Joseph Prince’s Ploy of using Paul Cain’s ‘Prophecy’ & Martin Luther to Authenticate his Ministry is Exposed – By Rev George Ong (Dated 10 Nov 2023)
Subtitle: Paul Cain who prophesied about Joseph Prince was exposed as a false prophet – Homosexual & Drunkard
If you missed reading the previous article,
Please click on the link below:
(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 Sunday sermon aired on YouTube on 5 Nov 2023, 5 days ago,
Joseph Prince released a video regarding a ‘Prophecy’ by Paul Cain on him in 1992.
Please click here to view the 1-and-a-half-minute video:
(What Paul Cain said is not reflected here.)
“You know when that prophecy was given by Paul Cain.
When this prophecy (Paul Cain) was given, it was on 31 October.
It was in the Indoor Stadium.
And do you know that later, when I found out it was on Reformation Day,
the Day that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the Church door of Wittenberg
and that’s when the Reformation started in 1517, 31 October.
I was touched later on to know that that prophecy was given on Reformation Day.”
In a video, Rick Joyner said;
Please click here to view the 3-and-a-half-minute:
“It was illuminated that he (Paul Cain)
had been in some immoral activity relationships for some time,
homosexual relationships.
Don’t believe sin like that is beyond the power of the cross to redeem.
Anybody can be restored from those things, and we tried to work with Paul (Cain) through a period of restoration,
but he (Paul Cain) became very aggressive,
and then decided that he was going to not stay under our ministry to help him get through this,
and get free of the strongholds that were working in his life.
And we told him if he leaves this process,
we’ve got to go public
because we felt like he was threatening, especially to young men.
And we have a number of examples and evidence, but some things we get,
especially when he was drinking.
And he would get out of control and do things that really had some young people’s faith was deeply affected.
Well, even after that, even years after that, we had examples, cases, where, you know, this was continuing to happen.
But then something would happen.
There would be pretty solid evidence, he really hasn’t changed.
And right up until the last couple of months, I did hear from Paul just a short time ago,
and he asked me again
why would not restore him or consider him restored.
I said Paul, I need evidence.
I need fruit that this is not a, still a problem with you.
And then, when I heard what he shared in those meetings about having lived a celibate life his whole life,
and I had just to tell him, I said Paul, we know you did not live a celibate life.
I said as long as you keep saying that, which is not true, I don’t believe you’ve even repented,
much less been through a true, effective restoration process.
But as long somebody is trying, I can work with him.
But when someone keeps falling into,
or you keep deceiving,
saying they are living in a certain way when we know they won’t.
It’s not acceptable in the body of Christ.
Not acceptable to the Lord; it’s obvious.
One of the reasons he was, the lifestyle he was living was exposed was that I had an experience
when I got caught up before the Lord,
and saw the anger of the Lord.
It was one of the most; it was no describe and how fearful it was.
And He (God) was mad at Paul, Paul Cain.
And (God) was really angry.
I didn’t know what Paul had done. I didn’t have a clue.
But anyway, after that experience,
I was resolute to find out what in the world is Paul Cain doing
that he has the Lord that upset.
And I confronted his assistant; everything came out.
And I’ll never forget the anger the Lord over this.
Even though it was just a few weeks ago that I had the exchange with him
when he’s (Paul) still saying he’s still living a celibate life and things like that,
and I had to challenge him on that. It’s not true.
And it indicates to me that he hadn’t really repented yet about what he had done.”
If you know Joseph Prince’s grace doctrine, and if he were in Rick Joyner’s shoes,
he would have done the opposite:
First, Joseph Prince would assure Paul Cain that God cannot see the sin in him
even though he was a confirmed homosexual and drunkard.
Second, Joseph Prince would direct Paul Cain not to confess his sins as all his future sins have been forgiven at the cross;
and moreover, 1 John 1:9 was not written to believers to confess their sins to be forgiven, but to unbelievers as a prayer of salvation.
Third, Joseph Prince would advise Paul Cain to confess,
“I am the righteousness of God in Christ,”
each time he commits a homosexual act and each time he gets drunk.
Fourth, Joseph Prince would tell Paul Cain that repentance is just a change of mind,
and all Paul Cain needs to do is just to change his mind about homosexuality and heavy drinking.
Fifth, Joseph Prince would reassure Paul Cain that the New Covenant God can never get angry with him no matter what sins he may commit
– as opposed to Rick Joyner, who saw in his ‘vision’ that God was very angry and even mad at Paul Cain.
Last, Joseph Prince would comfort Paul Cain, that once he had said the sinner’s prayer umpteen years ago and believed in Christ,
he is once saved, always saved, and he can never lose his salvation,
even though he is a homosexual and drunkard.
(And from what Rick Joyner shared,
Paul Cain was also a liar and deceiver,
as Paul, even though he was already caught for being a homosexual,
said in public meetings that he was living a celibate life.)
