Joseph Prince blasphemes God by accusing Him of giving us the law to kill & condemn us – By Rev George Ong (Dated 25 June 2024)
Announcement No 1:
Note there is one video each on
Derek Prince & George Ong
& 2 videos on Joseph Prince
& one short write-up each
by John Stott & Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
Please see Appendix 1
for more teaching on the topic.
Please see Appendix 2
for the Featured YouTube comments.
Announcement No 2:
Joseph Prince hasn’t been preaching
for the last 5 consecutive Sundays.
I believe he would preach this coming Sunday.
If he doesn’t and no explanation is given
to his congregations,
then probably something fishy
is lurking in the background.
Excerpt No 1 from the Article:
In conclusion,
if 3 giants of expository preaching
in the Christian Faith, namely,
Derek Prince, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Stott,
have all demolished Joseph Prince’s blasphemous teaching
that the law, not sin,
is responsible for killing and condemning us,
those who stubbornly choose
to go along with Joseph Prince’s teachings
are shooting themselves in the foot.
Excerpt No 2 from the Article:
The key characteristic of the New Covenant
is not that the law is done away with
because the New Covenant grace has dawned
as postured by Joseph Prince,
but that which (Ten Commandments)
is now written in the hearts of men
is actually the same Old Covenant law
written on tablets of stones that was given through Moses.
Indeed, the same moral law in the Ten Commandments
that was written on the stones for Old Covenant people
is the same law
that is written on the hearts of New Covenant people.
The moral law has not been abrogated,
nor has it changed.
What has changed is the place where the law is written
– from stones under the Old Covenant,
the same law is now written in our hearts
in the power of the Spirit under the New Covenant.
As New Covenant believers,
we have the law that is written in our hearts
that is of the Spirit that brings life (2 Cor 3:6).
So, does the moral law in the Ten Commandments
that is written in the hearts of New Covenant believers kill
as postured by Joseph Prince?
No, on the contrary, it brings life.
The New Covenant is not a new law replacing an abolished law,
but instead, a new heart that is born of the Spirit
to replace a stony heart that rejects the Law of God.
What needed to change was the heart of men,
not God’s law.
Thus, the moral law of God has never been abrogated
as falsely taught by Joseph Prince.
Excerpt No 3 from the Article:
The proper use, not the abuse of God’s law,
is described very positively and reverently
in both the Old and New Testaments.
In fact, there are whole passages
that speak about the many glorious accomplishments
and blessings of the law.
Psalms 19 and 119 are perfect examples:
Psalm 19:7-10 NKJV
7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
Psalm 119:20, 24, 46-48, 97, 103, 127, 129 NIV
20 “My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.” 24 “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” 46 “I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.” 97 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” 103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” 127 “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.” 129 “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.”
Perhaps, one of the secrets of David
being the man after God’s own heart
is his deep respect and holy reverence for God’s laws.
How does David think whenever he thinks about the law?
Does David think of God’s law
(even under the Old Covenant)
as condemnation
the way Joseph Prince
has disrespectfully and contemptuously taught
(that the letter of the law under the Old Covenant kills, condemns and brings about our death)?
Absolutely not!
David thinks highly of the law.
He greatly relishes it.
One only has to read Psalm 19 and Psalm 119
to get the feel about how the godly Jews, such as David,
absolutely relished and warmly embraced the law.
It was to them
“more precious than gold, than much pure gold” and “sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” (Psa 19:10).
Can anyone now enlighten me why
when Joseph Prince (‘Prince Joseph’)
and King David think about the law,
their perceptions are miles apart?
When Joseph Prince thinks about the law,
he thinks about
being condemned by it. Joseph Prince wrote:
“Whenever you read or think about the law,
think ‘condemnation’.”
But when King David thinks about the law,
he thinks about
being consumed by it. King David said:
20 “My soul is consumed
with longing for your laws at all times.” (Psa 119:20)
If the scriptures have so much good and glorious things
to say about the law
even under the Old Covenant,
it is ‘unforgiveable’ for Joseph Prince
to contemptuously discredit and disparage the law
by his teachings that the law kills and condemns us.
In disparaging the law,
Joseph Prince has also committed the great sin
of blaspheming God as the source and giver of the law,
for giving us the law to kill and condemn us.
One who disparages the law and blasphemes God Himself
can never be a true teacher of God’s word
but a wolf in sheepskin.
(This article was also sent to Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary, National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) office, and for the attention of the Executive Committee Members.)
In a sermon, Joseph Prince said;
“So, it says we are ministers of the New Covenant,
not of the letter but of the Spirit.
The context is law and grace.
The letter are the Ten Commandments
that came on Mount Sinai.
