Part 1: Does Doing Greater Works than Jesus in John 14:12 mean Miracles that Lawrence Lim was referring to?
Part 2: Since Lawrence Lim dares to contradict a key doctrine of his Boss, Joseph Prince, publicly, I hope that Joseph Prince will not cut his pay by half
Part 3: Lawrence Lim & Joseph Prince’s half gospel of forgiveness without repentance goes head-on against the Lukan Great Commission of the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:46-47
Part 4: In the ‘fight’ between Lawrence Lim & David Pawson,
only a fool will pick Lawrence over Pawson
Part 5: By saying God must heal you just because you believe, is not only to mock God’s word, as that is not the whole truth, but more seriously, to mock God’s sovereignty
Part 6: Lawrence Lim hides & ‘deletes’ 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, giving the false impression that we have no part to play in our own salvation (sanctification)
This article was also sent to Bishop Philip Lim, President of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) and Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary and for the attention of the Executive Committee Members.
This article was also sent to the Alliance of Pentecostal & Charismatic Churches of Singapore (APCCS), for the attention of the Chairman, Rev Yang Tuck Yoong & Co Chairman, Rev Dominic Yeo (General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Singapore) and Council Members.
Part 1: Does doing Greater Works than Jesus in John 14:12 mean Miracles that Lawrence Lim was referring to?
In the sermon on 15 Feb 2026, last Sunday,
Lawrence Lim said:
Please click here to view the video:
“Just because we’ve never seen it before,
ever in past history of the entire human race,
doesn’t mean we will not see it today.
The glory of the latter house will be greater than the former.
Jesus said, most assuredly, I say to you,
he who believes in me,
the works that I do, will he do also.
And greater works than this will he do,
for I go to my father.
And whatever you ask of me in my name, I will do it.
If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Greater works, because I go to my father.
I believe in that. I believe in that.”
What I am offering is not a detailed study of the topic.
Because of my tight schedule,
I am only able to offer some of my preliminary thoughts
for your consideration.
They are not conclusive.
Just some of my thoughts to tickle your brain
to study the subject further.
First, I wish to state that I am not a cessationist.
I believe miracles are for today.
But to believe that Christians can do greater miracles
than Jesus did,
is not what I am fully convinced (Jn 14:12).
Second, Lawrence Lim is propounding the view
that believers can do miracles greater than Jesus did:
John 14:10-12 NIV
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
But according to the context of John chapter 14,
miracles or signs and wonders are nowhere explicitly stated.
Furthermore, to equal works to only miracles
may be too much of a stretch:
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (Jn 14:12)
Third, if it is true that believers can do the greater works
than Jesus did,
and works are referring to miracles,
then it must be true of the Apostles themselves
in the Book of Acts.
But if we examine the miracles that Jesus did,
and compare that with the Apostles,
the results are not encouraging.
Let’s take the raising of the dead as an example.
While Jesus raised 3 persons from the dead, (Lk 7:11-17, Matt 9:18-26, Jn 11:1-44)
the Apostle Paul (Acts 20:1-12),
and Apostle Peter (Acts 9:36-43)
raised one each from the dead.
Let’s take miracles as another example.
While Jesus performed at least 37 miracles,
including providing bread for the more than 5,000,
calming the Sea of Galilee and walking on water,
Paul had only about 5 recorded miracles,
and Peter, probably, several.
If we take healing,
the results are even more dismal.
The number of healings by Paul and Peter
are nowhere compared to the healings of Jesus
– at least 23 individual healings and numerous mass healings.
If anyone can perform miracles or works greater than Jesus did,
the Apostles stand the best chance of demonstrating it.
Yet, their miracles, are nothing to be compared
with that performed by the Lord Jesus.
Lawrence Lim may protest
that just because it could not be done by the Apostles,
this doesn’t mean it cannot be carried out by us.
But the truth is throughout the last 2,000 years and more,
has anyone walked on water?
Has anyone performed miracles more than Jesus did
– Jesus had at least 37 of them in His record.
Fourth, there are 3 times the word ‘works’ appears in the passage:
John 14:10-12 NIV
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
In context, it doesn’t seem to approximate
to the idea of miracles, or signs and wonders,
but it seems to have more to do
with the work of making the Father’s will known,
and making Christ known to the people.
In other words, the idea of convincing people
to believe in Jesus.
Here are 3 related texts:
John 10:25 NIV
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,
John 17:3-4 NIV
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
Matthew 5:16 NASB
16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
If this is correct, then the greater works could mean
the act of evangelising people,
or the work of bringing spiritual salvation to the masses.