All of us know about the sin of homosexuality,
but I wonder whether we are aware that drunkards and liars, too, cannot enter the kingdom of God:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:8 NIV
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Let’s just assume that the prophecy given by Paul Cain was true.
So, Joseph Prince might have started well at the beginning of his ministry,
but he went wayward not long afterward.
Also, what is crucial is not what was prophesied 31 years ago, even though it may be true.
What is vital is what Joseph Prince has been preaching for the last 25 years.
He has clearly been preaching heresies.
If you have followed my articles week after week for the last 3 years, you will know what I am talking about.
Just 2 days ago, I surfaced an article that proved Joseph Prince was preaching the heretical doctrine that God has wiped out the Ten Commandments.
This goes against the doctrine of Kong Hee, Yang Tuck Yoong, JC Ryle, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, John Calvin, and every Church Father, and every denomination.
In this article, I have given more proof that Joseph Prince is also preaching against Martin Luther, the key leader of the Reformation.
So, this is a deceptive ploy by Joseph Prince to use a prophecy that had transpired 31 years ago to give credence to what he is preaching today,
even though many of his teachings are heresies that could land people in hell.
Second, Paul Cain, who prophesied about Joseph Prince in 1992, was exposed to be a homosexual and drunkard.
While many believers may have committed the most heinous sins, the grace of God is all sufficient to forgive them.
There are no sins, no matter how detestable (whether they be mass murder or child rape), that are beyond the grace of God to forgive,
but only if there is true repentance (not the false repentance and false grace that Joseph Prince preaches).
According to Rick Joyner, there is no clear evidence that Paul Cain had, indeed, repented.
Many, especially ‘non-Charismatic’ believers, hold the view that Paul Cain is, ultimately, a false prophet,
as a false prophet could also give a semblance of a ‘true prophecy’ or even perform miracles under the power of the evil one – Satan. (Matt 7:22; Deut 13:1-4)
Moreover, Paul Cain is later proven to be a homosexual and drunkard.
And only a false prophet in Paul Cain can begat another false prophet in Joseph Prince.
Christy Wimber
Daughter-in-law of John Wimber wrote:
“Paul (Cain) was placed on an unrealistic pedestal as a prophet and it was so high the only way to go was down.
He failed miserably and publicly.
He was confronted by other Christian ministers about his public drunkenness and practice of homosexuality.
Paul had minimal interaction with the Vineyard (John Wimber’s ministry) during this time, and when we heard about these failings,
we were not too surprised as we saw some poor behavior during our last visit with him many years prior.
… At the same time, Paul’s life should remind us that gifts do not equal character
and there is no one whose gifts outweigh the greater need for deeper character.
When anyone is used and placed above others, it only sets people up for failure.
And as gifted as Paul was, he was all the more broken.
… John (Wimber) admitted he was wrong in allowing Paul (Cain) to continue
and it was time for the Vineyard to get back to “doing the stuff”,
which would mean all of the Church being equipped to “strengthen, encourage and comfort one another”
instead of waiting and looking around for some word from man.”
From Paul Cain’s episode, we are learning the hard lesson again
that a person’s character is far more important than his gifting.
Joseph Prince may be a smooth talker.
Yet, his character leaves much to be desired.
This is because I have proven time and again, from what he said in videos and what he wrote in his books,
that he is a serial-liar, serial double-talker and a serial-hypocrite.
This character issue alone would qualify Joseph Prince as a false prophet.
Joseph Prince said:
“When this prophecy (by Paul Cain) was given, it was on 31 October.
… And do you know that later, when I found out it was on Reformation Day,
the Day that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the Church door of Wittenberg
and that’s when the Reformation started in 1517, 31 October.
I was touched later on to know that that prophecy was given on Reformation Day.”
Any sensible person would know what Joseph Prince is driving at when he links the date (31 Oct) of Paul Cain’s prophecy to him
to the Reformation Day when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the Church door of Wittenberg.
He is trying to imply that he has inherited Martin Luther’s mantle or ministry or that what he is preaching is according to what Luther had taught.
This is far from the truth.
Let me give you the hard facts and overwhelming evidence that Martin Luther actually taught against much of Joseph Prince’s teachings.
Or, Joseph Prince contradicted much of Martin Luther’s doctrines.
In ‘Works of Martin Luther Vol. 2,’
Martin Luther wrote:
“The ordinary Christian, who cannot read the Scriptures,
is required to learn and know the Ten Commandments…”
In ‘Works of Martin Luther Vol. 6,’
Martin Luther wrote:
“This law can be done away;
but the Ten Commandments cannot be done away…
Then, when Christ comes,
the law ceases, especially the Levitical law…
… The Ten Commandments do not cease,
in the sense that they are no longer to be kept or fulfilled…
… For through Christ sin is forgiven, God is reconciled,
and man’s heart has begun to be inclined to the law.”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 5,’
Martin Luther said:
“Thus, this Gospel presents to us that which we continually hear and should hear,
so that these two sermons must continue to be preached in Christendom,
namely: the first, the teaching of the Law or of the Ten Commandments,
and the second, the doctrine concerning the grace of Christ.
