In Distinction to Tom Stegalland the Groundless Gospel
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In this article I would like to specifically respond to Pastor Tom Stegall’s “Proposed Change”[1] that he handed out to his church congregation—Word of Grace Bible Church—in 2007. (Stegall has since left Word of Grace Bible Church and is now Senior Pastor at Duluth Bible Church in Duluth, Minnesota.) The “Proposed Change” was probably an overreaction to the “crossless gospel” (although actually following in their footsteps!): Stegall felt the need to make “several slight changes” to his church’s doctrinal statement on the “SOLE CONDITION FOR SALVATION” (i.e. “the gospel”), one of which was to specifically remove the fact that Christ “was buried” (see 1 Cor. 15:4). Interestingly, in reading through Stegall’s “Proposed Change”, it’s very telling that the word “change” is repeated eight times in the short (less than 1 page) document! Yet Stegall attempts to reassure his readers that it is only a “slight change”, as if changing “the gospel” is nothing to be concerned about! Stegall’s entire “Proposed Change” can be read online here. But the part that I specifically want to comment on is when Stegall says: “The death and resurrection of Christ are the two key events/works repeatedly emphasized throughout Scripture as an inseparable couplet necessary for salvation, not His burial. (Matt. 16:20-21, 17:22-23, 20:17-19; Mark 8:29-31, 9:30-32, 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34, 24:7, 26, 46; Acts 2:23-24, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30, 10:39-40, 17:3, 25:19, 26:23; Rom. 4:24-25; Gal. 1:1-4; 1 Pt. 1:18-21; 1 Th. 4:14)”[2]
Stegall’s “Proposed Change” leads to the obvious question: Does the Gospel Need an Update?[3] Let’s take a closer look! What I noticed is that Stegall’s proof-texts are highly selective in order to make it appear that Christ’s burial is unnecessary for salvation, and the only necessary components to believe are His “death and resurrection”. Yet ironically, many of the proof-texts are not specific to Christ’s “death and resurrection”, but actually include other truths of the gospel as well! The following analysis is provided for those “who have eyes to see and ears to hear”:
1. Stegall’s statement makes no reference to the necessity of believing that Christ rose from the dead specifically “on the third day” (1 Cor. 15:4), even though many of the proof-texts he listed clearly set forth this important gospel truth (see Mt. 16:20-21, 17:22-23, 20:17-19; Mk. 8:29-31, 9:30-32, 10:32-34; Lk. 18:31-34, 24:7, 46; Acts 10:39-40). In fact, if we are strictly concerned with what is “emphasized throughout Scripture” (according to Stegall’s highly selective list of texts, of course), the proof-texts themselves show that Christ’s resurrection on the third day is clearly emphasized far more than the substitutionary aspect of His death – which is only mentioned three times in all the proof-texts combined! Yet Stegall does not require the reference to “the third day” to be believed as part of the gospel according to him, as he does the substitutionary aspect of Christ’s death.
2. Stegall omits any reference to Matthew 12:39-40 even though this text is a pivotal prophecy of Christ that highlights His death and resurrection on the third day. No doubt Stegall omits this text because although Christ foretells His death and resurrection, there is also a clear emphasis on His burial. Free Grace theologian Roy B. Zuck affirms: “Jonah’s three days and three nights in the fish’s stomach illustrates Christ’s burial.”[4] Even Tom Stegall acknowledges that the sign of Jonah the prophet has reference to the burial of Christ. Stegall says that “God prophetically and typologically ordained that Christ should be in the tomb for ‘three days and three nights’ (Jonah 1:17; Matt. 12:40; 26:61; 27:40, 63)”.[5]
3. Stegall omits any reference to the climactic passion narratives of the Gospels, all of which clearly describe Christ’s burial (Mt. 27:57-66; Mk. 15:42-47; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:31-42). Note: This point deals with four more texts that Stegall selectively omits from his list of Bible verses!
