1. Grace-Fellowship Heresy New Unity Movement Grace-Unity Movement

2. Grace-Fellowship Heresy “This is one of the doctrines of the New Unity Movement. It is the theory that grace is extended to cover sins of weakness and ignorance, especially doctrinal ignorance, even though such sins are persisted in.” Wayne Partain “The Grace-Fellowship Theory (1)” Guardian of Truth XXX: 14, pp. 433-434, July 17, 1986 2

3. Redefine s Grace-Fellowship Heresy GraceGrace FellowshipFellowship GospelGospel DoctrineDoctrine BrethrenBrethren SinSin If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. (1 Peter 4:11) 3

4. ONE WORD FATHE R & SON Not the unity of Eph 4:1-6 Grace-Fellowship Heresy: A Plea for Unity Not the unity of Jno 17:20- 23 Not the unity of Jno 17:8, 14 4

5. History of Grace-Unity Movement Original Intent Fellowship all segments of the Restoration Movement (Panel discussion, Tampa, FL, 1972) [Ketcherside, Turner, Pickup, Jenkins, Owen] 5 Disciples of Christ Christian Churches Premillennial No Class / One Cup No Located Preacher Institutional Non- institutional

6. Movement of the Movement Fellowship with Denominations Carl Ketcherside Leroy Garrett F. LaGard Smith Rubel Shelly Max Lucado “Brothers in Prospect” “Anytime I find someone calling God his Father, I’ve found a brother.” “Good people in all churches” Not Bible Unity and Fellowship! 2 Cor 6:14-17

7. FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS Grace-Fellowship Heresy 7

8. Principle Defense Gospel – Doctrine Distinction Gospel: The Christ event, 1 Cor 15:1-4 –Acceptance assures salvation –Fellowship should be extended to all who accept the “core gospel” Doctrine: Made to mean all other New Testament teachings –Do not affect salvation and do not determine fellowship 8

9. Bible Answer Gospel – Doctrine Distinction What we obey is one and the same: –The faith, Rom 1:5 –The truth, Rom 2:8 –Doctrine, Rom 6:17 –Gospel, Rom 10:16 –The faith, Rom 16:26 Sound doctrine is according to the gospel, 1 Tim 1:10-11 9

10. Bible Answer Gospel – Doctrine Distinction Sound doctrine is: –The faith, Rom 1:5 –The truth, Rom 2:8 –Pattern of doctrine, Rom 6:17 –Gospel, Rom 10:16 –The faith, Rom 16:26 10

11. Principle Assault Attack Confidence in Knowing and Conforming to the Truth (Eph 3:3- 5) No Bible patterns (minimizes Bible examples and eliminates necessary inferences) You must have perfect knowledge or you are arrogant and a hypocrite to be definitive about doctrine 11

12. Principle Assault Attack Confidence in Knowing and Conforming to the Truth (Eph 3:3- 5) Be alert to: –“Do you have perfect knowledge?” –“You demand 100% doctrinal conformity to your way of thinking.” –“You do not know everything!” All these minimize doctrinal accuracy, 2 Tim 3:10; 4:2; Jno 8:32; Eph 4:15 12

13. Bible Answer Attack Confidence in Knowing and Conforming to the Truth (Eph 3:3- 5) We can understand Paul’s knowledge We can make applications like he did –Identify and rebuke hypocrisy, Gal 2:11- 14 –Judge fornication in the church, 1 Cor 5:1-3 (4-5) –Avoid those who stray from the truth, 2 Tim 2:17-18 (Rom 16:17) 13

14. Practical Result Unity in Diversity Ongoing fellowship in spite of ongoing immorality and error, Gal 1:6-9 (2 Jno 9-11) –“We can disagree and still be in fellowship,” he (Stender) said. “There’s a whole lot more that holds us in common than separates us.” (Jim Stender, Pastor, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Bellingham, WA) 14

15. Practical Result Unity in Diversity Why not apply the same rationale to: –The circumcision binders? Gal 2:4-5 –The resurrection deniers? 1 Cor 15:12 –The adultery condoners? Matt 19:9; 1 Cor 5:11 (2 Ths 3:6) 15 Bible: No Fellowship with Sin (Error) Eph 5:11; 2 Cor 6:14-17

16. Grace-Fellowship Heresy A “destructive heresy”, 2 Pet 2:1-2 –Deceives souls –Disrupts the “unity of the Spirit” –Destroys fellowship with God and His people 16