For if either of these falls, it pulls the other with it;
while on the other hand,
wherever the one remains steadfast and is faithfully put into practice, it brings the other with it.
And God has ordained that these two themes shall be preached forever in the Christian Church,
yea, they have always, since the beginning of the world, accompanied one another;
… Therefore learn, who can learn, and learn well,
so that we may know, first, the Ten Commandments…”
George Ong’s comments:
Just reading the 3 above comments on the Ten Commandments by Martin Luther,
would indicate the irreconcilable position taken by Martin Luther and Joseph Prince.
While Joseph Prince said that the Ten Commandments have been wiped out (please see the last article dated 8 Nov 2023),
Martin Luther stated they have never ceased and must continue to be emphasised and taught by the Church of Christ.
In ‘Works of Martin Luther, Vol. 5,’
Martin Luther said:
“That is what my Antinomians, too, are doing today.
They are preaching finely and (I can think of nothing else) with real seriousness
about Christ’s grace, the forgiveness of sins,
and the other things that can be said concerning redemption.
But they flee the consequence of this as though it were the very devil,
and will not speak to the people about the Third Article,
which is sanctification, i.e., the new life in Christ.”
George Ong’s comments:
Besides Yang Tuck Yoong, Charles Spurgeon and John Wesley (in the previous article dated 8 Nov 2023),
Martin Luther, too, has accurately described Joseph Prince as an Antinomian
– his justification-only and no-sanctification gospel.
Joseph Prince hardly teaches on the important topic of sanctification.
Many former New Creation Church members have testified publicly that in their many years at New Creation Church,
they have not even heard a single sermon from Joseph Prince on sanctification.
Joseph Prince’s only-believe and no-repentance
and no-sanctification gospel
is the Antinomian false gospel
that cannot save and lead to destruction.
So, do not be deceived that just because Joseph Prince preaches justification by faith,
he is preaching what Martin Luther preaches.
The critical factor of sanctification, which Martin Luther also preaches,
is not in Joseph Prince’s grace theology.
In fact, Joseph Prince cast scorn on the doctrine of sanctification
when he, with a sneaky and sarcastic smile,
said publicly, that sanctification is only an accident.
In ‘Works of Martin Luther, Vol. 5,’
Martin Luther said:
“Those (Antinomians) who are not of this sort ought not to count themselves Christians,
and they ought not to be comforted as one comforts Christians,
with much talk about the forgiveness of sins and the grace of Christ,
as the Antinomians do.
For they, rejecting and not understanding the Ten Commandments,
preach much about the grace of Christ instead.
They strengthen and comfort those who remain in sins,
telling them that they shall not fear sins or be terrified at them,
since through Christ, these are all done away.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther made the point that those Antinomians, such as Joseph Prince,
who preached on the forgiveness of sins and the grace of Christ but rejected the Ten Commandments,
are not Christians in the first place.
If Joseph Prince isn’t a Christian to start with,
how can he be preaching the true gospel?
And how can those who supposedly accept Christ through Joseph Prince’s grace gospel
be truly saved?
Furthermore, Martin Luther stated that these Antinomians are giving false comfort to their people,
telling them that they shouldn’t be worried or be in fear that they are remaining in their sins
as Christ has already taken them away on the cross.
This is exactly what Joseph Prince preaches
– that God does not see any sin in his congregation even though they sin as every sin has been forgiven.
These erroneous teachings and false assurances would only lead the people to their spiritual destruction.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 4,’
Martin Luther said:
“Hence, those foolish souls (Antinomians) are entirely wrong,
who allege that the Law is not to be preached under the New Testament dispensation.
… But besides, we must bear in mind that the doctrine of the Law
is not to be entirely done away with, even in the case of those who are Christians…
… In the next place,
when we have received such grace and salvation, have been baptized into Christ and believe,
his will is that we should afterward live accordingly, obey God
and do what is commanded us in the Ten Commandments…”
George Ong’s comments:
Joseph Prince, the Antinomian, teaches that there is no place for the preaching of the law under the New Covenant of grace,
whereas Martin Luther states that the moral law in the Ten Commandments has everything to do with us,
in that we are required to obey them after we become believers.
In ‘Sermons on Martin Luther Vol. 4, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“Hence, there is nothing in the juggling tricks which our Antinomians play upon this example,
when they say that repentance is not to be preached and practiced through the Law, but through the Gospel,
or, as they put it, through the revelation of the Son.
They change the proper order of the two parts:
the revelation of grace and the revelation of wrath,
as if we are first to preach comfort through grace and afterward to terrify through wrath.
