Anti-Revival Doctrines

Hyper-Grace

Today, there is an increase in doctrines in the church world that quells the hunger for revival. We call these teachings anti-revival doctrines. This episode introduces anti-revival doctrines and focuses on hyper-grace. We answer questions such as: Should believers confess their sins to God; Does God convict or correct the believer of sin; Are our future sins already forgiven?

Scriptures & Highlights

Believers today must be careful of doctrines and teachings that are designed by Satan to quell the hunger for revival. These are teachings that allow for our radical passion for God to grow cold. The Bible warns of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils in the last days (I Timothy 4:1). Rarely would we fall for a doctrine that is completely against scripture but often believers fall prey to doctrines that include a compelling truth that is mixed with error. Such is the teachings of some preachers today who takes the message of Grace to an extreme unbiblical place - called Hyper-Grace. The message of grace is biblical but can be taken beyond the biblical account.

In this Hyper-Grace Message, some of these teachers and preachers are teaching that believers do not need to “confess their sins to God”. The saying goes that since Jesus has already forgiven us of our past, present and future sins, then we do not need to confess sins since they are already forgiven.

Now, this is an anti-revival doctrine. Since, for believers to experience personal revival, and for the church to experience revival there needs to be repentance from sin. As the scripture states in James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

When we draw nigh in purifying our hearts and cleansing our hands in brokenness before God with weeping and crying, God draws nearer to us. In other words, we experience a closer relationship with God. And God lifts us up. Therefore, the believer repenting, confessing sins, and drawing nigh to God for purification sets the stage for a personal and corporate revival.

Now, let’s go back to dealing with this doctrine.

Has God already forgiven us of our future sins on the account of the death of Christ?
1. Upon salvation, Jesus forgave us of all our sins, and have blotted them out so that they are no longer remembered. Through this, we become children of God, a part of his family. But these are the sins we committed up until the day we receive Christ. This is not our future sins. There are many scriptures to back this up:
  1. Old Sins. Peter states that we were purged from our old sins (2 Peter 1:9)
  2. Past Tense. Colossians 2:14-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Notice that this is past tense. You were quickened, having forgiven all trespasses. This occurred at the point of salvation.
  3. Repentance. Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Repentance means a change of mind, and God blots out our sins. We don’t change our mind from sins not yet committed; we change our mind from the sinful life we were living - that’s what Jesus forgave.

4. Vomit & Mud. 2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The sow, or pig, was washed from his dirt, and return to the mud. Therefore, we were washed from the mud (past life), and should not return.

5. Old Life. Read Ephesians 2 - It concerns how we were in our old life, and how our sins have been forgiven.

Through Christ dying for us, he has provided the means of forgiveness for our future sins. This does not mean our future sins are already forgiven, but that the means for forgiveness has already been provided.

Should believers confess their sins to God?
1. Correction is a Work of Grace
  1. Hebrews 12:6-11 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: 11For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 10Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 9But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 8If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 7nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

The Lord through his grace treats us as sons of God. Due to loving us as his own children, he corrects us just as a loving father corrects his children. He corrects us so that holiness is formed in our life. This is the work of grace. Through grace, God convicts the believer of sin, so that he can experience the holiness of God.

I Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Correction keeps us from condemnation. This is a work of grace.

With Correction Comes Repentance

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Cleansing is continual for the Believer
1. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
3. I John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4. Cleansing occurs through confession of sins.
  1. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  2. Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.