Teachers who place an extreme emphasis on grace have held to the concept that the only purpose of God's commandments under the old covenant was to cause people to see their need of a Savior. Some have gone so far as to claim that when the Israelites responded to God by declaring that they would keep His laws (as they responded on several occasions), the Lord was offended by this response and much preferred that they would say that they were unable to do what He said and needed salvation through grace.

Devout teachers, men of God whose life and testimony are above reproach, actually have given this view of the Old Testament!

They are incorrect in their viewpoint. The whole history of Israel contradicts this idea.

The history of the Jews reveals that when they did what God commanded they prospered. When they did not do what God commanded they brought judgment and destruction on themselves.

If this is true (and every student of the Scriptures knows several examples of the ups and downs of Israel according to their behavior), then God was not displeased, as some have taught, when the Jews spoke of their desire to do God's will. God blessed them when they made the effort to behave righteously.

It is difficult to believe that such a perverted teaching of grace has found the audience that it has. Yet the adherents of extreme grace are many and their doctrine has influenced Christian teaching to a great extent (and has destroyed the moral strength of the churches).

The prevailing concept is (and no doubt it receives enthusiastic support from Satan!) that all persons under the old covenant, and the new covenant as well, were and are required to sin continually while they are in the world. The only purpose of the commandments of the old covenant and of the new covenant is to keep reminding us that we must believe in Christ if we are to be saved and go to Heaven.

The myth of a salvation that is apart from repentance and godly behavior may be music in the ears of Christians, but it is disastrously incorrect.

The extreme doctrine of grace (to which some super-extremists add the crowning error that once we verbalize an assent to the doctrine of Christian redemption we can never again be lost) is "another gospel." One teacher of today claims that any pastor or teacher who stresses godliness and cross-carrying obedience is advocating "works," and his followers are Pharisees because they are attempting to do what Jesus taught. This teacher and his disciples are heading toward destruction.

The false doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture is closely associated with the distorted doctrine of unconditional grace.

What is your opinion of the heroes of faith of the Old Testament?

Were they expected to walk in a righteous manner before the Lord or did God reprove them for attempting to live righteously?

What about Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joshua, Job, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Elijah, Nehemiah, Ezra, King Josiah? Were they not blessed of the Lord because of their righteous works?

According to the extreme teaching of grace, their life and character meant nothing. In fact, their conduct was a reproach because it implied that they did not need a Savior.

But, one may claim, the Scriptures record that both Moses and David committed a sin. True. But it is one thing to say that a human being has a sinful nature and will fall as a result. It is quite another matter to teach, as has been maintained, that we should forget about attempting to do what God has commanded concerning righteous behavior and should look only to the forgiveness that comes through Christ as the means of pleasing God. (from A Study Guide for the Book of Galatians)