(George Ong’s interjection in purple colour:
Joseph Prince is a true-blooded Antinomian, as he got it in the reverse way as pointed out by Martin Luther,
when Prince said that we must preach the goodness of God or the grace of God – and that would lead them to repentance
– his idea of repentance of a change of mind is a half-truth and a half-truth is no different from a lie.)
This is nothing but a blind and foolish pretext on the part of these people.
They (Antinomians) have no understanding of wrath or grace or repentance, and know not how to comfort the conscience.
All preaching of sin and God’s wrath is a preaching of the Law, no matter how or when it may be done.
On the other hand, the Gospel is such preaching as sets forth and bestows nothing but grace and forgiveness in Christ.
And yet it is true that the Apostles and preachers of the Gospel sanctioned the preaching of the Law, as Christ himself did,
and began with this in the case of those who had not yet acknowledged their sins and had felt no fear of God’s anger.
(George Ong’s interjection in purple colour:
Martin Luther himself said that the Apostles sanction the preaching of the Law to unbelievers, and most importantly, by Christ Himself
– a position which Joseph Prince has vehemently preached against
– when he taught that there is no place for the preaching of the law to unbelievers under any circumstance in the New Covenant of grace.)
Thus, our Lord says in John 16:8: “The Comforter, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin,” etc.
Yea, what more solemn and terrible proof and preaching of God’s wrath can there be than the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, his son?”
… Hence those foolish souls (Antinomians) are entirely wrong, who allege that the Law is not to be preached under the New Testament dispensation…”
(George Ong’s interjection in purple colour:
Martin Luther called the Antinomians, such as Joseph Prince, as foolish souls
because they are of the view that there is no place for the Law to be preached under the New Covenant of grace.)
… But besides, we must bear in mind
that the doctrine of the Law is not to be entirely done away with,
even in the case of those who are Christians,
inasmuch as Christians must exercise themselves in daily repentance,
because they still live in the flesh which is moved by sinful lusts.
Hence, they must be so taught and admonished,
after they have received the forgiveness of sins,
that they do not fall back again into a state of security, or give the flesh occasion to war against the Spirit. Galatians 5:13.
(George Ong’s interjection in purple colour:
Martin Luther said that Christians should involve themselves in daily repentance.
But Joseph Prince deceptively said that repentance by Christians is only a change of mind
– from thinking negatively to thinking positively.
Joseph Prince’s definition of repentance is not only starkly unbiblical, but also laughable.
If repentance is just a change of mind from thinking negatively to thinking positively,
all we need to do is to send people who want to repent to an optimist’s club.)
… In the next place, when we have received such grace and salvation, have been baptized into Christ and believe,
his will is that we should afterwards live accordingly, obey God and do what is commanded us in the Ten Commandments…
(George Ong’s interjection in purple colour:
In a previous article dated 8 Nov 2023, I highlighted what Joseph Prince said in a sermon 5 days ago, on 5 Nov 2023.
Joseph Prince said that the Ten Commandments have been wiped out and nailed to the cross by God Himself
and he further stated that God said men cannot live under the law and Jesus said that no one can keep the law.
This is in total contradiction to what Martin Luther said that grace-saved believers are to obey and live according what is stated in the Ten Commandments.)
… Then I went to this light which teaches me what the will of God is,
and compared it to these talkers and spiritual boasters (the Antinomians),
whether it harmonizes with the clear doctrine of the Ten Commandments and faith in Christ.
When I found this was not the case,
I immediately east it away, and bravely upon this admonition of Christ
judged and condemned it as evil, useless fruit and a corrupt tree.
Do thou likewise, and hold fast to the true standard by which all doctrine must be judged, which is God’s Word and command,
then you can neither err nor fail and can overthrow the boast and pretensions of all false spirits.”
(George Ong’s interjection in purple colour:
Martin Luther said that because Antinomianism does not line up with the doctrine of the Ten Commandments and faith in Christ,
he condemned it as evil, useless fruit and a corrupt tree.
If Martin Luther is prepared to condemn the fruit as evil, this is a severe indictment against Antinomians, such as Joseph Prince.)
George Ong’s comments:
Just imagine – this episode alone,
has revealed so many contradictions
between the teachings of Martin Luther and that of Joseph Prince.
That being so – the fact that Joseph Prince can so shamelessly, without batting an eyelid,
claim to be preaching what Martin Luther preaches,
only reveals the toxicity and treachery of his lies and deception.
In ‘Preface to Luther’s Commentary on Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians”
Martin Luther wrote:
“But Satan, the god of all dissension,
stirreth up daily new sects,
and last of all, (which of all other I should never have foreseen or once suspected,)
he hath raised up a sect as such as teach that
the Ten Commandments ought to be taken out of the church,
and that men should not be terrified by the law,
but gently exhorted by the preaching of the grace of Christ.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther wrote about a satanic doctrine, Antinomianism, invading the Church of his day.