For example, the preaching of Peter at Pentecost
brought 3,000 people to God’s Kingdom.
This would seem to be a greater work
than what was performed by the Lord Jesus
as far as bringing people to believe in Him is concerned.
Christ had only about 120 ardent followers
during His 3 years of ministry,
but after Pentecost, the preaching of the gospel exploded
with the thousands coming to know Christ,
which had never occurred
when Christ Himself was preaching.
The gospel was reaching more and more people,
and many became followers of Jesus in the Book of Acts
than during the entire lifetime of Jesus.
This is probably the greater work that we are called to do.
Jesus’ ministry was geographically limited
to Galilee and Judea.
But His disciples did the greater work
by extending His ministry
to the furthest corners of the earth.
During Jesus’ 3 years of ministry,
He had about hundreds of followers.
But in the Book of Acts,
because of the preaching of the apostles,
that number had grown into the thousands (Acts 2:41).
Towards the last chapter of Acts,
the gospel had made its headway to Rome.
Next, preaching the gospel for the spiritual salvation of many
can be considered a greater work
as compared to physical healing,
as no matter how miraculous,
it would still result in physical and even spiritual death.
But once a soul is saved, he is saved forever.
Physical healing may bring about only temporal respite
from bodily suffering,
as one who gets healed would fall sick again,
but the benefits of spiritual salvation
are permanent and eternal.
So, if I have to choose,
I would rather focus on the greater work
of the eternal salvation of a soul
rather than the excitement of witnessing a sign and a wonder.
These are just my preliminary thoughts about the issue
on John 14:12,
and they are not set in stone.
In The Expositors Bible Commentary
Volume 9
John
Merrill C. Tenney states:
“John 14:12:
Jesus again slowly resumed the main current of his teaching.
He wanted to impress on the disciples
that he was not disbanding them
in anticipation of his departure
but, rather, he was expecting them to continue his work
and do even greater things than he had accomplished.
Such an expectation seems impossible
in the light of his character and power;
yet, through the power of the Spirit
whom Jesus sent after his ascension,
there were more converts
after the initial sermon of Peter at Pentecost
than are recorded for Jesus during his entire career.
The influence of the infant church
covered the Roman world,
whereas Jesus during his lifetime
never travelled outside the boundaries of Palestine.
Through the disciples,
he multiplied his ministry after his departure.
The Book of Acts is a continuous record of deeds
that followed the precedent Jesus had set.
As the living Lord he continued in his church
what he had himself begun.
He expected that the church
would become the instrument
by which he could manifest his salvation to all people.”
In Holman New Testament Commentary on John:
“John 14:12. This is one of the most interesting verses
in the Bible.
Interpreters have pondered what Jesus meant
by telling his disciples that they would do greater things
than he, the Son of God, had done.
But perhaps the best way to understand the verse
is to take it literally, exactly as Jesus said it.
Jesus’ earthly ministry was limited in time and space.
He served the Father for three and one-half years
and never outside the boundaries of Palestine.
The disciples, on the other hand, as Acts clearly attests,
carried out ministry that was greater geographically,
in terms of numbers of people reached
and long-lasting effect.”
In the New American Commentary,
an Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture,
John 12-21,
Gerald L. Borchert, wrote:
“But if that statement was not sufficiently electrifying,
it is then said that the believer(s)
will do “greater things” (meizona)
than Jesus has been doing
because of Jesus’ departure to the Father.
It does not take a genius to imagine
how many interpretations of this statement are possible.
It should be noted at the outset, however, that “greater”
can hardly here mean that believers
will do more dramatic works
than the raising of Lazarus (11:43–44),
the changing of water to wine (2:7–11),
the walking on the Sea of Galilee (6:19),
the multiplying of loaves and fish (6:9–14),
or any of the other amazing acts of Jesus.
The meaning of the statement must therefore arise
out of the context of the discussion involving the fact
that Jesus is speaking of his departure to the Father,
namely, his death and resurrection.
If that is the case, then, the basis for the “greater”
is rooted in the expansive implications of Jesus’ mission
in light of his “glorification” (cf. 17:1–2).
Jesus’ departure is in effect
the work of the “Lamb of God”
in taking away the “sin of the world” (1:29)
or the fact that he is the “Savior of the World” (4:42).
Accordingly, his death and subsequent resurrection
are to be seen as drawing all people to himself (12:32).
