Therefore Having Gone

Therefore Having Gone

Friday, March 6, 2026

GEORGE AND JESUS

I'm still working my way through the belief system of "Free Grace" theology. 

It conceives of faith as purely mental assent to propositional truths about Jesus: He is the Christ, the Son of God, whose death and resurrection made justification of sinful humans possible. 

Just belief. No repentance or actions needed. 

Don't believe me?

According to the Grace Evangelical Society - which is "the horse's mouth" when it comes to Free Grace theology:

"Faith in Christ is intellectual assent. Stripped of its pejorative connotation, “intellectual assent” is a good definition of what faith is.

"For example, do you believe that George Washington was the first President of the United States? If you do, then you know what faith is from a Biblical perspective.

"There is no commitment, no decision of the will, no turning from sins, and no works that are part of faith in Christ. If you are convinced or persuaded that what He promised is true, then you believe in Him. Faith is passive. It is simply taking Jesus at His word."

That's the Free Grace position on faith.

And if you "believe" in Jesus in this most basic way, your spot in heaven is secure.

Just ... wow.

I'm not sure how you square "intellectual assent" with the Bible's depiction of faith coming in different sizes:

  • Faith can be LITTLE - Matt 8:26 “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.
  • In fact, you can be WEAK in faith - Rom 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
  • But it can be INCREASED - Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
  • You can make PROGRESS in faith - Phil 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith
  • Because faith can GROW - 2 Thess 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly
  • And in time become GREAT - Matt 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. 
  • A person can even be FULL of faith - Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit

Meanwhile, my belief that George Washington was our first president has remained rather static throughout my lifetime.

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