What Luther described is exactly what Joseph Prince teaches.
Joseph Prince teaches that the Ten Commandments are no longer relevant to the church,
and that we must never use the law to terrify;
instead, he, like his Antinomian doctrinal forefathers, would gently exhort by preaching the grace of Christ.
Just as Luther had stated that the Antinomian doctrine originated from Satan in his day,
if he were alive today, he would have no qualms about declaring Joseph Prince’s grace doctrine satanic.
This is because Joseph Prince is teaching exactly the same doctrine as his Antinomian ancestors
– that with the advent of grace, there is no more place for the moral law in the Ten Commandments.
In ‘Works of Martin Luther Vol. 1,’
Martin Luther wrote:
“And now it is well with us,
we keep the law,
and vanquish sin and death.”
George Ong’s comments:
Joseph Prince teaches that the dawning of grace
means we have nothing to do with the law,
whereas Martin Luther taught that
a true experience of grace
is to enable us to keep the law.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 1, Sermons on Gospel Texts, for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany,’
Martin Luther said:
“These are the superabundant riches of his goodness, which he pours out upon us,
so that our heart may be free, joyous, peaceable, and unterrified;
and willingly and cheerfully keep the law.
… Whosoever now believes the Gospel will receive grace and the Holy Spirit.
This will cause the heart to rejoice and find delight in God,
and will enable the believer to keep the law cheerfully…”
George Ong’s comments:
Joseph Prince deceived people that the law would instil fear in their life and keep them in bondage,
whereas Martin Luther stated that believers would obey the law cheerfully because it is evoked from a heart of peace, rejoicing and delight in God.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 1, Sermons on Gospel Texts, for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany,’
Martin Luther said:
“Thus, he is a truly Christian preacher who preaches nothing but that which John proclaimed, and firmly insists upon it.
First, he must preach the Law…”
George Ong’s comments:
What Martin Luther calls for – the priority and importance of preaching the law,
is what Joseph Prince vehemently fights against
– that there is no place for the preaching of the law in the New Covenant
– in that the more one preaches the law,
the more it would lead the listeners to a revival of sin.
So, you must never be deceived by Joseph Prince
– as he keeps saying that he is only preaching what Martin Luther preaches
– when the truth is, he isn’t.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 6 Sermons on the Epistle Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“Second, constraint of the Law leads to a future faith
by revealing to man his wickedness and his dislike for what is good;
by teaching him to know himself, to humbly confess his evil nature,
to acknowledge its guilt and to desire the grace of God
– grace that does not abrogate the Law,
which he now recognizes as right, good and holy,
but produces another heart in him,
a heart to love that right, good and holy Law.
Note, this is the true meaning and best office of the Law.
It is truly necessary that the Law should exist,
to bring man thus to know himself and to implore the grace of God.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther said that true grace
does not cancel out the law.
On the contrary, it helps us not only to understand grace
but also, to desire the grace of God.
According to Martin Luther,
grace and law, are friends, and they are meant to co-exist in harmony.
But Joseph Prince has made law the enemy of grace
– that with the dawning of grace,
the law has no more place but has to be chucked away into the dustbins of history.
In ‘Sermons on Martin Luther Vol. 4, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“The order everywhere indicated and observed by Scripture is this,
that sin must always be acknowledged and fear of God’s wrath be realized,
through the preaching or experience of the Law,
before there can be such comfort as proceeds from forgiveness,
the purpose of this order being that men may be led to long for grace and be made fit to receive the comfort of the Gospel.
Those, therefore, who are yet without any fear of God’s wrath, who are secure and hardened and unyielding,
must be strongly admonished and urged to repentance by the threats and terrors of that wrath,
that is, to them no Gospel is to be preached,
but only the Law and Moses.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther is of the view
that the law whose role is to reveal sin and lead people to repentance and prepare them for grace,
is an important part of the preaching of the gospel.
But to Joseph Prince, the law, which has been abrogated with the coming and cross of Christ,
has nothing to do with New Covenant believers and has zero place in New Covenant gospel preaching.
Joseph Prince even goes to the extent of stating that the preaching of the law will only bring condemnation, death and bondage to believers.
In ‘Works of Martin Luther, Vol. 5,’
Martin Luther wrote:
“After people have been thus taught and exhorted
to confess their sin and amend their ways…”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, Sermons on Gospel Texts for Epiphany, Lent & Easter, By Martin Luther,’
Martin Luther said:
“The first is that which is made to God, of which the prophet David speaks in Psalm 32:5:
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and my iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”
… This kind of confession is so highly necessary that it dare not cease for a moment,
but must constitute the entire life of a Christian,
so that without ceasing he praise the grace of God and reproach his own life in the eyes of God.”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther states that the confession of sins ought to constitute the entire life of the Christian,
Joseph Prince teaches that there is no place to confess our sins to be forgiven,
because all future sins have already been dealt with at the cross.
