Doctrinal Error And
Damning Heresy
I Corinthians 11:19
A friend once asked me,
"Do you make a distinction between doctrinal error and damning heresy, and
if you do what is it?" That is a good question and deserves a public
answer. While I do not find such a distinction made in the scriptures between
the use of the words "error" and "heresy", the word
"error" as we commonly use it is a much milder word than the word
"heresy". But in the New Testament distinctions were made. For
example, Peter was in grave error in the dissimulation he made at
This is where we must
draw the line of distinction - DOCTRINAL ERROR is the misinterpretation or
application of any biblical teaching. DAMNING HERESY is any doctrine or
practice that is contrary to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone,in
Christ alone. Obvi- ously, any teaching that allows the worship of false gods,
denies the deity of Christ, his virgin birth, or vicarious atonement is damning
heresy. But there are other forms of heresy far more subtle and dangerous.
To teach sprinkling for
baptism is grave error, but not necessarily damning. However, to make baptism a
condition of grace to any degree is damning heresy. To substitute grape juice
for wine in the Lord's Supper is serious error, though not damning to the soul.
But to make the Lord's Supper a sacrament by which grace is conferred upon a
sinner is damning heresy. The list could be greatly enlarged. But there is one
test by which damning heresy can always be identified. ANY DOCTRINE THAT
TEACHES, OR PRACTICE THAT LEADS PEOPLE TO BELIEVE, THAT SALVATION IS IN ANYWAY
CONDITIONED UPON, DEPENDENT UPON, OR DETERMINED BY THE WORTH, WORK, OR WILL OF
THE SINNER IS DAMNING HERESY AND ALWAYS DEADLY TO THOSE WHO EMBRACE IT.
Arminian, free-will, works religion is as damning to the souls of men as
Judaism, Islam, Catholicism, or satan worship. It is
our responsibility to expose heresy by instructing men in the truth and to
reject those who will not obey the truth as self-condemned heretics
(Tit.3:9-11).
Don Fortner