How Many People Believe in Free Grace Theology? (Updated)

 I have already made a similar article in the past, however due to new information, I want to revise the previous article.

Charles Ryrie (1925 – February 16, 2016)
The first person to respond to  McArthur

This post will seek to analyze the size of Free Grace theology and its worldwide distribution. Although exact numbers are impossible to gather, there are some things we can look at such as the number of books sold, or the amount of online usage. These can however give only rought estimates.

Firstly, there are multiple educational institutions that teach Free Grace theology, these include:

Grace School of Theology

Chafer Theological Seminary

Grace Evangelical Seminary

Grace Biblical Seminary

+ Multiple Independent Baptist seminaries

These together educate thousands of individuals, who also generally spread the views to their associates or even start churches.

However, looking online, the following Youtube channels teach Free Grace theology (there are likely more, that I am not aware of, but this list likely contains the majority):

• Tony Evans - 874k subscribers
  
• Robert Breaker - 680k subscribers (Hyperdispensationalist)
• Real Bible Believers (Gene Kim) - 416k (Hyperdispensationalist)
• Andy Woods 72k
• Ralph Yankee Arnold - 20k subscribers
• Onorato Diamante - 13k subscribers
• Jacksmack77 - 10k subscribers
• Grace Evangelical Society - 8k subscribers
• Grace Community Fellowship - 5k subscribers
• Northland Bible Baptist Church - 5k subscribers
• Streaming Truth (Afshin Yaghtin) - 5k subscribers
• Duluth Bible Church - 4k subscribers
• BibleLine - 4k subscribers
• Andy Woods' Unofficial Channel - 4k subscribers
• Jack Hyles Library - 4k subscribers
• Rev Reads - 2k subscribers
• Grace Christian Fellowship (John Ricci) - 2k subscribers
• C4C Apologetics - 2k subscribers
• Grace Institute of Biblical Studies - 1k subscribers
• Fuego Savvy - 1k subscribers
• The Layman's Seminary -1k subscribers
• Gian the Baptist -1k subscribers (Free Grace in the most moderate/soft sense of the word)
• Valiant Baptist Church (Tyler Baker) - 1k subscribers (Free Grace in the most moderate/soft sense of the word)
• Free Grace International - 1k subscribers
• Zane Hodges Library - 700 subscribers
• Learn the Word - 500 subscribers
• Toronto Bible Study - 500 subscribers

These together total to around 2 million, although the scope is very broad. These differeny Youtube channels may all hold broadly to Free-Grace soteriology, however they disagree on many major issues.

If those who hold to so-called "Hyper-Grace" theology are included (this view agrees with the Free-Grace view of salvation, although they disagree on sanctification), the number jumps to 3 million, due to the following Youtube channels:

• Joseph Prince (1.1 million)
• Andrew Farley (36k)
• Greg Jacksom (10k)
• David Benjamin (5k)
• Sniffing out Pharisees (4k)

Thus, there are over 3 million people on Youtube alone, who agree with the Free-Grace view of justification.

Now, looking at literature, the two most popular books I know of which held to a Free Grace view of salvation came from Charles Ryrie and Charles Stanley. Ryrie's studybible sold 2.6 million copies, while his other books sold 1.5 million copies. However, Charles Stanley's "Eternal Security" sold 9 million copies. Although Stanley's book on eternal security clearly presented a Free Grace view of salvation, it seems that he in his later days began to drift to a more Lordship salvation view. 

Other books defending Free Grace theology from people like Hodges or Dillow, often sold many tens of thousands of copies.

Now, going to churches, Free Grace theology is spread among multiple denominations, however we should note the influence of Watchman Nee first. Watchman Nee was an early Free Grace theologian in China, in fact, if one reads his writings, he often says things identically to later theologians like Zane Hodges or Jody Dillow, for example Nee argued that the word "save" in James 2 is not referencing eternal salvation. Watchman Nee founded the "local church" movement, which stands at around 500k to 2million members, although many of them are in China. Free Grace theology is also very popular among Independent Baptist, the very popular independent Baptist teacher Jack Hyles clearly taught Free Grace theology. Jack Hyles' books have sold over 14 million copies.
Although it is unclear how many people in the IFB believe in Free Grace theology, it is likely still a decent number. 

