Free grace theology is a bad aberration of the teaching that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It affirms that we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone. However, it teaches that there is no need to demonstrate a change in behavior by turning away from sinful behavior such as lying, stealing, pornography, pride, etc. In fact, it teaches that a person could conceivably continue in blatant sin, even deny Christ, and still be saved. This is inconsistent with biblical theology and should be rejected.
1 John 2:4, “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). This means that what is in us is what comes out of us. If Jesus is living in us (John 14:23) because we have been born again (1 Pet. 1:3), then there will be a change in actions and attitudes. If there are no changes, then there is no regeneration. If there is no regeneration is because the person is not born again.
- Psalm 84:10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
- Mark 8:34, “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.’“
- John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
- Colossians 3:9–10, “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
The free grace adherents may give lip service to the above verses but will deny their necessity.
James 2:14-24
James 2:14-24 teaches that there is true faith and false faith. True faith results in works. False faith does not. So, if a person has a true profession of faith, it is because God has granted him faith (Phil. 1:29), and the faith that is given to us by God is in Christ (John 6:29). Therefore, the faith that God gives us is real. Since God makes us born again (1 Pet. 1:3), then the work of God in us will bear fruit (Gal. 5:22). If there is no fruit, sanctification, or repentance from sin, then the person was never a true believer to begin with.
Dialogue with a free grace believer
In March 2024, I encountered an adherent of free grace theology and typed out our conversation as quickly as possible while we were talking. I’m not saying he represents all free grace adherents, but this is what he said on whether or not trusting in Christ should lead to repentance from sin.
- Matt: Can you deny that Jesus is God in the flesh?
- FG: Yes, afterward.
- Matt: Can you then reject God and deny Him later in life and still go to heaven?
- FG: Yes
- Matt: You can be born again, truly believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is God in the flesh, and then go out and live a life of wanton sins such as adultery or rape and things like that and still be saved.
- FG: They would lose rewards, so they would go to heaven no matter how evil they were.
Problems with Free Grace Theology
Any true Christian should quickly see the problems with free grace theology and that it is not biblical. The Bible tells us that were called to sanctification, not sin. God wants us to be holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Though Christ’s gift of forgiveness is free, it does not mean we can go out and sin grievously on purpose and still claim to be true believers (1 John 2:4). Here is a list of some of the problems of free grace theology.
- Doesn’t require repentance or a change in behavior.
- Antinomianism teaches that there is no need to follow God’s commands regarding holiness and turning from sin.
- Weakened discipleship—Discipleship is how one Christian helps another become more like Christ through example and counsel. But if someone who is a free grace adherent prefers to live in sin without repentance, then discipleship is impossible.
- Makes Christianity look bad – If unbelievers see how an adherent of free grace lives in unrepentant sin, then why should they trust in Christ since there is no apparent difference between the so-called Christian and the unbelievers?
- It cheapens the gracious sacrifice of Christ and His call to follow after Him by picking up one’s cross daily and denying themselves (Mark 8:34)
