Introduction
“Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone”—a timeless truth rediscovered in the Reformation.
Believers in Dake's doctrine, particularly his emphasis on maintaining salvation through obedience and avoiding sin, tend to produce a legalistic and performance-driven mindset among adherents. This can have significant implications for how Christians perceive trials, struggles with sin, and physical conditions such as sickness or the need for corrective measures like surgery, medication, wearing glasses, visiting a chiropractor or hearing aids. While the Bible teaches holiness and avoiding sin’s appearance, these exhortations are framed within a covenant of grace.
One critical issue with Dake's doctrine lies in how he connects obedience and sin avoidance to the maintenance of salvation, as though salvation is contingent upon a believer’s continuous performance rather than rooted in the completed work of Christ.
A scripturally balanced understanding of sin avoidance and salvation considers the following principles:
Obedience as Evidence, Not a Requirement for Salvation: The New Testament teaches that obedience flows out of a transformed heart and is evidence of genuine salvation (John 14:15; Eph. 2:10). However, it does not present obedience as a condition to maintain salvation. Salvation is initiated and sustained by grace through faith, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.[1]
While Dake's emphasis on obedience to maintain justification is rightly critiqued, a clearer distinction between justification and sanctification is essential for theological clarity. Classical Pentecostal theology affirms sanctification as a subsequent work of grace that follows justification. Justification is unmerited and complete through faith in Christ. At the same time, sanctification involves a cooperative process where the believer grows in holiness through the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). These distinctions guard against conflating salvation with ongoing spiritual growth.
Avoiding Sin and Its Appearance: Believers are called to holiness and abstain from sin (1 Peter 1:15-16). 1 Thessalonians 5:22 encourages avoiding even the appearance of evil as part of living above reproach. This instruction is not tied to maintaining salvation but to upholding a testimony honouring God.[2]
Pentecostal theology emphasizes the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, empowering believers to live holy lives that reflect Christ’s character. Through the Spirit’s indwelling presence (Romans 8:13, Acts 1:8) and guidance, believers are equipped to overcome sin and grow in spiritual maturity. This Spirit-enabled transformation underscores that sanctification, while cooperative, is ultimately dependent on God’s power rather than human effort.
The Security of Salvation: The assurance of salvation rests on Christ’s atoning work, not human performance. Passages like Romans 8:1 affirm, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This assurance does not negate the call to holiness but places it within the context of grace, empowering believers to live righteously out of gratitude rather than fear.[3]
Dake’s doctrine conflates the biblical call to holiness, requiring believers to justify themselves through works. This creates a performance-based mindset that deviates from the gospel. While avoiding sin and the appearance of evil is indeed scriptural, tying these actions to the maintenance of one’s salvation contradicts passages like John 10:28-29, where Jesus assures that no one can snatch believers out of His hand.[4]
While partially aligning with Scripture’s call to holiness, Dake's emphasis on sin avoidance and obedience errs by making these requirements for maintaining salvation. A biblically sound understanding sees such exhortations as the fruit of salvation, not the root. Believers live holy lives not to earn or keep salvation but as a response to the gospel's transformative power at work (Phil. 2:12-13).[5]
Dake’s View on Salvation and Works
Orthodox Affirmations Dake affirms key Protestant doctrines, such as:
Problematic Additions Despite these affirmations, Dake introduces an array of conditions for salvation, stating that grace alone is insufficient:
Dake enumerates various conditions for maintaining salvation, including:
Moreover, Dake insists that justification is contingent upon continual obedience, combining faith and works: “Every act of obedience is an act of faith and works combined to maintain justification before God." [14] He explicitly rejects doctrines affirming the eternal security of believers: “The modern fallacy…that God does not impute sins of believers to them…is one of the most unscriptural and demon-inspired theories in any church." [15]
Theological Analysis
Salvation by Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) Dake’s insistence on multiple conditions for maintaining salvation conflicts with the biblical doctrine of sola gratia. Scripture consistently teaches that salvation is a gift of grace, not contingent upon human effort or works (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5).[16] By asserting that “grace cannot excuse failure”, Dake undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work.