One can also note, that although the Primitive Baptists are not directly Free Grace, nor identify with the movement, they hold very similar views. The Primitive Baptists teach a distinction between disipleship and salvation, teach that James 2 is not about eternal salvation and such similar doctrines. They number at around 600 thousand.

Thus, to recap:

• Books sold by Free Grace authors number over 27million
• 3 million people in Youtube are subscribed to a Free Grace view of salvation (although 2 million are directly Free Grace)

Now, it must be considered that there is overlap, for example someone can have bought Zane Hodges' or Ryrie's book and be subscribed to multiple different Free-Grace channels and some are likely already dead, thus one cannot just add these numbers together. However, if one is really broad, there might be from the smallest possible number, 8 million to the largest 16million people worldwide who agree with the Free Grace view of salvation, even if they might not directly identify with the label, or not be aware of the label.

Dispensational vs Non-Dispensational Free Grace Theology

 I am a Dispensationalist, however this post is not an attempt to talk on the issues between non-Dispensationalists and Dispensationalists, but a mere overview.

Dispensational

The fact of the matter is that Free Grace history is strongly linked to Dispensational history. Free Grace theology has been taught by many among the world's most influental dispensationalists: Ryrie, Scofield, Chafer and such. Even today, all Free Grace seminaries are dispensational in their leanings. Dispensational Free Grace theologians include:

R.B Thieme, Zane Hodges, Bob Wilkin, Shawn Lazar, Stegall, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Cyrus Scofield, Watchman Nee, John Walvoord, Erich Sauer, Hixon, Robert Govett, Mackintosh, G.H Pember, G.H Lang, Ken Wilson, Shawn Lazar, Jody Dillow, David Anderson, Kenneth Yates, Shawn Lazar, Ralph Yankee Arnold, Chares Bing, Dwight Pentecost, Andy Woods, D.M Panton among many others

Dispensationalism has emphasized the distinction between the Mosaic law and the New Testament, this naturally leads into a separation of law and grace. And the strong premillennialism has allowed a central role for eternal rewards in Dispensational theology. Additionally, the unconditionality of Israel's promise, despite disobedience, has been used by Dispensationalists to support Free Grace theology.

Non-Dispensational

Although a minority, non-Dispensational individuals who profess Free Grace soteriology have grown in the recent era. This view can be traced back to Sandemanism and Robert Sandeman, which held very similar views to Free Grace theology, although it is today an extict view. Other old movements which hold similar views to Free Grace theology without being dispensational include the "Antinomians" (Antinomian controversy), Marrow Brethren and the anti-Majorists (Lutheranism).

According to Shawn Lazar, examples of theologians who are not dispensational but hold Free Grace friendly/Free Grace-like views include: Michael Eaton, Paul Zahl, David Zahl, R. T. Kendall, Rod Rosenbladt, Tullian Tchividjian, Robert Farrar Capon, Andrew Farley, Joseph Prince and Paul Ellis. There are also some teachers popular online like Norm Diamante and Afshin Yaghtin who teach Free Grace theology, without being dispensational. Additionally, the Primitive Baptists hold very similar views to Free Grace theology, although their strong views of predestination are distinct from Free Grace theology. Additionally, Dr. Michael Eaton is one more notable example of a non-dispensationalist who has had an impact on Free Grace theologians. Eaton published a book "No Condemnation: A New Theology of Assurance.", which has been read by many Free Grace believers, and he has even spoken as a guest at the Free Grace Alliance. Eaton is Reformed, Amillennial and Charismatic.

It is a minority position, but some non-dispensationalists have taken on Free grace theology.