4. Stegall omits any reference to Matthew 28:1-10. Because although the passage mentions the death and resurrection of Christ, the text also draws attention to Christ’s burial (and resurrection appearances). Christ’s burial is clearly described, and thus His resurrection from the dead is more specifically a resurrection from the grave or from the ground! This resurrection to life specifically from the ground is according to the Scriptures (cf. Gen. 1:11-13; Gen. 3:19; Psa. 22:15, Psa. 40:2, Psa. 85:11; Isa. 26:19, Isa. 53:9; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 27:52-53; Jn. 5:28, 12:23-24; 1 Cor. 15:20).
5. Stegall omits any mention of Mark 16:5-7, because although the passage references the death and resurrection of Christ, the text also draws specific attention to His burial (and His resurrection appearance to Peter and the disciples).
6. Stegall omits any reference to Luke 24:26, because although the text highlights Christ’s death and resurrection, the passage also draws attention to the fact of Christ’s burial (vv. 22-24), and that it was prophesied in the Old Testament and is according to the Scriptures (see vv. 19-27)! Interestingly, the passage in Luke 24 also clearly highlights a resurrection appearance of Christ to certain of His disciples on the road to Emmaus (see vv. 13-35), not to mention another resurrection appearance to His more intimate group of disciples in vv. 36-49.
7. Stegall omits any mention of John 2:19-22, because although the passage makes reference to Christ’s death and resurrection on the third day, it also makes reference to Christ’s appearances to His disciples after His resurrection. Since Stegall is trying to make a case against believing in Christ’s burial in the gospel (and by extension also against believing in His resurrection appearances), this passage is omitted from his list of proof-texts.
8. Stegall omits any mention of John 20:19-21:14, because although Jesus points to His death and resurrection, His resurrection is said to be from the “tomb” (Jn. 20:1-9), and the passage also highlights the Savior’s resurrection appearances to His disciples three times (Jn. 20:19, 20:26, 21:1, 14). This is a key passage of Scripture, and it is in this section that we find the purpose for which John wrote his Gospel (see Jn. 20:30-31). It’s very revealing that in Stegall’s highly selective list of proof-texts, there is no mention of John 20:30-31, nor any reference from the Gospel of John! The truth is, these key sections from John’s Gospel do not support Stegall’s groundless gospel. Rather, they argue strongly against it.
9. Stegall omits any reference to Acts 1:1-3, because although the passage highlights Christ’s death and resurrection, the text also plainly emphasizes Christ’s resurrection appearances to His disciples when it says: “to these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering” (v. 3).
10. Stegall cites Acts 2:23-24 but completely omits the remainder of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:25-36! This is no doubt because the apostle proclaims the importance of Christ’s burial and resurrection appearances.
11. Stegall cites Acts 3:15 but omits any mention of Christ’s resurrection appearances spoken of in the same verse! Furthermore, according to the Scriptures, Christ's resurrection from the dead was a resurrection from the ground, as previously explained (see #4).
12. Stegall mentions Acts 5:30 but fails to cite the remainder of Peter’s sermon in Acts 5:31-32, which clearly describes the resurrection appearances of Christ.
13. Stegall cites Acts 10:39-40 but omits any mention of Christ’s resurrection appearances spoken of in the same passage (vv. 40-41).
14. Stegall omits any reference to Acts 13:28-31 (even though Stegall has said elsewhere that this is Paul’s gospel to the Galatians!), because in this passage the apostle Paul not only proclaims Christ’s death and resurrection, but also His burial and resurrection appearances![6]
15. Stegall omits any reference to Romans 6:3-4 even though he has stated elsewhere that this text is a picture of the gospel! Concerning this, Stegall says that “water baptism pictures believers’ identification with the person of Christ, [and] it also pictures the spiritual reality of our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection....It signifies the believer’s spiritual identification with Christ in His person and work [i.e. His death, burial, and resurrection]. It is a picture of the Gospel!”[7] Stegall omits Romans 6:3-4 from his list of proof-texts because this key passage highlights not only Christ’s death and resurrection, but also His burial and walking in newness of life (i.e. His resurrection appearances). Stegall omits this passage even though it pictures “the Gospel” and includes Christ’s death and resurrection! The problem for Stegall, of course, is that the passage also includes Christ’s burial.