The letter kills, the Spirit gives life.
Under law it kills, under grace, life is given.
If the ministry of death written and engraved on stone
– stop!
God calls it a ministry of death.
What’s the ministry of death?
– written and engraved on stones.
The Bible says the ministry of death
written and engraved on stones
– that’s the Ten Commandments.
The only part of the law that is engraved on stones
written with the finger of God are the 10 Words (Commandments).
And God calls it the ministry of death.
We are not under that.”
In another sermon, Joseph Prince said;
“The Jews are sin-conscious
because they have the law.
The law kills. The law kills.
It goes to show the letter,
the Ten commandments listen, kills.
The Ten Commandments, listen, kills.
The Ten Commandments, listen, kills.
(Ask yourself a question.
Why would the one who gave the Law
‘Thou shall not kill’
kill you with that same Law?)”
In a teaching session, George Ong said;
“Now, this is a very important text;
why?
Because Joseph Prince always used this text
to prove that the law kills,
the law causes death,
the law condemns.
You got to know it.
He used this text to deceive so many people.
The letter kills, brought death, condemnation.
The letter kills, brought death, condemnation.
He’s right. He’s right.
But half right. Half-truth.
So, that’s why people are being bought over.
How do we know that it’s half-truth?
Anyone? If you happen to know.
How do we know?
It’s not from this passage.
It’s from another passage.
In case you know.
How do we know it’s half-truth?
Never mind, I am showing you.
It’s based on Romans 7:7-13.
You have to compare these 2 passages
because in few verses, in Romans 7:7-13,
it states specifically that the law of God
does not cause death or even condemn.
So, what do we do?
It’s the same author.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians the law kills,
cause death, condemns.
In Romans, he wrote the Book of Romans:
the law does not cause death.
We have to reconcile.
The only way to reconcile
is to say the primary cause of death, condemnation,
is not the law.
The law is only a secondary cause.
The primary and root cause is sin, yes.
I’ll give an example.
Let’s say I am a murderer.
I appear before the judge.
The law through the judge must condemn me to death,
to be hung.
Is the law responsible for my death?
Yes, in a sense, in a sense.
Let me qualify, I know.
In a sense because the law,
in order to perform its righteous function,
it has to sentence me to death,
if I really commit murder.
So, the law, in a sense, causes my death.
But it’s not the root cause.
It’s only the secondary cause.
Which is the root cause?
It’s the sin of murder that is in me,
that causes my own death.
But Joseph Prince argues the other way.
It’s the law. It’s the law.
Saying that it’s the murder law
that causes your death.
That’s what he’s saying.
Interestingly, the letter kills but the Spirit gives life,
he (Joseph Prince) doesn’t explain.
But I want you to look at 2 passages.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
26 And I will give you a new heart – I will give you new and right desires—and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.
Now, when is this Spirit dawned?
In the New or Old Covenant?
New Covenant, right?
On the Day of Pentecost, right.
So, he’s saying, although this is an Old Testament text,
but it is prophesying something that will happen
in the New Covenant.
So, what will happen?
“I will pour my Spirit so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.”
Do you get my point?
In other words, this would take place in the New Covenant,
although it’s an Old Testament text.
And in the New Covenant,
we must obey God’s laws.
How can he (Joseph Prince) miss that?
Another translation Romans 8:4
4 He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.
So back to this text.
Now, I’m going to show you now, Romans 7.
Romans 7:10:
10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.
You see, he always wants to concentrate
on verse 10, Joseph Prince.
10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.
See, see, he (Joseph Prince) will say, see, confirmed right,
the law brought death, very commandment.
But he (Joseph Prince)
will just hide (Romans) 7:11 from you.
Who is the root cause?
11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.
In other words, sin is using the hands of the law to kill us.
So, he (Joseph Prince) doesn’t explain that way
Romans 7:11.
This is a different translation.
It’s the same verse, eleven.
Sin found a way to fool me by using the command to make me die.
Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me;
it used the commands to kill me.
So, who is the root cause?
It’s sin.
“What shall we say, then, Is the law sinful?
Certainly not…”
Did that which is good, then, become death to me?
By no means…”
Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful?
Of course not!
“… Did the law, which is good, cause my death?
Of course not!”
So, it’s clear here.
Paul says 2 things, right.
2 Corinthians 3, the law kills, cause death, condemns me.
Here it says, different, the law does not cause my death.
So, we have to reconcile.
Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.
13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation; sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation and death.
So, Paul is saying here, sin is the real killer.
So we can see how terrible sin really is.
It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
John Stott says the whole problem is not the law,
whole problem is sin.
Joseph Prince, what is his teaching?
The whole problem is not sin.