In ‘Sermons on Martin Luther Vol. 4, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“It is a hypocritical, deceptive righteousness, if one does not commit murder with the hand, and yet at the same time cherishes anger in his heart;
but the Christian righteousness requires that we be not angry.
To do this, we must constantly obtain from God grace and forgiveness,
and confess ourselves to be sinners,
which belongs to Christian righteousness.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther teaches that we must constantly confess that we are sinners, and presumably also our sins,
as that is the way of Christian righteousness.
But Joseph Prince teaches that we are saints as we are no longer sinners,
and there is no place to confess our sins when we sin,
but when we sin, we are to confess we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
If the confession of our righteousness in Christ is biblical and such an effective strategy for dealing with sin as Joseph Prince claimed,
why didn’t Martin Luther teach it?
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 7, Sermons on the Epistle Texts for Epiphany, Easter & Pentecost,’
“In fact, He (God) will more rigorously punish this sin
among Christians than among heathen.
Paul tells us (1 Corinthians 11:30)
that many were sickly
and many had succumbed to the sleep of death
in consequence of eating and drinking unworthily.”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther, like every responsible Bible teacher, teaches that God, being sovereign, can chastise believers with sickness and even death,
Joseph Prince is vehemently against it, as he has constantly been hammering in his sermons that God will never chastise believers with sickness and death.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 5, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“How is it possible for us to love God, as long as his will displeases us?
For if I love God, I love also his will.
Now, when God sends us sickness, poverty, shame and disgrace,
that is his will.
But what do we do under such circumstances?
We thunder, scold and growl, and bear it with great impatience.
… But God does not want this.
He wants us to accept his will with joy and love,
and this we are too tardy in doing.”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther said, God, according to His sovereign will, can send sickness to our lives,
Joseph Prince strongly objects as he has been telling the world that God can never send sickness to afflict us;
it’s the devil who does it.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 3, Sermons for Gospel Texts For Pentecost,’
“… as St. Peter cites in his first Epistle (1 Peter 4:17), when he says:
“For the time is come for judgment
to begin at the house of God,”
that is, with the elect, in whom God dwells.
… Godly and believing persons know their sins;
… they bear all their punishment patiently,
and are resigned to God’s judgment
without the least murmur…”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther recognises that God can judge both believers and unbelievers in this life,
as opposed to Joseph Prince’s teaching that God would not judge both believers and unbelievers
as we are under the dispensation of grace under the New Covenant.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 8, Sermons on Epistle Texts for Trinity Sunday to Advent,’
Martin Luther said:
“The “new man” is one
who has turned to God in repentance,
one who has a new heart and understanding, who has changed his belief and through the power of the Holy Spirit lives in accordance with the Word and will of God.
This new man must be found in all Christians;
it begins in baptism or in repentance and conversion.”
George Ong’s comments:
In other words,
what Martin Luther teaches is that without repentance,
there can be no true conversion.
Hence, Joseph Prince’s no-repentance gospel
can never produce true converts.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 8, Sermons on Epistle Texts for Trinity Sunday to Advent,’
Martin Luther said:
“When the apostle says,
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need,”
he indicates the true fruit of repentance,
which consists in abandoning and utterly abstaining from evil and in doing good.”
George Ong’s comments:
While Joseph Prince teaches the half-truth that repentance is only a change of mind,
Martin Luther goes further and states that true repentance is more than just a change of mind,
but it must also be accompanied by concrete fruits of repentance as evidence.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 3, Sermons for Gospel Texts For Pentecost,’
Martin Luther said:
“This he has now done and has commanded to preach it through the Gospel,
and he demands of all men (as we heard in the Easter sermons) repentance,
that is, true knowledge of sin and earnest dread of God’s wrath, and faith,
that in such repentance
God will for the sake of his Son forgive their sins.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther has pointed out that only through repentance
can the forgiveness of sins be experienced.
This means the no-repentance gospel of Joseph Prince
does not bring about the forgiveness of sins,
and hence, does not save.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, Sermons on Gospel Texts for Epiphany, Lent & Easter, By Martin Luther,’
Martin Luther said:
“And St. Paul says in Acts 17:30-31:
“But now he (God) commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent, inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness,” etc.:
that is, it is his will that all people, everywhere upon the earth, should know themselves, tremble at God’s wrath, and understand that he will judge and condemn them
unless they repent and obey this preaching.
… But in spite of this such judgment and preaching ever continues and forces its way farther,
as Christ here commands them simply to preach among all nations, to tell everybody, wherever they go,
to repent,
and to say that no one can escape God’s wrath
or be saved who does not accept this preaching.”
George Ong’s comments:
Martin Luther categorically states that without repentance,
no one can escape God’s wrath and be saved.