But strategically this work would also require the work
of those who believe
because their task would be to communicate to the world
the forgiveness of sins (20:23).”
In Tyndale New Testament Commentaries on John,
Colin G. Kruse wrote:
“If the works of Jesus are his miracles, his teaching,
his entire ministry,
how can it be said that the works of his disciples
will be greater than his?
One suggestion is that after Jesus’ return to the Father,
and the coming of the Spirit,
the works the disciples would perform
in the expanding mission of the church
would be quantitatively greater than his
– more works performed by many disciples
in many different places.
… Did Jesus mean, then, that the disciples’ works
would be qualitatively greater
than those he had performed?
This is highly unlikely.
The disciples did later heal and exorcise in Jesus’ name,
Peter did pray and Dorcas was restored to life (Acts 9:36–42),
and through Paul’s ministry Eutychus was restored to life (Acts 20:7–12).
But they did not miraculously feed multitudes,
calm storms,
restore sight to those who had been born blind,
or call people out of their graves
when they had already been dead for four days.
The disciples’ works did not reveal the Father
in the same way as Jesus did in his ministry and teaching.
From apostolic times until now, as far as we know,
Jesus’ followers have never performed works
that were qualitatively the same, let alone greater,
than those of Jesus.
If the ‘greater works’ of the disciples
cannot be understood as quantitatively or qualitatively greater,
what did Jesus mean
by saying their works would be greater than his?
One suggestion is that the greater works of the disciples
are the results of their missionary endeavours,
bringing many converts into the church.
It has also been suggested that what Jesus said
about John the Baptist provides a clue:
‘I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’ (Matt. 11:11).
John was the herald of the kingdom that Jesus brought in,
but John himself lived, worked and died
before people entered it.
In terms of privileges, then, the least in the kingdom
were greater than John.
If we apply this to the differences between Jesus’ works
and those of his disciples,
we might say that the disciples’ works were greater than his
because they had the privilege of testifying
by word and deed to the finished work of Christ,
and the fuller coming of the kingdom that it ushered in,
whereas Jesus’ ministry prior to his death
and resurrection only foreshadowed these things.”
Part 2: Since Lawrence Lim dares to contradict a key doctrine of his Boss, Joseph Prince, publicly, I hope that Joseph Prince will not cut his pay by half
In the sermon on 15 Feb 2026, last Sunday,
Lawrence Lim said:
Please click here to view the video:
“You must believe.
It’s only when you believe those who are forgiven much,
will love much.
You love God.”
Lawrence Lim, who encourages us to love God,
has contradicted the teaching of his boss, Joseph Prince,
who regarded believers loving God as under Law.
In a sermon, Joseph Prince said:
Please click here to view the video:
“This is love,
not that we loved God,
which is the law.
But that He loved us,
which is grace.”
Since Joseph Prince considers believers loving God
to be under the Old Covenant Law,
meaning we must not do it
as we are New Covenant believers,
Lawrence Lim, by teaching that we must love God,
has gone head-on against the teaching of his boss,
Joseph Prince.
I do hope Joseph Prince would be more forgiving
that he does not cut the pay of Lawrence Lim
because of that.
Part 3: Lawrence Lim & Joseph Prince’s half gospel of forgiveness without repentance goes head-on against the Lukan Great Commission of the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:46-47
In the sermon on 15 Feb 2026, last Sunday,
Lawrence Lim said:
Please click here to view the video:
“Can I encourage you?
Last Sunday’s sermon, you need to listen to it
because Pastor (Joseph Prince) preached about
the forgiveness of sins. Amen.
And this is the very core of the New Testament
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is the gospel of the grace of God,
the gospel of peace, the gospel of Christ.
This is the very crux of what you need to believe
every single day.”
In a previous Article/YouTube video,
I have proven that Lawrence Lim told a half-truth.
In this article/YouTube video,
he has again committed the same sin
of preaching the half-truth gospel.
Lawrence Lim said:
“Last Sunday’s sermon, you need to listen to it
because Pastor (Joseph Prince) preached
about the forgiveness of sins. Amen?
And this is the very core of the New Testament
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is the gospel of the grace of God…”
The gospel of grace
about the forgiveness of God
is only one side of the truth.
But what Joseph Prince and Lawrence Lim
have deliberately ‘deleted’ and refused to preach
is the other side of the truth that repentance is needed
before anyone can experience the forgiveness of sins.