The whole problem is the law.
Every time, the law kills.
Now, get you to interact,
why does Joseph Prince say the problem is not sin?
What makes him have to say that?
What makes him say that sin is not the problem?
What in his theology
make him say that sin is not the problem?
You know, in his teachings, right,
you don’t have to confess your sins anymore
because your past, present (and future sins)
have all been wiped out at the cross.
So, you don’t confess your sins.
No more already.
So, that’s why he is, his theology very (dangerous).
That’s why he don’t talk bad about sin already.
Although every time he say,
I’m against sin. I’m against sin. I’m against sin.
He’s talking nonsense.
He is always against the law,
not against sin because of his own theology.
Romans 7:14 pinpoints the heart of the problem.
Romans 7:14 NIV
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Romans 7:14 NLT
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
So, Paul said it clearly the trouble is not with the law.
Joseph Prince says it the opposite way.
Every of our trouble is the law.
Okay, we come to this text, right?
Now you know.
Don’t let him deceive you.
It’s true, this is half-truth.
You need to refer to Romans 7:7-13.
Okay, I have other texts that prove that sin is the cause.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
So, which cause death?
Sin.
Another text.
“… For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, … For the sin… caused death…”
These are very straightforward text.
It’s sin that cause death.
Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation.
Just as sin reigned in death.
For the wages of sin is (death).
So, these are direct texts
that say sin is the cause,
not the law.”
In a teaching session, Derek Prince said;
to view the 1-minute-15-second video:
“Now let me return to the statement that I will close with.
The fault is not in the law.
Let’s look in Romans chapter 7 quickly before we close this session.
Romans chapter 7, you’d think I could get there by now.
Verse 7:
“What shall we say then?
Is the Law sin?
Perish the thought!
On the contrary, I would not have known sin…”
And then verses 12-14:
“So then, the Law is holy,
and the commandment is holy
and righteous and good.
Therefore, did what is good
become a cause of death for me?
Perish the thought!
Rather it was sin…”
And then he goes on in verse 14:
“For we know that the Law is spiritual;
but I am of flesh, sold into bondage under sin.”
So, there’s nothing wrong with the law.
It’s good, it’s holy, it’s perfect, it’s spiritual.
Don’t blame the law.
The problem is not in the law,
where is the problem?
In us, in our flesh.
The law performs the vital function of confronting us
with the real condition of our fleshly nature.”
In ‘Exposition of Romans Chapter 7:1-8:4, The Law Its Functions and Limits,’
Martyn Lloyd-Jones said:
“Therefore, the question follows,
‘Is the Law then the cause of that death?’
The answer is given immediately,
‘God forbid’
– let it not even be mentioned,
it is unthinkable.
What then is the explanation of what he has been saying?
… What he (Paul) is really saying is this:
‘It is not the Law that killed me, but sin.
God forbid that anyone should say
that I am teaching that the Law was death unto me.
It was not;
it was not the Law that killed me,
it was sin that killed me.’
So, we can translate it thus,
‘Sin is the cause’;
or ‘Sin became death unto me’;
or ‘Sin was allowed to produce,
and to lead to, this result of death to me’.
That is patently the meaning of the statement,
and it cannot carry any other meaning.”
In ‘The Bible Speaks Today, The Message of Romans,’
John Stott wrote:
that the law does not create sin and death;
on the contrary,
it is our fallen human nature which is to blame for them.
… In all such cases the real culprit is not the law
but sin which is hostile to God’s law (8:7).
Sin twists the function of the law
from revealing, exposing and condemning sin
into encouraging and even provoking it.
We cannot blame the law for proclaiming God’s will.
… Thus, all three of these verses (9, 10 and 11)
speak of the commandment in relation to death;
they anticipate verse 13,
in which Paul will clarify that what caused his death
was not the law
but sin which exploited the law.
… For ‘the power of sin is the law’.
But the law is not in itself sinful,
nor is it responsible for sin.
Instead, it is sin itself, our sinful nature,
which uses the law to cause us to sin
and so to die.
The law is exonerated;
sin is to blame.
who say that our whole problem is the law,
are quite wrong.
Our real problem is not the law,
but sin.”
In conclusion,
if 3 giants of expository preaching in the Christian Faith, namely,
Derek Prince, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Stott,
have all demolished Joseph Prince’s blasphemous teaching
that the law, not sin,
is responsible for killing and condemning us,
those who stubbornly choose to go along with Joseph Prince’s teachings
are shooting themselves in the foot.
Rev George Ong
Appendix 1
MORE TEACHING ON THE TOPIC
2 Corinthians 3:6-9 is a crucial text
that Joseph Prince uses to deceive.
