Does God Only See us as Holy and Righteous? Is Hyper-Grace Biblical?

What is hyper-grace? I personally do not use this word because it has negative connotations. If you type these words in google you will get articles and videos that talk down about hyper-grace. There are many straw men arguments that are just really false. In this Column I would like to clarify and defend the hyper-grace movement, or what I would call, the grace message.

Some have said that, “Bad grace teaching says that, when God looks at us, He sees only a holy and righteous people.” I think what is important is clarification. When I teach about how God looks at us, I encourage the believer that God does see us as holy, righteous, and loved people. Although it is also important to talk about how God feels when He sees us. I do believe that God sees us for who we are. He sees our sin and our failures and He still loves us. That is the beautiful part about grace, God loves us as we are.

If God never saw the sin of Cain, He would have never went to him after he killed his Abel and said, “Where is your Brother?” (Genesis 4:9). God went to Cain to show him grace and to confront his sin. Cain was able to eventually repent and turn towards God. In spite of what we have done I also believe that God chooses to remember our sins no more. So how do these two truth meet how can we understand God choosing to remember them no more and God’s correction?

Proverbs 3:12 tells us, “For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” (NLT). Yes God forgives and forgets our sins but there is also a time and a place where God will correct us. He may use someone or He may do this in our heart. The main way God corrects is through the Bible. The Holy Spirit is in our life and is there to guide and direct us. Joseph Prince once said, “But it is vital for you to know that our Lord will never correct us with tragic accidents, sicknesses, and diseases.” That is really the key difference right there. Some believe that God will chastise with sickness, a flat tire, or a bill. God does not operate that way. God in not here to punish us, Jesus was punished on the cross.

With God, we need to have a firm foundation that no matter what happens, He loves us and is there for us. Psalms 36:5-9 tells us, “LORD, your faithful love reaches to the sky. Your faithfulness is as high as the clouds. Your goodness is higher than the highest mountains.” (ERV). This is actually similar to what is said at the end of each of my sermons at High Five Church. We say, “God’s love is wider than the oceans, higher than the skies, and greater than you can imagine.”

The grace of God is what we need in this world. I believe that as you encounter the grace of God, you will be changed. When we talk about what someone believes in, we must be truthful. God’s Word is truth and it alone with remove the fog and bring the clarity.