This is said, preached and made crystal clear
by none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself
in Luke 24:46-47:
46 He told them, “This is what is written:
The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day,
47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins
will be preached in his name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.
Jesus has clearly said that repentance must be preached
before one can experience the forgiveness of sins.
Bible scholars are in agreement that Luke 24:46-47
is the Lukan version
of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20,
and both are Great Commission commands of the Lord Jesus
that must be obeyed.
In the Lukan version of the Great Commission,
Jesus Himself has unambiguously laid out that
47 and repentance
for the forgiveness of sins
will be preached in his name to all nations… (Lk 24:47)
Yet, Joseph Prince and Lawrence Lim had the unholy guts
to rebel against the simple instructions/teachings,
and most importantly, the clear command of the Lord Jesus
to preach on repentance, besides forgiveness,
by them ‘deleting’ repentance from the Gospel.
The simple message of Jesus is this
– that repentance must come before forgiveness.
No repentance, no forgiveness.
Hence, Joseph Prince and Lawrence Lim’s half-gospel
of an only forgiveness-and-no-repentance gospel
is a false gospel that can never save.
And anyone, such as Joseph Prince and Lawrence Lim,
who preach a false gospel that cannot save
are, beyond a shadow of doubt, heretics.
In a teaching session, Derek Prince said:
Please click here to view the video:
“And the title of this message is
‘Through repentance to Faith.’
And I want to say right at the beginning
there is no other way to faith
except through repentance.
Any other way that claims to get you there
is a deception.
True faith is impossible without repentance.
And faith comes only after repentance.
The whole message of the Bible is in this order:
Repent and believe.
But without true repentance
there can never be true faith.
Now I want to emphasise
that repentance must go before faith.
There is no true faith without repentance.
And this is emphasised all through the New Testament.”
Part 4: In the ‘fight’ between Lawrence Lim & David Pawson, only a fool will pick Lawrence over Pawson
In the sermon on 15 Feb 2026, last Sunday,
Lawrence Lim said:
Please click here to view the video:
“We are so blessed to be in New Creation Church
because this is a church that preaches the gospel
of the grace of God.
Hallelujah! Come on!
And what does the gospel of the grace of God declare?
First and foremost, your sins are forgiven.
Past, present and future, your sins, they are all forgiven.”
In a teaching session, David Pawson said:
Please click here to view the video:
“And I said,
‘Where did you get all this from?’
And they said,
‘Singapore.’
First, in teaching that when you come to Christ,
all your future sins are forgiven, as well as your past.
Now, I can’t find any trace in my Bible
of God forgiving sins
that have not yet been committed.”
You must remember that there is no comparison
between David Pawson and Lawrence Lim.
While David Pawson is a well-respected Bible teacher
across the many denominations,
Lawrence Lim is a doctrinal parrot of Joseph Prince,
who dishes out whatever Joseph Prince teaches
without even thinking for himself.
Comparing David Pawson and Lawrence Lim
is like comparing
between black and white or earth and heaven.
David Pawson said that he can’t find any trace in the Bible
that sins are forgiven before they are committed.
That proves that Lawrence Lim is a liar
when he teaches that all future sins are forgiven
without confession and repentance.
Part 5: By saying God must heal you just because you believe, is not only to mock God’s word, as that is not the whole truth, but more seriously, to mock God’s sovereignty
In the sermon on 15 Feb 2026, last Sunday,
Lawrence Lim said:
Please click here to view the video:
“That is God’s promise for you and I.
We need to believe.
Oh, but this Christian,
I do not know about this Christian or that Christian.
It doesn’t matter.
What I need to know is what God’s Word says.
God’s Word triumphs all, trumps all. Amen.
And I told them, no, you must believe.
And we got nothing to lose.
Why don’t we just believe?
Why don’t we just believe? Amen.”
It is in the context of healing in the sermon
that Lawrence Lim urges his people to believe
that God will heal them.
To Lawrence Lim, the act of just believe
will get them healed.
Again, this is yet another proof
that Lawrence Lim has recalcitrantly
used the half-truth principle
to deceive his people.
This is because there are other passages in the Bible
that show that this just believe for your healing
may not be enough:
1 John 5:14 NIV
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Romans 8:27 NIV
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
1 John 3:22 ESV
22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
John 15:7 NIV
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
So, it is clear that getting your prayers answered,
including your healing,
is not an unqualified promise.
But one must observe the conditions
that we are asking according to God’s will,
and whether we are remaining in God,
and obeying His commandments in the first place.