While it is true that the law brings death and condemnation,
it isn’t true that it is the primary and root cause
– sin is.
The law is only the secondary and incidental cause.
Sin is the real and root cause of death and condemnation.
A failure to understand this
has caused the multitudes to be deceived by Joseph Prince.
Joseph Prince teaches that if God’s law
kills, brings death and condemnation in verses 6, 7 and 9,
it is certain evidence that the law has to be abolished:
2 Corinthians 3:6-9 NIV
6 “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!”
This is a simplistic and false view.
The truth is, sin, not the law,
is the primary and root cause of death and condemnation.
At most, the law is only the secondary and incidental cause.
2 Corinthians 3 is not the only place Paul teaches on this issue.
In Romans 7:7-13,
Paul teaches on this same issue as in 2 Corinthians 3:6-9.
Trying to exegete 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 alone
without bringing in Romans 7:7-13
would give an incomplete and distorted picture of the law.
This is why many commentators are of the view
that Romans 7:7-13
serves as a fitting, needed, and a sound exposition
of 2 Corinthians 3:6-9.
While 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 highlights the fact
that it is the law that kills, brings death and condemnation,
Romans 7:7-13 carefully explains
that the real and root cause of them all is not the law,
but sin.
Joseph Prince, by just interpreting 2 Corinthians 3:6-9,
which states that the law kills, brings death and condemnation
without also bringing in Romans 7:7-13,
is to distort our understanding of the issue.
Both 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 and Romans 7:7-13
were written by the same Apostle Paul.
Both passages must be explained in such a way
that it does not contradict but harmonises with each other.
First, let’s look at Romans 7:10.
Romans 7:10 NIV
10 “I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.”
Why does the law of God bring death in Romans 7:10?
Is it because the law is inherently bad or evil?
Of course not.
It is because of our sin, Romans 7:11:
Romans 7:11 NIV
11 “For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.”
Romans 7:11 NCV
11 “Sin found a way to fool me by using the command to make me die.”
Romans 7:11 NLT
11 “Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.”
What is really happening is,
sin deceives us by giving the false impression
that it is the law that kills us in Romans 7:10,
when the actual fact is,
sin is the root cause of our death in Romans 7:11.
This is exactly what Joseph Prince does.
He deceives us
that the root cause of our death and condemnation
is the law.
Since the law kills and condemns,
it needs to be gotten rid of.
Joseph Prince also deceives us
that sin is not the cause of our death and condemnation
as sin is no more the problem
as every single future sin has already been forgiven
without the need for confession.
The truth is, it is not God’s law that is the problem,
but it is the sin in us that is the main culprit.
Paul argues that although the law reveals sin,
it is not responsible for sin or death:
Romans 7:7,13 NIV
7 “What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not…”
13 “Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means…”
Romans 7:7,13 NLT
7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not!
13 “… Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not!”
To both questions,
Paul immediately responds with his ‘violent’ negative:
Certainly not in Romans 7:7
and
by no means in Romans 7:13.
Paul argues that the law is not responsible for sin and death.
On the contrary,
it is our fallen human nature or sin,
which is to blame for them.
Though the function of the law is to reveal sin,
it is not responsible for our sins.
Romans 7:10, stating that the commandment
which ‘was intended to bring life
actually brought death,’
seems to implicate the law
as being responsible for causing death:
Romans 7:10 NIV
10 “I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.”
But as Romans 7:11 and 13 have proven,
it is not the law that causes death,
but it is sin itself, our sinful nature,
which makes use of the law to put us to death.
Romans 7:11, 13 NIV
11 “For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.” 13 “Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.”
Romans 7:11, 13 NLT
11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
So, from a plain reading of the text in Romans 7:11 and 13,
one can clearly see that it is sin
that makes use of the law
to bring about Paul’s death.
As far as Paul is concerned,
the law is exonerated;
sin is to blame.
Paul has a high regard for the law.
He says the law is holy, righteous and good, Romans 7:12:
Romans 7:12 NIV
12 “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.”
If the law is holy, righteous and good in Romans 7:12,
how can it cause us to sin, capriciously kill
and bring about our death?
The real culprit that kills and brings death is sin.
Although the law ‘aggravates’ sin,
sin, not the law, is to be blamed.
What the law does is it exposes and condemns sin.
Sin is the real offender that produced death in Paul
through what was good, that is, the law.
What happens is this:
The law comes and confronts a man.
But because of man’s sin, he refuses to bow to the law.
And at once, antagonism and rebellion
against God’s laws are aroused within him.
This is because the sin in man wants to be autonomous.
Sin in man doesn’t want to be under any form of control.
Sin is not prepared to bow to anyone, including the law.
