note 2 – James 3:1

Note 3 – Jude 1:4

Note 4 – II Peter 2:1-3

Note 5 – Matt 23:15

Note 6 – Jeremiah 51:45; Isaiah 52:11; II Corinthians 6:17

Note 7 – II Corinthians 6:17

Note 8 – Isaiah 52:11; I Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15

Note 9 – Romans 12:1-2

Note 10 – Galatians 1:8-9

Note 11 – Acts 8:22

Note 12 – Proverbs 26:11; II Peter 2:20-22