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Doctrinal Error and Damning Heresy

“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject.”

(Titus 3:10)

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.

Peter’s Dissimulation

For example, Peter was in grave error in the dissimulation he made at Antioch. By his actions he gave the appearance that believers should still be held under the yoke of the law; and, for this error, Paul publicly rebuked him (Galatians 2:11-21). However, his error was not damning heresy. Had he taught that men gain salvation or improve their relationship with God by obedience to the law, that would have been damning heresy (Galatians 5:2, 4).

The Distinction

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. Obviously, 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.

One Test

The list could be greatly enlarged. But there is one test by which damning heresy can always be identified. — Any doctrine that teaches, or religious ceremony 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 people in the truth, and to reject those who will not obey the truth as self-condemned heretics (Titus3:9-11).

God’s people and God’s servants, faithful, believing sinners, saved by the grace of God, washed in the blood of Christ, can and often do embrace doctrinal error, though they truly trust and love the Lord Jesus Christ; but that does not make them heretics who are to be rejected by us.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s