Sin resents the idea of the law
for the simple reason that sin, in essence, is lawlessness.
The moment the natural sinful man hears of the law,
he resents it.
So, sin rebels against the law with a vengeance,
and the result is that there is a greater sin than there was before.
Romans 7:13 describes this way:
Romans 7:13 NIV
13 “… so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.”
So, what happened in Romans 7:13 is this,
that the law ‘aggravates’ the situation,
not because there is anything inherently wrong with the law,
but because of the sin and the spirit of lawlessness
that is already in us
and its great tendency to rebel against the law,
that the law is actually seen to ‘incite’ us to sin even more.
Yet, the law is not to be blamed;
sin must bear all the blame.
But Joseph Prince teaches the opposite of what Paul teaches.
He teaches that the law is the culprit
that causes us to have the consciousness of sins
and condemns us to our death.
And instead of blaming sin,
Joseph Prince blames the law for condemning us
and for producing the sin-consciousness in us.
But sin is so strong
that it can even exploit God’s holy law to its advantage
to bring its own evil purposes to pass.
So, the law is the innocent party;
sin is the guilty party.
The law is being used and exploited by sin
to produce sin and death.
What is to be blamed is not the law but sin.
If a criminal is arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to prison,
he cannot blame the law of the land for his imprisonment.
True, it is the law, through the judge,
that convicted and sentenced him.
But he has no one to blame
but himself and his sinful criminal behaviour.
In the same way, the law cannot be blamed;
it is sin that is the real culprit that brings about sin and death.
The real problem is not with the law but sin.
The key characteristic of the New Covenant
is not that the law is done away with
because the New Covenant grace has dawned
as postured by Joseph Prince,
but that which (Ten Commandments)
is now written in the hearts of men
is actually the same Old Covenant law
written on tablets of stones that was given through Moses.
Indeed, the same moral law in the Ten Commandments
that was written on the stones for Old Covenant people
is the same law that is written on the hearts of New Covenant people.
The moral law has not been abrogated, nor has it changed.
What has changed is the place where the law is written
– from stones under the Old Covenant,
the same law is now written in our hearts
in the power of the Spirit under the New Covenant.
As New Covenant believers,
we have the law that is written in our hearts
that is of the Spirit that brings life (2 Cor 3:6).
So, does the moral law in the Ten Commandments
that is written in the hearts of New Covenant believers kill
as postured by Joseph Prince?
No, on the contrary, it brings life.
The New Covenant is not a new law replacing an abolished law,
but instead, a new heart that is born of the Spirit
to replace a stony heart that rejects the Law of God.
What needed to change was the heart of men,
not God’s law.
Thus, the moral law of God has never been abrogated
as falsely taught by Joseph Prince.
In summary, I believe I have debunked Joseph Prince’s teaching
that the law is the primary cause of death and condemnation.
The truth is, sin is the root cause of them.
Joseph Prince has made the law, and not sin,
to be our key enemy
when, in actual fact, the law is our ally
to reveal the sin that is in our lives.
Joseph Prince has to train his guns on the law instead of sin
to justify his Grace Doctrine.
This is because Joseph Prince sees sin
as no longer posing any problem for New Covenant believers
as every sin has been forgiven.
As far as Joseph Prince is concerned,
sin should never be highlighted anymore
as it is no longer the issue or the problem.
This is giving people false and dangerous hope.
His teachings that every single future sin has already been forgiven
without the need for confession,
is, indeed, a dreadfully destructive false doctrine.
While the providence for the forgiveness of every future sin
is provided for at the cross,
there is no automatic forgiveness,
as it is still contingent
on the confession and repentance of sins by believers.
If habitual, deliberate and serious sins
are not confessed and repented of
by New Covenant believers before the believer’s death,
it could still bring about their final condemnation and spiritual death
on the final day of judgement (Heb 6:4-6, 10:26-31).
Hence, sin, not the law,
whether it be for unbelievers or believers,
is still the root cause of our condemnation and death.
The scriptures never treat God’s laws with contempt
the way Joseph Prince does.
In ‘Exposition of Romans Chapter 7:1 – 8:4, The Law: Its Functions and Limits’, commenting on Romans 7:1-6,
Martyn Lloyd-Jones said:
“We must never give the impression
that in the manner of our salvation
the Law is put on one side,
and that God says, as it were,
‘I am going to make it easy for you’.
That is a false and unbiblical representation of Christianity.
The true doctrine honours the Law
because the Law is God’s Law,
an expression of His eternal holy character.”
Martyn Lloyd-Jones said:
“The true doctrine honours the Law
because the Law is God’s Law,
an expression of His eternal holy character.”