Yet, Joseph Prince dares to preach a no-repentance gospel
and deceptively claims that multitudes are saved through his preaching.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, Sermons on Gospel Texts for Epiphany, Lent & Easter, By Martin Luther,’
Martin Luther said:
“THE SERMON CHRIST PREACHED TO HIS DISCIPLES.
The above is one chief part of this Gospel; the other follows at the end of the Gospel, where the Lord concludes by saying:
“Thus, it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations.”
Here you see that the Gospel
is the preaching of repentance and remission of sins.
And it should not be preached in a corner, but before all men,
whether it be received or not, for it is to spread even farther that it may be heard and bear fruit.”
George Ong’s comments:
According to Martin Luther,
repentance constitutes the gospel and is a non-negotiable part of it.
This means if one, such as Joseph Prince, doesn’t preach repentance,
he cannot claim to be preaching the true gospel.
This also means that since the no-repentance gospel of Joseph Prince
isn’t the true gospel,
it can never save or produce true converts.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 1, Sermons on Gospel Texts, for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany,’
Martin Luther said:
“Then he sees why John (the Baptist) says, “Repent ye”.
He understands that John is right,
and that everyone must needs become a better man and repent.
But Pharisees and those holy in their works do not arrive at this knowledge, nor do they permit themselves to be baptized.
They imagine that they do not need repentance,
and therefore, John’s words and baptism are foolishness in their eyes.”
George Ong’s comments:
Ironically, Joseph Prince, who preaches the so-called grace doctrine,
is behaving like the Pharisees during Jesus’ days,
as he embraced and practised a no-repentance gospel.
This is because in every of Joseph Prince’s author call and sinner’s prayer,
what is always included in to believe and what is perennially excluded is to repent.
In ‘Sermons on Martin Luther Vol. 4, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“This constraining, however, is necessary in preaching both repentance and forgiveness of sins;
for without repentance,
we remain too hard and obdurate under his wrath, in our sinful nature and in the kingdom of the devil.
… for the faithful Wrath and repentance
urge man to run and cry for grace.”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther teaches that the wrath of God and repentance will make unbelievers cry for grace,
Joseph Prince teaches the opposite – there is no place to preach God’s wrath in any gospel preaching as that would serve to condemn them.
Conversely, Prince said that we ought to preach on the goodness of God as that would lead people to come to repentance.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 5, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“If God does not punish by the ordinary authorities
he will do it by pestilence, war, revolutions and other plagues;
for he can punish rulers as well as their subjects.
… Where such punishment is not administered
and the whole country becomes so utterly bad and perverted,
that the officers of the law can no longer restrain,
God sends pestilence, famine, war, or other terrible plagues,
in order to subvert the land, and destroy the wicked,
as has happened to the Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, and others.”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther said that God can punish His people, the Jews, and people of other nations
by pestilence, famines, war and revolutions,
Joseph Prince said God is not responsible for all these acts of punishment
but Satan is the one who had sent it.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 8, Sermons on Epistle Texts for Trinity Sunday to Advent,’
Martin Luther said:
“Is it not enough and more than enough that other sin and disobedience are laid to our account,
by which we anger God and merit heavy punishment,
without our trying further to provoke him with our pride and haughtiness,
so that he must arise in his majesty and resist us?
With other sins, he can have patience,
that he may exhort and incite us to repentance.
But if, in hardened impenitence, we defy and oppose him, he cannot but rise up against us.
Who is there that will bear it, or be able to stand,
when God sets his countenance and his power against a poor man already subject, every moment, to death and the power of the devil?”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther said God can get angry with New Covenant believers and inflict heavy punishment on them,
Joseph Prince unequivocally said that God can never get angry with us and that His chastisement on us only approximates to child discipline.
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, Sermons on Gospel Texts for Epiphany, Lent & Easter,’
Martin Luther said:
“Should not God be angry and punish us
for daily babbling, singing and reading the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed
without understanding, faith and heart,
and for thinking nothing
not only of Christ,
but also of God’s Law…”
George Ong’s comments:
While Martin Luther has strongly implied that God can be angry with us and even punish us for not thinking about God’s law,
Joseph Prince categorically stated that God can never get angry with us,
and that the moral law has nothing to do with New Covenant believers as it has been wiped out and nailed to the cross (Col 2:14)
In conclusion,
With all these hard facts that I have surfaced about the diametrically opposing teachings
between that of Martin Luther and those of Joseph Prince,
his ploy to deceive people that he has inherited the mantle or ministry of Martin Luther
or that he is teaching what Martin Luther teaches
is starkly laid bare and exposed for the world to see.
Finally, the manner that Joseph Prince can so shamelessly, without batting an eyelid,
claim to be preaching what Martin Luther preaches,
even though all facts point to the contrary,
only reveals the toxicity and treachery of his lies and deception.
Rev George Ong
Appendix
More of what Martin Luther said and wrote (without my comments) that contradict Joseph Prince’s teachings
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 6 Sermons on the Epistle Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“Finally, Isaiah says,
“They shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah.”
