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When Grace Becomes Hyper-Grace

by Dr. Andrew Corbett, 26 November 2025, from Melbourne, Victoria

The doctrine of salvation by God’s grace is a foundational tenet of Christianity. But as with any doctrine, it can become an error when it is distorted to an unjustifiable extreme. This is case with a distorted and extreme presentation of grace as hyper-grace. Reportedly, Charles Spurgeon said that discernment was the ability to detect the difference between true and nearly-true. Perhaps this is why the teaching of hyper-grace by popular TV preachers such as Joseph Prince largely goes undetected. This is probably because his teaching about grace sounds so similar to the true doctrine grace that the untrained believer is unable to detect the danerous error. To paraphrase Spurgeon, almost true is not the same as true. This is why my critique of the spurious hyper-grace teaching needs to begin with an explanation of what the Bible actually teaches about God’s grace.  

BIBLICAL GRACE

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

The grace referred to Ephesians 2:8 is described as “the gift of God” – but it is not the grace that is the gift – it is the “saved through faith” that is the gift. Thus, ‘salvation’ and ‘faith’ are given graciously by God to the redeemed. Grace is the act of unconditional giving. The gifts of salvation and faith are not given, and cannot be given, by God as a result of any human effort, which Ephesians 2:9 describes as ‘works’.

The definition of grace (the act of unconditional giving) is frequently promoted as the opposite of works. But this is not correct. The salvation and faith that God is graciously giving the redeemed is made possible by the work of Christ. This is why – in one very true sense – salvation is by works – but it is the works of Christ alone. The grace of salvation and faith is related to works in another way.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

The apostle Paul continues his teaching on the grace of God in Ephesians 2:10 as the only means of salvation by explaining that it leads to the redeemed producing “good works”. That is, the redeemed are not saved by their works – but they will produce good works (acts or righteousness such generosity, kindness, service) as a result of having been saved. The good works of the righteous is the fruit of their salvation. It is also evidence of their change of heart (Ezek 11:19) and their new nature:

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Romans 6:6

By God’s grace the redeemed receive a new heart (a new set of desires), a deliverance from sin which re-awakens the redeemed’s conscience making him or her increasingly aware of the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin. Thus leading the child of God to confess sin and to repent:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
First John 1:8-10

The Apostle John is not writing to non-Christians. He writing to his “children” in the Lord (1John 2:1). This means that he is telling them that when they sin, they can confess their sin, seek God’s forgiveness and receive cleansing from their sin without the need for a human ‘priest’. Even though it is God’s grace that enables the redemption the unrighteous, the transformation of their sinful heart into a conscience-awakened heart, a renewed mind, and the filling with the Holy Spirit, the completion of their redemption is yet to be fully realised.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:23-25

This Romans 8 passage refers to the physical resurrection of the righteous at the end of the age. This will result in the redeemed receiving a resurrected body which will be imperishable and immortal.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4

But this is not all that awaits the child of God. We will be in permanently abiding communion with GOD (Rev. 21:3). We will also receive the fulfilment of the promise that we will become partakers in “the divine nature” which means we will become incapable of sinning. Thus, prior to the believer’s hope of the physical resurrection we have the “precious promise” of our permanently changed natures:

¶ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Second Peter 1:3-4

Therefore, the hope of living a perfectly sinless life, while being a goal that a believer may strive for in this life, cannot be fully realised until the Second Resurrection described in Revelation 20-21. I suspect that if the above biblical explanations of what divine grace entailed was more regularly taught from pulpits then the false teaching about grace promoted by popular teachers such as Joseph Prince would become more readily visible for what it truly is. 

THE TENETS OF HYPER-GRACE

Having done what Dr. F. W. Boreham advised when exposing a false teaching – “To show someone that their stick is crooked simply lay a straight one down beside it” – I now hope that the teachings of hyper-grace promoters will be seen for what they are.

“Anyone who is living in sin is not under grace and has not experienced the gift of no condemnation. Grace always results in victory over sin!”

― Joseph Prince, Destined To Reign

“I don’t believe for one moment that a believer who has truly encountered the complete forgiveness of Jesus and the perfection of His finished work would desire to live a life of sin. It is His grace and forgiveness that gives you the power to overcome sin. Apostle Paul said, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” When you are under God’s grace and His perfect forgiveness, you will experience victory over sin.”

― Joseph Prince, Destined To Reign

Joseph Prince is misrepresenting what biblical grace actually entails and describes for a believer now, and ultimately. Both of his above statements are false. He has distorted the truth of God’s Word about divine grace which I have provided under the subheading ‘Biblical Grace’. Believers should strive toward Christlikeness and develop a deeper love for God and a greater awareness of the deceit of sin. The person who is spiritually dead and in the grip if the father of lies needs the Holy Spirit to open their eyes, unstop their deaf ears, and transform their dull hearts – all by the grace of God. That believer, like a “newborn” needs to learn to follow and know Christ by initially partaking of the “milk” of God’s Word and then grow into a mature believer who feasts on the meat of God’s Word – which is when they apply the instructions of Scripture into their life.

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
First Peter 2:2-3

Amen.

© 2025, Dr. Andrew Corbett 26 November 2025, writing from Melbourne Victoria.