Joseph Prince, in ‘Destined To Reign’, wrote:
“Learn to see the Ten Commandments (the law of God)
and condemnation
as the same thing.
Whenever you read or think about the law,
think ‘condemnation’.”
Note the vast difference
between what Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a godly man of God,
thinks about the law
and what Joseph Prince, the master deceiver,
thinks about the same law.
The difference in their thinking of the law
is the difference between day and night.
Going by what Martyn Lloyd-Jones had written
that true doctrine would honour the law,
Joseph Prince, who dishonours the law,
is certainly not teaching true doctrine.
If Joseph Prince is a true teacher of God’s word
and a Christ-centred preacher,
he will never castigate the holy law
that was given by God to His people
in such a treacherous way.
He has no respect for God’s law
and even treated it with utter contempt.
The proper use, not the abuse of God’s law,
is described very positively and reverently
in both the Old and New Testaments.
In fact, there are whole passages
that speak about the many glorious accomplishments
and blessings of the law.
Psalms 19 and 119 are perfect examples:
Psalm 19:7-10 NKJV
7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
Psalm 119:20, 24, 46-48, 97, 103, 127, 129 NIV
20 “My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.” 24 “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” 46 “I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.” 97 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” 103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” 127 “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.” 129 “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.”
Perhaps, one of the secrets of David being the man after God’s own heart
is his deep respect and holy reverence for God’s laws.
How does David think whenever he thinks about the law?
Does David think of God’s law
(even under the Old Covenant)
as condemnation
the way Joseph Prince has disrespectfully and contemptuously taught
(that the letter of the law under the Old Covenant kills, condemns and brings about our death)?
Absolutely not!
David thinks highly of the law.
He greatly relishes it.
One only has to read Psalm 19 and Psalm 119
to get the feel about how the godly Jews, such as David,
absolutely relished and warmly embraced the law.
It was to them
“more precious than gold, than much pure gold” and “sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” (Psa 19:10).
Can anyone now enlighten me why
when Joseph Prince (‘Prince Joseph’)
and King David think about the law,
their perceptions are miles apart?
When Joseph Prince thinks about the law,
he thinks about
being condemned by it. Joseph Prince wrote:
“Whenever you read or think about the law,
think ‘condemnation’.”
But when King David thinks about the law,
he thinks about
being consumed by it. King David said:
20 “My soul is consumed
with longing for your laws at all times.” (Psa 119:20)
If the scriptures have so much good and glorious things
to say about the law
even under the Old Covenant,
it is ‘unforgiveable’ for Joseph Prince
to contemptuously discredit and disparage the law
by his teachings that the law kills and condemns us.
In disparaging the law,
Joseph Prince has also committed the great sin
of blaspheming God as the source and giver of the law,
for giving us the law to kill and condemn us.
One who disparages the law and blasphemes God Himself
can never be a true teacher of God’s word
but a wolf in sheepskin.
Appendix 2
Featured YouTube comments:
@estherbhagat7082
“Thanks brother Asher Chee for this video.
I followed Joseph Prince on GOD TV for a decade,
thinking he is so true.
But your videos have exposed his false teaching.
Thanks.”
@user-iu3dm5qk7p
“Joseph Prince is wilfully twisting verses
to say Jesus defines fear of God as worship.
The verse he quoted
does not show Jesus was defining
the meaning of the fear of God
– “You shall worship the Lord your God” (Matt 4:10 ESV).
That was Jesus’ sharp retort to Satan
who asked Jesus to worship him,
as shown in the preceding verse
Matt 4:9 ESV – “All these I (Satan) will give you (Jesus),
if you will fall down and worship me”.
That was the contextual meaning of Matt 4:10.
So, Joseph Prince has taken Matthew 4:10 out of context.
He used to say he loves to preach in context.
Of course, Scripture – twisters
do not put horns on their heads
when they are on the pulpit.”
@kengoppingoppin
“Actually, the fear of the Lord is not worship.
Jesus did not say it explicitly nor implicitly.
It is Joseph Prince’s own definition.
He uses Jesus’ name as a cloak
to make it seem like Jesus’ definition.
“These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won’t even bother them.” 1 Tim 4:2 Living Bible
“These people will speak lies disguised as truth. Their consciences have been scarred as if branded by a red-hot iron” 1 Tim 4:2 GOD’S WORD Translation
@user-qi8rv4ez7u
“If you want your church to grow fast and furious,
you don’t preach the fear of the Lord.
You preach blessings, blessings, blessings;
love, love, love;
grace, grace, grace (JP enhanced edition).
These are the most pleasant, ear-tickling
and crowd-pulling messages
in a watered-down gospel.”
