The Main Danger of the ‘Hyper-Grace’ Message: Error Through Overemphasis

For example, if all a believer does is repent and confess his sins and never learns to stand on God’s grace and Christ’s righteousness, he will have a tendency to develop a guilt-consciousness and will never be able to take full advantage of his position in Christ.

On the other hand, if forgiveness is a done deal, and we are eternally forgiven for our past, present and even future sins, then repentance and confession become unnecessary. Over the course of time you can readily see where that will lead you. Soon every carnal man would be doing what is right in their own eyes and ensuing spiritual anarchy would result.

Here’s one more:

• Mixed grace tells us to be holy because without holiness no one will see the Lord; so watch yourself.

• Hyper-grace says, “in Christ you are holy so be who you truly are.”

Again, there are truths in both statements, but the way the mixed grace sentence above is presented insinuates that it is wrong to “watch yourself.” But the Bible admonishes us to watch ourselves.

Examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5).

Judge yourself (1 Cor. 11:28-31).

Take heed to yourself (1 Tim. 4:14).

Cleanse yourself (2 Cor. 7:1).

Although some of the truths of the hyper-grace message are actually sound positional truths, the error through overemphasizing one and minimizing the other creates an imbalance that is potentially dangerous.

Here’s the problem:

The “hyper-grace” message emphasizes the God-side of redemption while nearly refuting and dismissing the man-side. It rightly brings emphases to what God has wrought in us through the grace of God in Christ, but it de-emphasizes the human side and responsibility of walking it out.

The Bible is a mixture of positional truths and the practical application of those truths. We need both. The apostle Paul tells us to put off the old man’s deeds and put on the new man. He exalts the finished work of Christ in the heavenlies, but he also instructs us on how to practically live out that truth in our earthly walk.

Why do you suppose Paul gave that kind of instruction to born again, Spirit-filled people if it was just supposed to happen automatically? And the other New Testament writers followed the same pattern, often reminding these early saints not to sin, lie, steal, commit adultery and fornication, to make their calling and election sure, to maintain good works, etc. The epistles are full of such admonitions.