The Free Grace Alliance

Greetings, “As nightfall does not transpire instantaneously or immediately neither does “doctrinal” confusion and corruption. In both instances there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is such a twilight that we must be aware of, for there is a change in the sky. And although it might seem a slight change, we must not become unwittingly victims of the forthcoming darkness." [1] There is a frightening doctrinal darkness forming in the firmament. It has appeared and approached through many venues and multiple vehicles. This darkness has descended and caused confusion and corruption inside the most powerful porticos of Christianity. The purpose of the FGA is to help “ turn on the lights ” and expose the darkness regarding the biblical and theological doctrine of salvation. There is a difference between dogmatism and doctrine. Dogmatism in one sense reflects an attitude while doctrine reveals a view. It is important that we be able to hear the word...

What is “the gospel”?   We asked some African pastors the meaning of “the gospel”. They said, “The good news”. Technically, they were absolutely right. But we were more interested in hearing what they thought was required to receive eternal life. Then, in some recent reading, the topic of “the gospel” popped up repeatedly (as it should, I suspect, when reading “Christian” material!). David Platt, in his book Radical , says “We need to return with urgency to a biblical gospel”. The back cover of Richard Stearns’ book, The Hole in Our Gospel , asks this: “Have we embraced the whole gospel?” Plus, the support team of well-known speaker, someone with some “interesting” ideas about the Holy Spirit, said his campaign was simply a “gospel” presentation. The term “gospel” shows up repeatedly.   So, what is the gospel? Does it always mean the same thing?   I suspect when we hear or read the word, the first idea that pops in our head connects “gospel” with “what must I believe or d...

John Correia has posted a review of Roger Olson’s Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger Olson over at his blog.  This book is good reading for FGA members! It didn’t convince him to become an Arminian (which, being a FGA Executive Council member, is a good thing!) but it is a helpful, concise, and irenic work that is worth reading.  Head over to A Biblical Framework , read the review, and interact!

Greetings, “A new day, a new chance to excel.” That is what I used to tell my kids as we would start a new day. And so, January 1, 2012 begins a new year. What will it mean to “Excel” with the Free Grace Alliance in 2012?   Let me put before you for your consideration three goals that I have for the FGA as an organization. I hope you also will embrace these goals. First, I hope that we will deepen our own personal spiritual lives as we live before the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not simply a New Year's resolution or an unrealistic item on a list of goals. It is in fact the essence of what we seek as Christians. For some of us, this will include renewing our commitment to read through the scriptures and study the scriptures, not simply for our professional output, but for personal intake and devotional value. For some, this will include a renewed commitment to achieving a robust prayer life. This is not simply creating more lists of people to pray for, althou...

This past Sunday FGA Executive Council Member John Correia preached at the church he pastors from John 3:1-21 about the message of eternal life.  The title of this message is “The Purpose of the Christ.”   The link may be found on the WestGreenway.com site , or via their iTunes feed .   Let’s all remember the reason for the season is more than just the birth of Jesus, but the purpose of God sending His Son into the world, that He might die for us, that by faith alone in Christ alone we might have eternal life.   If you’re interested in John’s translation of the passage and exegetical notes, email him at pastorjohn at westgreenway dot com and he is happy to email them to you.   Merry Christmas!

By Dr. Roger Fankhauser, FGA Executive Council member and the pastor of Burleson Bible Church in Burleson, Texas.  Dr. Fankhauser can be reached at rsfankhauser at bellsouth dot net.   Antinomianism.   A fancy word meaning “lawless”.   Many who don’t get the free grace message accuse us of practicing and teaching antinomianism. They think – wrongly – that the free grace message is light on sin and light on obedience. The author of a recent best-selling book describes the message that he alleges some present this way: “We have been told all that is required is a one-time decision, maybe even mere intellectual assent to Jesus, but after that we need not worry about his commands, his standards, or his glory. We have a ticket to heaven, and we can live however we want on earth. Our sin will be tolerated along the way….” Another well-known author put it this way: “What is no-Lordship theology (the author’s name for free grace theology) but the teaching that those w...

Greetings,                                                                                                                                               As John Walvoord, former Dallas Seminary president, used to say, “When you celebrate Thanksgiving you know that Christmas is not far off.” Well, Chr...