@kengoppingoppin
“Don’t let Joseph Prince confuse and mislead you.
The fear of the Lord is not identical with worship.
Fear is fear.
It is clear from the verses in Luke 12: 4-5 (NKJV, GW)
Jesus speaks to his disciples:
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! ” NKJV
“My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more. I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.” GOD’S WORD TRANSLATION
@8studio
“Thank you for exposing him again.
Keep up the good work.
More people need to be awakened.”
@edmundsim6251
“I have to check Psalm 34:11, the Chinese version
(It has been like 30 years since I last touch a Chinese Bible).
It says: 众弟子啊，你们当来听我的话，我要将” 敬畏 ” 耶和华的道教训你们.
The Chinese translation is also right as it means 敬畏
which is to show humble respect for the lord.
The fear of the lord from my Cambridge English
also translate the same in my heart.
So, I don’t think anyone will think incorrectly
especially for westerners.
If the word fear for the lord is too hard to understand,
you may even want to break it into reverence
and show respect for the lord.
But there is nothing bad about fearing the Lord
as it kept us humble and away from temptations.
I heard Joseph Prince say about the fear of the lord
and this Old Covenant and New Covenant thing 20 years ago.
I can’t believe that he is still saying this.
I kinda been to many churches and many YouTube channels
and no one really says fear the lord as Joseph Prince has said.
So, I don’t know where he got his notion
and why is he saying that without giving an example.
I think he is just trying to give a sublime suggestion
in the minds of everyone
that his New Covenant is the real doctrine of truth
by being vague about it.
That is why he says:
Many Christians are in the New Covenant
but Old Covenant Mentality
and they still have the wrong kind of fear in God.
Then he starts to create wild stories
that Jesus defined the Fear of the God in the wilderness (which isn’t true)
because Jesus never says that.
And Joseph Prince says you can check the verses.
I can’t believe a Pastor of a big church will say that
and even need English lessons
on the meaning of being fearful of the lord
since most Christians won’t even misinterpret that part.”
@lindsaylim5806
“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats! – Charles Spurgeon
In today’s context,
Joseph Prince is the clown
and New Creation Church folks are the goats.”
@user-hd7qv8dx7x
“Joseph Prince likes to define truth incompletely.
Like the fear of the Lord, grace, etc.
Fear is not just worship but reverence.
God is a consuming fire.
Joseph Prince conveniently defines
and interprets scriptures his own convenient way
to lure itching ears,
not the whole counsel of God.”
@Matrixqc777
“Fear of the Lord = “True unfeigned faith in God
believes all that God has said, commanded,
promised or THREATENED”
Matthew 10:28b – “Fear Him who can destroy (apollumi- FULLY destroy, put to death) both soul and body in Hell {γέεννα – Gehena, eventually in the Lake of Fire –
Rev.20:14-15 – serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for God is a consuming fire – Hebrews 12:28b-29}.
‘Do you believe that God is one? You do well to believe this. Even the demons believe—and tremble in fear’ (James 2:19).
“Christian, let God’s distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent (or your pastor). Oh what obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites, and who are greatly loved” – John Bunyan (1628-1688).
@vijayrem-mn6id
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
“The heart must be principled with the fear of God…
A reverence of God’s majesty,
and a dread of his wrath, are that fear of him
which is the beginning,
the first step towards true religion,
whence all other instances of it take rise.
This fear may, at first, have torment,
but love will, by degrees, cast out the torment of it.”
– Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible
“The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence
which every intelligent being owes to his Creator…
without reverence,
there is neither caution, consistent conduct,
nor perseverance in righteousness.”
– Adam Clarke’s Commentary On The Bible
@WordsofGodThe
“Please think, if you were A PATIENT
who refused to take the medication
prescribed by your doctor and ignored his advice,
what will your doctor say to you now
when you realize that all 3 of your heart’s arteries
are totally blocked
(after your 20 years of hardened rebellion against his advice)?
I don’t know what your doctor will say.
However, can you also imagine what will God say to you
if you were A PASTOR who refused to take in the words
or doctrine written by Him
and ignored all His warnings or commandments?
What will God say to you now
when you realize that all your heart’s ‘vessels’
are so hardened that they cannot take in the words of God anymore
(after your 20 years of hardened speaking
and teaching against His commandments)?
Heb 3:7-15 KJV
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (11) So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (12) TAKE HEED, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But EXHORT ONE ANOTHER DAILY, while it is called To day; LEST ANY OF YOU be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, as in the provocation.
Please ask ourselves,
is that written only to the Jews or the non-Christians?
No, it is written to us.
We are supposed to exhort one another DAILY!