The true, the special work of a Christian
is to confess his sins and his shame,
and to proclaim God’s grace and work in himself.”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 5, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“Forgiveness of sins is nothing more than two words, in which the whole kingdom of Christ consists.
There must be sins, and if we are conscious of them,
we must confess them;
when I have confessed them,
forgiveness and grace are immediately present.
Before forgiveness is present there is nothing but sin.
This sin must be confessed that I may feel and know that all that is in me is blindness;
Otherwise, forgiveness of sins could not exist where there is no sin.
However, there is no lack of sins to confess,
but the lack is in not feeling and knowing our sins to confess them; then only forgiveness of them follows.”
In ‘Works of Martin Luther, Vol. 2,’
Martin Luther wrote:
“Give us grace willingly to bear illness,
poverty, shame, suffering and adversity,
and to know that these are Thy divine will,
for the crucifying of our will.”
Martin Luther said:
“The first duty of the gospel preacher
is to declare God’s law and show the nature of sin
because it will act as a schoolmaster
and bring him to everlasting life
which is in Jesus Christ.”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 8, Sermons on Epistle Texts for Trinity Sunday to Advent,’
Martin Luther said:
“The Christian has indeed inestimable treasure.
In the first place, he has the testimony of the Word of God, which is the word of eternal grace and comfort,
that he has a right and true conception of baptism, the Lord’s Supper,
the Ten Commandments and the Creed.”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, Sermons on Gospel Texts for Epiphany, Lent & Easter,’
Martin Luther said:
“… as at present the Antinomians who say the law need not be preached.
It is fruitless to teach much of grace among these people, for if the law is not preached, we cannot know sin,
as St. Paul says:
“Without the law sin is dead,”
which means where no law is, there is no transgression; for sin, no matter how great it may be,
and the wrath of God, are known only through the law.
Therefore, when the law is not preached,
the people become perfect heathen, and think they do right, although they sin grossly against the commandment of God.
… Thus, sin must first be known and experienced before we can preach grace.
But the law is needed to gain such a knowledge, and it is necessary to instruct the people in the catechism,
and diligently to teach them the Ten Commandments.”
In ‘Sermons on Martin Luther Vol. 4, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“But the Gospel begins to reveal sin and the wrath of God from heaven, Romans 1, that we all live unrighteously and godlessly, without exception.
This our Lord commands us to preach through the Gospel when he says to the Apostles:
“Go forth and preach repentance.”
But a man cannot preach repentance unless he declares that God is angry at all men,
because they are full of unbelief, contempt of God and other sins.”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 5, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“Therefore, it is wrong and not to be allowed,
as some in ancient times said
and as some stupid spirits now say:
Although you do not keep the commandment,
and do not love God and your neighbor,
yea, although you are even an adulterer,
that makes no difference,
if you only believe,
then you will be saved.
No, dear mortal, that amounts to nothing;
you will never thus gain heaven;
it must come to the point that you keep the commandments,
and abide in love toward God and your neighbor.
For there, it stands briefly determined;
“If thou wouldst enter into life,
keep the commandments.”
Again, to the Galatians, 5:19-21:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you,
that those who practice such things,
shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, etc.”
… Therefore learn, who can learn, and learn well,
so that we may know, first the Ten Commandments, what we owe to God.
For if we do not know this,
then we know nothing, and we will not inquire about Christ in the least.”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther Vol. 1, Sermons on Gospel Texts, for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany,’
Martin Luther said:
Be it little or great,
whatever is comprehended in God’s commandments should and must be observed.
One must here direct himself, not according to works, but according to the commandment.
You must not consider whether the work is great or little, but only whether it is commanded.
If it is commanded, there should be no neglecting it…”
In ‘Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, Sermons on Gospel Texts for Epiphany, Lent & Easter, By Martin Luther,’
Martin Luther said:
“Such preaching Christ himself instituted, when he commanded his disciples, as we have heard in the last Gospel lesson,
first to preach repentance in his name; and John 16:8 says:
“The Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect of sin” etc.,
for although it really belongs to the government of Moses to expose sin,
nevertheless, that Christ may come to his government and work
the beginning must be made by preaching the law where there is no consciousness of sin;
for where that is not done, sin cannot be forgiven.
The other government or kingdom is that founded on the resurrection of Christ, for thereby he desired to establish a new kingdom
which has to do with sin that has been awakened by the law, and with death and hell.”
In ‘Sermons on Martin Luther Vol. 4, Sermons on the Gospel Texts,’
Martin Luther said:
“But Christ is now about to make of him a true Christian, about to make him experience the real comfort of conscience
which overcomes the terror of the Law and raises man from the misery of sin to grace and blessedness, from death to life, from hell to heaven.
It is necessary, therefore, that he should first have a real taste of that power of the Law
which is roused and wrought, not by Christ, but by Moses through the Ten Commandments.”