Faith Alone (Sola Fide) The Protestant Reformation emphasized that justification comes by faith alone, apart from works (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16).[17] While Dake affirms faith’s necessity, adding numerous conditions blurs this foundational doctrine. Romans 4:5 explicitly states that God “justifies the ungodly” through faith alone, contradicting Dake’s assertion that works maintain justification.[18]
Eternal Security Dake’s rejection of eternal security conflicts with passages affirming the believer’s secure position in Christ. Jesus promises, “Whoever hears my word and believes…has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).[19] Similarly, Paul declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).[20]
While rejecting the doctrine of eternal security, classical Pentecostal theology emphasizes assurance grounded in a relational and Spirit-empowered walk with Christ. This assurance is rooted in the witness of the Holy Spirit, who testifies to our identity as children of God (Romans 8:16) and enables us to live victoriously in faith and obedience (Galatians 5:25, Jude 24-25). This relational view balances the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, offering confidence without neglecting accountability.
Dake’s doctrine shares significant parallels with the hyper-prosperity gospel, particularly in its emphasis on performance as a condition for divine favour. Both frameworks promote a mindset where blessings, whether eternal salvation or temporal success, are contingent on fulfilling specific criteria. Dake’s insistence on maintaining salvation through obedience to over 1,000 commands echoes the hyper-prosperity gospel's checklist-like approach to activating blessings, such as through declarations of faith or financial giving. This performance-based theology undermines the sufficiency of God’s grace, shifting the focus from Christ’s completed work to human effort. However, while the hyper-prosperity gospel often prioritizes material wealth and health, Dake’s teachings emphasize legalism and strict adherence to moral and spiritual laws to maintain justification. Despite their differences, both systems present a distorted gospel that conflates grace with works, misrepresenting the New Testament's message of unmerited favour and security in Christ.
Classical Pentecostal theology rejects a performance-based approach to blessings, viewing both material and spiritual blessings as flowing from God’s unmerited grace. It acknowledges that suffering and trials often serve as opportunities for spiritual growth and refinement (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5), emphasizing that God’s blessings are ultimately for His glory and the believer’s transformation rather than mere external success.
Hermeneutical Evaluation
Dake’s approach to Scripture exhibits significant interpretive flaws, including:
Proof-Texting Dake frequently isolates verses to support his views, neglecting their broader theological and narrative contexts. For example, his “23 conditions of eternal life” are drawn from disparate passages without regard for their covenantal or redemptive-historical frameworks.[21]
To contrast Dake’s proof-texting approach, sound hermeneutical practices such as interpreting Scripture through its historical-grammatical context and redemptive-historical framework should be emphasized. For example, understanding commands and promises within the broader covenantal context clarifies their applicability under the New Covenant, avoiding misapplication. Such methods uphold the unity of Scripture while respecting its diverse literary genres and theological themes.
Eisegesis Rather than deriving doctrine from Scripture, Dake imposes his theological presuppositions onto the text. This is evident in his “30 things grace cannot do” list, which lacks substantive biblical support.[22]
Legalism By emphasizing obedience to “1,050 commands in the N.T.”, Dake veers into legalism, overshadowing the New Testament’s message of grace and freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1).[23]
Summary
Finis Dake’s teachings on salvation and works present a distorted gospel that conflates grace with human effort. While he affirms certain orthodox doctrines, his emphasis on numerous conditions for receiving and maintaining salvation undermines the sufficiency of grace and the finished work of Christ. A biblically sound understanding of salvation recognizes that it is wholly by grace through faith, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8–9).[24] This paper aims to guide readers toward a theologically and hermeneutically robust faith by addressing Dake's errors and contrasting them with scriptural truths.
[1] Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV).
[2] 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (NIV).
[3] Romans 8:1 (NIV).
[4] John 10:28-29 (NIV).
[5] Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV).
[6] Finis J. Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Publishing, 1963), 1320.
[7] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1322.
[8] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1421.
[9] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1422.
[10] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1440.
[11] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1442.
[12] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1450.
[13] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1455.
[14] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1325.
[15] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1460.
[16] Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5 (NIV).
[17] Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16 (NIV).
[18] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1325.
[19] John 5:24 (NIV).
[20] Romans 8:1 (NIV).
[21] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1453.
[22] Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, 1455.
[23] Galatians 5:1 (NIV).
[24] Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV).
Note:
Refer to the concordance in the rear of the Dake Annotated Reference Bible under the topics “Grace” and “Salvation” to locate the relevant points discussed.
Comments