Please do not harden our hearts,
as in the provocation,
in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
like those who had NO FEAR OF GOD.
However, I don’t wish to end it here
because God is still a God of grace.
He is still a God who saves and heals.
There is still hope for us
even if we have become hardened for more than 20 years.
Heb 3:15 KJV
While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation ..”
@veralinc8117
“Joseph Prince doesn’t understand
what’s the fear of the Lord but he has 2 fears
– this channel and other YouTube channels
exposing his heresies.
He also fears losing dollars
when his followers wake up to his heresies
in increasing numbers.”
@WordsofGodThe
“Whenever Joseph Prince appears or walks to his pulpit,
his face, his smiles, his body language, his stroll,
and his stride simply shows that he has NO FEAR OF GOD.
Yet, you may think that it was the look of confidence
before he started to preach.
However, after he opened his mouth and preached,
I still sensed NO FEAR OF GOD at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXfXnJOYRvA&t=43s
I can’t understand.
Where is the FEAR OF THE LORD?
I still don’t understand
why should his critics be ‘roasted’
by his ‘fiery criticism’ and ‘body language’?
Obviously, that excessive outburst of the ‘body motion
or body language’ against his critics
is showing that he has no fear of man and God.
It’s because when he knew
that he was lying and preaching heresies,
he still had the ‘guts’ and ‘body language’
to insult his critics who are the preachers of GOD.
I am truly ‘amazed’ by him
when he has no fear of MAN and no fear of GOD at all.”
Note this comment is a critique of my website:
@jeffkwanjk
“Rev. Ong should know everyone
is answerable to Father God on judgement day.
There were opinions from his first book:
Destined to reign.
It is for the believers who want to read, listen and think
about his interpretation, let it be.
It is written
“Let the one who has no sin, cast the 1st stone.”
Why not write his good side.
Joseph is NOT the top richest preacher.”
I read Bill Johnson (BJ) “The way of Life”
and I disagree with his thinking of God.
The best that I can do is: disagree with BJ.
I don’t persuade my cell group Christians
to stop reading. Period.
These are the comments of those
who wrote against the above critic:
@vijayrem-mn6id
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say – Martin Luther
From your “let it be” attitude,
don’t you think you have left unsaid things
that would help or benefit your fellow believers
or the deceived thousands in their spiritual journey?
Don’t you think you are misusing the “cast the first stone” verse
to intimidate people into keeping silent
even in the face of rampaging half-truths and heresies
among the thousands?
You are not persuading your cell group
about BJ book by keeping quiet,
but why are you not doing the same thing,
ie, keep quiet and not come here?
Aren’t you breaking your own self-set standards?”
@lindsaylim5806
“Silence is as good as consent.
Bible teaches us to warn, rebuke
and expose all evil if necessary to protect the sheep.”
@user-vo3iy4ur6d
“This is not the only heresy Joseph Prince spewed out;
it is his innumerous heresies far too many to count
and still on the increase
that the scriptures pinpoint him as a wolf in sheepskin,
false teacher and false prophet.
Out of the abundance of a man’s heart, the mouth spoke,
you shall know the tree by its fruit.
You don’t sound to have been following the videos
and do your Berean homework.
You seem to be just throwing random shot,
think you don’t know what you are talking.”
@edmundsim6251
“By keeping quiet so that more people will be led astray?
To my horror, I cannot believe that you have actually said that.
Are you even a Christian at all?
There are many Bible passages that say
you ought to save the lambs and to guide them,
and to rebuke false teachers.
Well, I guess your only understanding of believers
are those ‘believers’
that believe only in Joseph Prince’s Destined to Reign.
By your logic, we are not believers.”
Note this comment is a critique of my website:
@malcolmloh7520
“Jesus’ interpretation is the most reliable,
compared to any preacher’s.
Fear = Worship.”
These are the comments of those
who wrote against the above critic:
@user-vo3iy4ur6d
“Jesus did not interpret to eliminate the command to fear the Lord
and replace it with only worship the Lord
as it is a recurring command to fear the Lord your God
from OT to NT as shown in the video.
What Jesus is saying by quoting from Deuteronomy
is that those who fear the Lord your God
will worship the Lord your God and Jesus being the Word,
to Him worship as written in
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
It is not going Sunday services
and sing a few high praise and worship songs
and feel elated and emotionally charged.
I dare say most of the time, it is just soulish
if not carnal and may not be accepted by God
for God seeks only those who worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
@user-vo3iy4ur6d
“In short, the fear of the Lord is not replaced with worship
as Joseph Prince would have us believe,
So, Joseph Prince has not only added and subtracted from God’s word,
he has also reinterpreted scriptures to another meaning
far remote from the whole counsel of God.”