The Rise of Hypergrace: 5-Reasons why Pastors must preach repentance and faith together
Hypergrace is a recent trend that preaches God’s love is so massive that there’s no need for confession, and repentance is redundant. After all, salvation is freely given—just believe! As a result, some Christians think it is OK to sin freely, while more Pastors have forgotten to preach God’s call for holiness.
Jesus spoke about repentance as a requirement for salvation. In Martin Luther’s Thesis, his introduction was the call of Jesus to a “lifetime of repentance” (Matt. 4:17).
Acts 17:30
“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent.”
UNDERSTANDING MAN’S SINFUL NATURE.
1. The call of Jesus to a “lifetime of repentance”
False teachers talk about God as the key to better health, career, happiness, and awesome finances. They portray God as a therapeutic deity. While God may provide all these, Jesus did not come for that. Instead, He tells us otherwise.
Matthew 10:34; 36
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword… (36) And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.“
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you so that you may have peace in Me. In the world, you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.“
2. Those who follow Christ repent
In the past, people went to church to hear the truth & weep over sin. Today, many hear motivational speakers and continue to live in sin. Many pastors have a flawed view of sanctification.
False preachers like Joel Osteen, Carl Lentz, or Steven Furtick ignore Jesus’ call for repentance because it’s “not church friendly.” Churches like Hillsong replaced the light of Christ with duplicitous dark worship halls that are all about feelings and emotions.
Luke 5:32
“I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.“
Revelation 3:19
“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore, be zealous and repent.“
Acts 17:30
“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Luke 13:3
“No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish.”
WHY CHRISTIAN MATURITY IS IMPOSSIBLE.
3. Repentance is humility
What shapes character is a mindset; character becomes who we are. Thus, the evidence of a true believer is a “changed life” lived in utmost humility.
We do not repent to prove that we are Christian, but rather, repentance from the heart is the outcome of our desire to follow and obey Jesus. In short, we repent out of reverence to the Holiness of Christ.
Ignoring repentance
Liberal Christians ignore the call for repentance. Woke churches preach everything permissible with God. They embrace “hypegrace” and the “gospel of cheap grace.”
Unfortunately, the true meaning of repentance (metanoia) is being replaced by hypergrace.
HOW CAN I OVERCOME MY SINFUL NATURE?
4. Salvation is FREE but not cheap
Attaining salvation has been reduced to a simple prayer—it’s only the beginning of working out salvation (Philippians 2:12), which is not to say repentance is work; it is not. Our salvation cost Jesus His life. Preach faith that comes with repentance!
Hebrews 6:1
“Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God…”
Preach faith that comes with repentance
