New Salem Baptist Church

Signs and Leaven

Part Two

(What Must We Do?)

June 26, 2022

Read Matthew 16:1-12; 24-27.

[1. Introduction] Last time we saw that Jesus had said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” (16:4). The reason that Jesus said this is because there were sufficient signs to make one aware of God’s will, but his generation (in particular, the Pharisees and Sadducees) didn’t really want God’s will. Therefore, we must be wary of seeking signs. I do not say that we should never seek for a sign in order to discern the Lord’s will. It may be the case that we truly desire the Lord’s will above our own and, if unable to discern it, we look for some way that the Lord will reveal it, such as in a dream (God still speaks through dreams!), through the council of a brother or sister, or even though some manifestation of providence (as via Gideon’s fleece). Yet, we must be careful that we are not looking for signs merely to affirm our own desires!

Then Jesus warned his disciples to beware of leaven, that is, the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Since we are his disciples, this warning is for us! Leaven is still with us! Because we need to receive this warning, we considered one form of leaven last time, which was the fact-only gospel or forgiveness-only gospel. By the Lord’s grace, we will consider two more forms of leaven. Today, I wish to warn you about the so-called Free Grace Heresy. You will notice many similarities between it and the fact-only gospel. This is because, when the gospel is presented by these adherents, it is the same kind of defective, truncated “gospel.” The difference is that the Free Grace Heresy goes into great detail and its proponents go to great lengths to defend their position. They use Scripture and can be rather persuasive. Thus, I think it is important to consider this leaven.

There have been four Bible teachers, actually more than just teachers – theologians, that have warned about this heresy for decades. They are John MacArthur, R C Sproul, Paul Washer, and Wayne Grudem. Much of the content of today’s message is taken from Wayne Grudem’s book entitled, “Free Grace” Theology – Five Ways it Diminishes the Gospel. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to explore the subject further.

Despite the title of his book, Grudem boils down the difference between the so-called Free Grace Theology and the historic, Protestant position (in other words, the biblical position) to two main truths. They are:

• Whether repentance (remorse for sin and a resolve to forsake it) is necessary for saving faith, and
• Whether good works and continuing to trust in Christ necessarily follows from saving faith.

“Free Grace” teaches that repentance is not necessary. It also teaches that good deeds and even continuing to believe (!!) are not necessary. Of course, the Bible teaches that repentance is required and that good works necessarily follow saving faith. That is the historic, Protestant position.

[2.] Repentance is a necessary part of the gospel, but “Free Grace” denies this. It teaches that one is not required to repent to “be saved.” Yet, it is the clear teaching of Scripture that one must repent to receive forgiveness of sins. First, let us define what repentance is.

Wayne Grudem offers a concise definition of repentance that conforms to the London Baptist Confession of 1689. Let us look at both.

Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ.[1]

This is quite similar to a longer definition found in that great confession, the LBC 1689:

 Saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of

 the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with        godly sorrow, detestation of it, and

self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to

walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.[2]

Having defined it, observe a few passages that affirm its necessity:

And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.^[3]

See that, not only must we believe in Christ’s suffering on the cross and his resurrection, but repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed to everyone (all nations)!

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^[4]

Repentance is required in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. See, too, that Peter calls for baptism. Baptism is also a neglected element of the gospel. Yet, it is made clear that it is necessary from several passages, such as the Great Commission and Mark 16:16. But, this morning, we focus on repentance for this is what “Free Grace” leaves out.

What God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,^[5]

One’s sins are not blotted out until they repent!

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.^[6]

Again, repentance and forgiveness of sins are linked together. You do not have one without the other.

And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” ^[7]

In order to receive eternal life, one must repent. But, we do not repent on our own. Rather, God grants repentance sovereignly.

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” ^[8]

All people everywhere must repent. No exceptions!

Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ^[9]

“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.^[10]

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

⁷    let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

       let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ^[11]

One is not pardoned by God until they forsake their sins!

How much clearer could the Bible be? And this is only a small sampling. See also 2 Peter 3:9; Mark 1:14-15; 6:12; Luke 5:32; Luke 13:1-5; 15:7.

[3.] Good deeds, that is, a noticeably changed life, reflect saving faith and the absence of such shows that any so-called faith that a person thought they had was not genuine faith. Yet, the Free Grace advocates teach that good works do not even have to be in a person’s life at all, as long as they mentally agreed to Christ’s accomplishments on the cross and his resurrection.

The apostle James addresses this very issue in his letter:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ^[12]

In verse 14, the apostle poses a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question is one where the author is not seeking an answer to an inquiry. Rather, he poses the question because the answer is obvious. Thus, when James asks, “Can that faith save him?” the answer is no! If a person claims to have faith but their life has no good deeds then their so-called faith is not a saving faith. The apostle settles the matter succinctly in verse 17:

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ^[13]

Could the apostle be any clearer? I do not think so!

Good works not only include good things we do for others, as per the example that James gave, but also simple obedience to the commands of God. In other words, the avoidance of sin, the fighting against sin in one’s own life, a hatred for sin, and a compelling desire to live by God’s words.

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. ^[14]

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. ⁸ Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.^[15]

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. ^[16]

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. ^[17]

How frequent are John’s revelations that true faith results in obedience! Yet, Free Grace advocates teach that one does not have to obey the Lord as a manifestation of saving faith!

The Scriptures are too plain! Those who continue in sin are self-deceived. They think they are saved but are not! This may include those who have attended church their whole lives!

This is why this heresy is so dangerous! It deceives people into thinking they are in a saving relationship with the Lord when they are not.

So, what are we to do?

Remember that Jesus warned his disciples to beware of leaven, that is, false teaching.

You may have never even heard of the moniker, “Free Grace Gospel” or “Free Grace Heresy.” It is not important whether you heard these words. What is important is determining whether you have fallen under this teaching.

As we close, also remember the words of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ^[18]

This is a terrifying passage. Our Lord refers not to unchurched heathen. He refers to those who are active in the church. He refers to those who think that Christ is their Lord. Not only do they think it, they claim it! But, when Jesus returns he will say, “I never knew you” and “depart from me.” Why does he say this? Because they lived in disobedience. You see, Christ is not your Lord unless you actually submit to him and flee sin!

Remember, too, this passage that we just read a few minutes ago from the apostle John:

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. ⁸ Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.^[19]

There are those who attend church regularly and yet live in sin. Those have not been born again, according to the apostle. For example, someone who commits fornication with their boyfriend or girlfriend on a regular basis, their church attendance and even their belief in Christ (remember, those in Matthew 7 believed Christ was their Lord) is not evidence of them being saved. Rather, their continuance in sin is definitive evidence that they have not been born again.

So, what must we do? We must test ourselves! This is Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!^[20]

The test is this: Do you walk in obedience to the Lord? I do not mean perfect obedience. We will all fall into a sin on rare occasions. But, persistent sin, according to Jesus, John, and Paul means that we have not been born again.

So, what must we do? We examine ourselves. As we consider our life, was there a time when we persisted in sin? Maybe now we are trying to live for him. But, what changed? Did we merely see the folly of it and get wiser? That is not experiencing rebirth? That is just getting wiser. We must be born again!

So, what must we do? We must truly repent! If we are among this number, we must fall on our knees, cry out to Him, and turn away from all sin. We must admit that we have been going through motions without the reality of really following Christ. If we will do that in sincerity, Christ will save us and empower us to live for Him!

Examine yourself today.