Hyper Grace is the teaching that one can walk with God while living in open sin and rebellion to His commands. This teaching claims that because we’re not longer under the Law we can now feel secure in deliberate sin. Those who hold to the Hyper Grace Message accuse others of being “legalistic” and “Pharisees”. It’s primary message is that you “need the revelation of Grace” so that you can “be free” yet the freedom of the Hyper Grace Message is to strengthen men in their sin and in their bondage. Hyper Grace teachers won’t blatantly come out and tell you to live in sin or that sin is somehow good… not at all! They instead affirm the wicked as being “under grace” so long as the wicked “claim Jesus”. This message is certainly not a new one; the Scriptures tell us about the Hyper Grace Message and those who preach it when it says:
“I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4)
The poison of the Hyper Grace Message seems to have infected what were once godly assemblies with discerning leaders who now come against and attack those who hold to Biblical Holiness as the standard of God for His Church. What a great tragedy that those who once stood firm on the positions of Scripture regarding purity are now standing on the foundationless sand of a so-called “grace message” that neither transforms nor radically cuts sin off at the root.
Hyper Grace claims that God no longer judges; that while He hates sin, He’ll “never judge His People” if they turn to a lifestyle of sin and yet we find the exact opposite as found in Revelation 2:14-16 where the Risen Christ says, “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Don’t be deceived by those who claim that by attacking sin and confronting false doctrine that it’s somehow “legalism” and “being a Pharisee”. Paul the Apostle himself warned against false doctrine and false teacher,s one time doing so for three solid years straight as he says in Acts 20:28-31 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.”
Brothers and sisters, while multitudes have allowed the false Hyper Grace Message to saturate their lives and churches, God’s Will for your life is that you remain firm in the faith, walking before God humbly and with a heart cries out for greater and greater measures of sanctification. Stay away from those who preach a mixed message; turn off their shows, throw away their books and don’t’ step one foot in their churches! These men and their followers are deceived and rather than call people to deny themselves and walk with God in purity, they instead speak much of holiness yet it’s a false holiness that has no actual fruit in their day to day living. They post about grace, talk about grace, sing about grace… yet they know nothing of grace. The true Grace of God does this:
Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”
If a minister, ministry or message is not instructing you to turn from wickedness, you’re sitting at a table of devils. If you listen to their messages, watch their programs and read their statuses on facebook and twitter… stop! These wolves have all the right words yet they walk in a spirit of rebellion against Christ and His commands. You see, true grace frees you from sin and it’s power.. it doesn’t say “God is still working on me” in order to justify an ungodly lifestyle. Yes, we struggle and yes we must battle… but not, grace will not – never ever! – leave us in our sin.
You can identity whether a ministry is Hyper Grace by the fruit it produces. Are the members of the church free from sin and growing in holiness progressively or is the church/ministry filled with sin, compromise, division and all manner of wickedness? Do the leaders attack others who dare speak of holiness and sanctification while they themselves are the shepherds of goats who’s lives remain unchanged? Hyper Grace churches are very easy to spot! Their music may be the best around! Their youth groups may be the best thing in the city! The pews may be packed! The identifying mark, however, is that these churches have very very sick sheep who’s lives are a mess of sexual sin, gossip, backbiting, addictions and all manner of the works of the flesh.
No matter who it is, what they claim or who follows them… if they aren’t preaching the Grace of God that sets men free from sin and bondage then stay away!
