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| March 10, 2012 Tom Stegall is Not Traditional Free Grace! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 3 2013, 04:30 PM (89 Views) | |
| lightninboy | Oct 3 2013, 04:30 PM Post #1 |
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Introduction Tom Stegall, author of the controversial book The Gospel of The Christ (Duluth: Grace Gospel Press, 2009), would like us to believe that he's traditional Free Grace in his theology. His publishing company "Grace Gospel Press" is even printing a new book titled Freely By His Grace: Classic Free Grace Theology. But in regards to the gospel - an issue "of first importance" (1 Cor. 15:3), Stegall is a wolf in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29-30).1 He may advocate many tenets of traditional Free Grace theology, but his no-burial view of the gospel is not traditional Free Grace. His own words verify this truth. The Traditional Free Grace Interpretation of Acts 13:16-41 Stegall is on record as affirming that "the traditional Free Grace interpretation of the gospel can accept the prima facie [i.e. first sight or face value] reading of the text of Acts 13:16-41".2 I find this statement quite interesting because Acts 13:16-41 includes the burial of Christ (Acts 13:29) - a fact that Stegall contends is not part of the gospel. The passage in Acts 13 also includes the resurrection appearances of Christ (Acts 13:31), another fact that Stegall contends is not part of the gospel. The truth is that Stegall simply does not accept the prima facie or face value reading of the text of Acts 13:16-41 - he explains away Christ's burial and resurrection appearances as somehow not part of the gospel even though both are included in the text as part of the gospel! Let's take a close look. Stegall's Non-Prima Facie Reading of Acts 13:16-41 Stegall says that Acts 13:23-41 is the gospel: "It is imperative to understand, for the purpose of determining the content of the gospel, that from Acts 13:23 onward Paul is preaching 'the gospel' of Christ."3 "we may safely conclude that Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus Christ as Savior starting at Acts 13:23."4 "the actual content of the gospel itself [is] (13:23-41)."5 Stegall says that Acts 13:29 and Acts 13:31 are not part of the gospel: "It is enough to note that the additional elements of Christ's burial in a tomb, His post-resurrection appearances to the apostles...These extra details [!] in Acts 13...offer proofs of the gospel but are technically not the gospel. For example, in Acts 13, the mention of Christ's burial 'in a tomb' (13:29) gives proof to the fact that He really did die. The fact that Christ was 'seen' by many 'witnesses' following His resurrection (13:31) provides evidence that He really did rise from the dead."6 "the burial and post-resurrection appearances of Christ are not technically part of the gospel"7 "the cross and resurrection are elements of the gospel in distinction to the burial and appearances"8 Conclusion Tom Stegall's interpretation of the gospel does not accept the prima facie or face value reading of the text of Acts 13:16-41 and therefore cannot be called traditional Free Grace. His view is not traditional Free Grace; nor is it biblical. In contrast to Stegall's groundless gospel, theologian Michael F. Sadler (1819-1895) highlights the biblical understanding of the gospel in Acts 13 when he writes: "The only sermon of the Apostle St. Paul on record (in Acts xiii.)...is a call to repentance and faith, grounded on the death, burial (which is especially mentioned), resurrection, and appearances after His resurrection, of the Son of David."9 Walter C. Wright, a Moody Press author, similarly states: "Turn over to the apostolic Scriptures. The discourses of the apostles were historical, for the apostles were Israelites, and the Gospel was a fulfillment of the promises made to the fathers. Stephen makes his defense; it is a recital of history (Acts 7). Paul preaches at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:14-31); the discourse is historical. Christianity is a historical faith; it rests back upon historical facts. And so the Gospel is announced in historical terms. 'For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that he was seen....' (1 Cor. 15:3-5). And so history becomes basic to revelation. We know what God is by what He is doing, by what He has done. God reveals Himself in action, but how unspeakably sacred, how mightily potent, His actions can be!"10 ENDNOTES: 1 See the article "Beware of the Wolves Within Free Grace". It's very revealing that Stegall used a pagan symbol to redefine the gospel! See the article "The Strange Beliefs of Stegall's System". 2 Stegall, "The Tragedy of the Crossless Gospel, Pt. 9," The Grace Family Journal (Special Edition 2008): p. 18, italics his. 3 Ibid., p. 8. 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid., p. 9, italics his. Several pages later in his article Stegall references the same passage, referring to it as "that first Galatian gospel presentation in Acts 13:23-41". (Ibid., p. 18.) 6 Ibid., p. 21. 7 Stegall, The Gospel of the Christ (Milwaukee: Grace Gospel Press, 2009), p. 578. 8 Ibid., p. 579. 9 Sadler, Church Doctrine, Bible Truth (London: Bell and Daldy, 1868), p. 8. 10 Wright, Ephesians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1954), p. 11, italics his; cf. Jonathan Perreault, "Getting the Gospel Right," pp. 3, 16, 19-20, 27-28 (in the PDF file); Thomas Constable, Notes on Acts (see notes on Acts 13:26 and 13:27-31). For a more extensive discussion of the gospel in the book of Acts, watch the "Big Church" series of sermons by Andy Stanley. |
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No I will not, No I will not Not go quietly | |
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9:38 AM Jul 11