Grace Evangelical Society

The Grace Evangelical Society (GES) is a small evangelical Christian advocacy organization based in Irving, Texas whose purpose is to promote Free Grace Theology. Founded in 1986, it stages national and regional conferences, local seminars, publishes evangelistic material, commentaries of New Testament books, more general Christian books and videos on salvation and discipleship, and a semi-annual scholarly journal, "The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society". Its core staff is its executive director Bob Wilkin and Kyle Kaumeyer. [ [http://www.faithalone.org Grace Evangelical Society] , official website]

ignificance

Despite the relatively small size of the organization, it is included in two major CD's containing Evangelical scholarship, [http://www.logos.com/products/details/3027 The Theological Society CD] and the [http://www.tiu.edu/divinity/trinityjournal/cd The Trinity CD] , showing that GES advocacy on issues of a foundational soteriological nature makes the organization both unusual and relevant. (See Robert Sandeman [Robert Sandeman, Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007] and Anne Hutchinson [David D. Hall, "The Antinomian Controversy 1636-1638 : A Documentary History", 1990] ] , and the Marrow Controversy [M. Charles Bell, "Calvin & Scottish Theology", The Handsel Press, Edinburgh, 1985] and to a lesser degree John Cotton [R.T. Kendall, "Calvin and English Calvinism to 1649 2nd ed.", Paternoster Press, UK, 1997] and John McLeod Campbell [M. Charles Bell, "Calvin & Scottish Theology", The Handsel Press, Edinburgh, 1985] for GES-like historic antecedents.) John Piper (conservative Evangelical theologian) has articulated the view that this organization is dangerous. [http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/lordship.html] There are many free grace ministries but only this and the Free Grace Alliance engages directly on the soteriology that defines the movement, critiqueing certain Christian evangelism and theology (esp. strains of Reformed, Puritan and Lordship).

History

The GES was founded in June 1986 when dispensationalist Bob Wilkin sent out newsletters to likeminded associates regarding soteriology within conservative American churches [ [http://www.faithalone.org/ Grace Evangelical Society] , official Website, Click on "About GES" Link] Art Farstad was the first editor of the JOTGES [ Wilkin obtained his BS at the University of California at Irvine in 1973, and his PhD at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1985. [ [http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1988ii/Farstad.html Art Farstad, The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society] , official Website, ] That same year, conservative Christian Publishers, Zondervan, would publish "The Gospel According to Jesus" by Dr. John MacArthur Jr., a work which would crystallize the influence of Lordship salvation Theology in Dispensational circles. [ [http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1989i/Butcher.html The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society] , official Website] ] In 1994, The GES began one of its two Commentary projects when it published "The Epistle of James, Proven Character Through Testing" by Zane Hodges, the first title in a project conceived as single book length commentary for each NT book. [ [http://faithalone.org/bookstore/books.html GES Online Bookstore] ] As the representative of the GES in public debates, Dr. Wilkin has engaged Progressive Dispensationalist and former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dr. Darrell Bock, and the Calvinist apologist, avid debater, and writer James White.

emi-Annual Journal

"The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society" (JOTGES) was first published in 1988, and is published semi-annually. JOTGES has been included in the "Trinty Journal CD" [ [http://www.trinity.edu/ Trinity] Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois] and "The Theological Journal Library CD" [ [http://www.logos.com/products/details/1685/ Libronix Digital Library Systems] , a subsidiary of Logos Research Systems, Inc.] . JOTGES examines issues relating to the GES core orientation toward the Gospel. Its contributors include Art Farstad, Robert N. Wilkin, Zane Hodges, Rene Lopez, Philip F. Congdon, James Townsend, Frank Carmical, Frances A. Mosher, Charles C. Bing, Frank B. Minirth, Earl D. Radmacher, John F. Hart, Keith Ward, David R Anderson, Sidney D. Dyer, Doros Zachariades, Ken Keathley, John W. Robbins, Michael D. Makidon, Laurence M. Vance, Bob Bryant, Anthony B. Badger, Jeremy D Myers, Gary W. Derickson and Lorne Zelyck.

Commentary Projects

The GES has two commentary projects. The first is a long term effort in publishing verse by verse commentaries of each book in the NT ("The Epistle of James: Proven Character Through Testing", Hodges, 1994. "The Epistles of John: Walking in the Light of God's Love", Hodges, 1999). [ [http://faithalone.org/bookstore/books.html/ Hodges Commentaries] official website] The other is a one-volume New Testament Commentary.

Annual and Regional Conferences

The GES promotes networking and its theology through annual conferences [ [http://www.faithalone.org/conference/2007/information.html/ Official Website] , Annual Conference] , and through several regional conferences within the United States. Also staged by the GES are numerous local church-wide seminars.

References

External links

* John Piper letter critiquing the Grace Evangelical Society [http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/lordship.html"The So-Called Free Grace vs. Lordship Salvation Debate"]
* [http://www.faithalone.org/ The Grace Evangelical Society Website]
* [http://www.faithalone.org/Audio/perseverance.ram Debate with James White on Perseverance]
* [http://www.faithalone.org/journal/index.html The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society]
* Middletown Bible Church commentary on Grace Evangelical Society theology [http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/hodgesnb.htm Hodges, Dillow and the Grace Evangelical Society - Are They Promoting a New Brand of Dispensationalism?]
* Phillip Simpson response to Grace Evangelical Society doctrine [http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/freegrace.html A Biblical Response to the Teachings of Zane Hodges, Joseph Dillow, and the Grace Evangelical Society (Called the "Free Grace" Movement)]
* [http://www.s1.zetaboards.com/eternallysecure/ Unofficial Grace Evangelical Society Online Chat]