Lawrence Lim, by teaching that we can and will get healed
just because we believe
is not only mocking God’s word,
but more seriously, the sovereignty of God.
Part 6: Lawrence Lim hides & ‘deletes’ 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, giving the false impression that we have no part to play in our own salvation (sanctification)
In the sermon on 15 Feb 2026, last Sunday,
Lawrence Lim said:
Please click here to view the video:
“It says this in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 3,
for I deliver to you, in the New King James,
it says first of all, but that’s not what it’s trying to say.
because when you say first of all, interpreted,
right, in that way, it seems to say that
this is the first point I want to make to you.
But the ESV, the English Standard Version, bears it well.
It says, Paul speaking here, for I deliver to you
as of first importance.
Now, actually, first importance
is not one of the important truths.
It is actually the most important truth.
I deliver to you of first importance what I also received,
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures.
That He was buried, that He was raised on the third day,
in accordance with the Scriptures, the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He was delivered to die at the cross for our sins,
and He was raised for our justification.
When you believe in Jesus,
my dear Christian brothers and sisters,
your sins are forgiven,
and you’ll be made the righteousness of God in Christ.
Hallelujah! First importance.
I didn’t say it. No? First importance!”
It seems that Lawrence Lim
has the persistent and incorrigible habit
of telling the half-truth
– he highlights what he wants
but hides or ‘deletes’ that
which contradicts his own grace doctrine.
Yes, Lawrence Lim quoted 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,
but he deceptively hid 1 Corinthians 15:1-2,
which contradicts his grace doctrine from you:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NIV
1 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
It is true that the gospel proclaimed by Paul
centers around Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection,
in which righteousness by faith is revealed (1 Cor 15:3-4).
But that is not all.
According to Paul, the true grace teacher,
the real gospel must also include the preaching
of the conditional security for the Christian.
This refers to the Christian’s free will and human responsibility
after initial salvation
to hold firmly to the word.
This is because Paul has clearly said that
if you don’t hold on firmly to the Faith and to the gospel,
you would have believed in vain (1 Cor 15:2):
2 By this gospel you are saved,
if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1 Cor 15:2)
When Lawrence Lim and Joseph Prince
refer to the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,
they often make it a point to avoid verse 2.
Why?
– Because they can’t handle verse 2
– Because it goes against
their unconditional eternal security theology.
So, that was why Lawrence Lim
only read verses 3 and 4, but skipped verses 1 and 2.
Lawrence Lim skipped verse 2
because it is a sore thumb to his
‘you are forever saved with absolutely no conditions’
salvation theology.
Indeed, Lawrence Lim had dishonestly omitted words
from verse 2
to teach that the believer’s security is unconditional
and not conditional.
Can you see how this completely changes
the original statement by the Apostle Paul?
Lawrence Lim, by deliberately not reading 1 Corinthians 15:2,
is a deceptive ploy to give the wrong impression
that the gospel has no condition.
Friends, preaching the whole truth is vital
regardless of how disturbing or unpopular
that truth may be:
1 Corinthians 15:2 NIV
“By this gospel you are saved,
if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
First, Paul stated that we are saved by the gospel,
but only if we continue to hold firmly to the word he preached.
The human responsibility of holding firm to the gospel
for salvation’s sake was clearly and openly attached
to the original gospel of grace.
It, therefore, would be a violation of true grace
if one were to remove the human responsibility part,
which Lawrence Lim (and Joseph Prince)
has dishonourably done in his false grace theology!
Second, if we don’t continue to hold firmly
to the true doctrine of salvation,
then, according to Paul,
we who have believed in Christ
would have believed in vain.
Only a Christian could believe in vain, as Paul called it.
A non-Christian cannot believe in vain.
So, the Apostle Paul could not have believed in
‘you are forever righteous with no conditions attached’
salvation doctrine of Lawrence Lim and Joseph Prince,
as is evident by this clear passage.
Paul is clearly saying that one must do something
– he must hold firmly to the gospel (sanctification)
– otherwise, he has believed in vain
(meaning ‘justification only doctrine’ without sanctification
cannot save).
We must remember this principle
that what men do or don’t do,
can either prevent the loss of their salvation
or contribute to the loss.
If one does something by holding firmly to the gospel,
he will be saved.
If he doesn’t do something by holding firmly to the gospel,
he won’t be saved.
It is as simple as that.
Getting saved has nothing to do with man – justification,
but staying saved has everything to do with man – sanctification
(not earning salvation but as fruits and proof of justification.)