WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING GRACE LANGUAGE

False teachers and false brethren crept in unaware seek to pervert the gospel of Christ, using grace language to introduce works-based doctrines that undermine the finished work of Christ. These wolves in sheep’s clothing are skilled in the art of deception, employing fair speeches and flattering words to beguile the hearts of the simple

Romans 16:18

They clothe themselves in the garments of grace, speaking of free justification and eternal security, yet subtly introduce elements that strip justification of its benefits and undermine the believer’s assurance.

Here is what we have consistently observed in our experience with them:

• They are adept at manipulating saints through guilt and flattery, using these tactics alternatively to achieve their goals.
• They regularly practice deception and twisting of scriptures out of context to support their own agendas.
• They are motivated by a strong desire for self-promotion and personal gain.
• They are willing to compromise the truth of the gospel in order to achieve personal goals.
• They deny the efficacy of Christ’s finished work on the cross, rejecting the idea that salvation comes through faith alone.
• They misapply scriptures, especially those about unity and love, in order to justify fellowship with error and false teachings.
• They change doctrine to accommodate new groups and ideologies, all while maintaining an appearance of grace and tolerance.
• In their shifting alliances they often suddenly repent of past teachings only to introduce new errors, leaving their followers confused, unstable, and uncertain about what to believe.
• They create “gotcha” moments, intentionally trying to stumble believers and lead them astray.
• They present a gutted gospel that denies the full implications of justification in Christ, leaving believers with a watered-down understanding of salvation.
• They teach that believers are subject to punishments and loss of fellowship when they sin, undermining the confidence of newer believers who already struggle to approach God as sons and heirs with boldness.
• They misinterpret passages about chastening, turning loving discipline into punitive judgments and condemnation.
• They call teachings about our liberty in Christ as the basis we have to approach Him and enjoy the Spirit (which is the means of the holiness they pretend to advocate) “dangerous” and deliberately mischaracterize it as a license to sin while hurling all sorts of spurious and unfounded accusations about the morality of those who teach it.

We must be aware that these wolves are not merely confused believers who need gentle correction. They are practiced deceivers who have heard the true gospel for years yet continue to resist it.

These false teachers will eventually accuse those who stand for the pure gospel of grace of promoting licentiousness or seeking a license to sin. However, this accusation reveals their own denial of grace and the nature of the new creation in Christ. This is what it means to have a form of godliness and deny the power. They literally deny the power of the new creation, and they deny the reality of Christ in us as our life. When have we ever encouraged anyone to sin in our teachings? What are they responding to? They are responding to a presentation of Christ. Furthermore, any of their teachings about the Christian life are entirely Christless. The closest they can get to teaching anything that looks like holiness is their threats of punishment. Other than that they don’t have any teachings on sanctification, (what can the say if they’re not going to speak of Christ?) When we teach on Christ as the reality of sanctification, and advocate approaching throne of grace boldly through the blood as the means of renewal to enjoy the sanctification we already have in Christ, they call that a license to sin. They expose themselves. we don’t have to.

Verses Referenced:

• Romans 16:18 – “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”