16. Stegall omits any reference to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (or more specifically 15:1-5), even though this passage is “of first importance” regarding salvation and even highlights Christ’s death and resurrection. Again, the problem for Stegall is that this passage also includes Christ’s burial and resurrection appearances and therefore does not support his reductionist reasoning.
17. Stegall omits any reference to Colossians 2:12, because while this verse mentions Christ’s death and resurrection, it also mentions His burial.
18. Stegall never mentions 2 Timothy 2:8, because although Paul reminds his readers of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, he adds that this truth is “according to my gospel”, not in place of it!
19. Stegall also makes no reference to key Old Testament Scriptures that describe Christ’s death and resurrection such as Isaiah 53, because this passage also clearly includes a reference to Christ’s burial (Isa. 53:9) and resurrection appearance to His disciples: “He shall see His followers” (Isa. 53:10, Berkley Version; cf. 1 Cor. 15:5, NASB: “He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve”).
20. Stegall also fails to mention Psalm 22, which in addition to highlighting Christ’s death and resurrection, also clearly includes His burial (22:15) and resurrection appearances (22:22; cf. Jn. 20:17; Heb. 2:9-12).
21. Stegall also omits Psalm 40 from his highly-selective list of proof-texts, because although Psalm 40 is a Messianic Psalm highlighting Christ’s cries from the cross (v. 1) and His resurrection (v. 2), the text also plainly includes a reference to His burial (v. 2) and His appearance after resurrection (v. 3; cf. 1 Cor. 15:5, KJV: “He was seen”).
To summarize: Christ’s death and resurrection are emphasized in the gospel, but it does not follow that Christ’s burial is excluded. If Stegall really wants to “make believing ‘the gospel’ more explicit as a requirement for salvation”[8], it is striking that none of his proof-texts even mention “the gospel”! Corresponding to this, if Stegall really wants to “make believing ‘the gospel’ more explicit”[9], why doesn’t he include 1 Corinthians 15:1ff in his list of proof-texts? (This is the passage where Paul begins in verse 1 by saying, “Brethren, I make known to you ‘the gospel’”!) The obvious answer of course (as I mentioned above), is that in this passage the apostle Paul also clearly includes Christ’s burial and resurrection appearances, truths which Stegall contends are not part of “the gospel”.
It’s clear that Stegall has an agenda to push and has set out to find Scriptures to support his theological perspective. Although at first glance Stegall’s premise may appear to be solidly supported by Scripture, upon further examination his statement is seen to be groundless and a gross distortion of the Scriptural truth.
References:
[1] Tom Stegall, “Proposed Change” to the Word of Grace Bible Church’s doctrinal statement on the “SOLE CONDITION FOR SALVATION” (2007).
[2] Ibid.
[3] See my article: “Does the Gospel Need an Update?” (FGFS, May 3, 2011).
[4] Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation, p. 181.
[5] Thomas L. Stegall, The Gospel of the Christ, p. 727, italics his.
[6] For more information see my article: “Is Tom Stegall’s Gospel the Traditional Free grace Gospel?” (FGFS, March 10, 2012), and also my article titled: “What Gospel Did Paul Preach to the Galatians?” (FGFS, June 29, 2018).
[7] Tom Stegall, “The Tragedy Of The Crossless Gospel, Part 5,” Grace Family
Journal (Special Edition, 2007): p. 27, italics and underlining his, ellipsis and brackets added. Also see: Thomas L. Stegall, The Gospel of the Christ,
p. 147; cf. Dennis Rokser, 7 Key Questions about Water Baptism, p. 23.
[8] Tom Stegall, “Proposed Change” to the Word of Grace Bible Church’s
doctrinal statement on the “SOLE CONDITION FOR SALVATION” (2007).
[9] Ibid.
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