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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Learn Bible before preaching, Pastor blasts Dolapo Lawal over salvation doctrine

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Two Nigerian pastors are publicly debating the doctrine of "once saved, always saved."
  • Apostle Harrison Ayintete criticized Pastor Adedolapo Lawal's interpretation, urging him to study the Bible more thoroughly.
  • The debate centers on whether salvation can be lost through continued sin or lack of faith.

A theological dispute has erupted between two Nigerian pastors over the doctrine of "once saved, always saved," with Apostle Harrison Ayintete of Goodness Nation publicly challenging Pastor Adedolapo Lawal of Zoe Household Global.

Pastor Adedolapo Lawal, sir, I thought you knew better than this, though.

— Apostle Harrison AyinteteExpressing disappointment with Pastor Lawal's theological stance.

Ayintete criticized Lawal's recent sermon rejecting the "once saved, always saved" tenet, advising him to "learn the Bible before teaching." Lawal had argued that salvation requires continuous faith, repentance, and holy living, citing New Testament warnings against falling away from faith. He asserted that unconditional eternal security could lead to moral laxity and downplay biblical calls for holiness.

According to your own John 3:16, the one who has believed has eternal life and will perish right? Eternal life is quality of life, it is God’s life, you said, so does God’s life see condemnation? Does God’s righteousness perish?

— Apostle Harrison AyinteteChallenging Pastor Lawal's interpretation of salvation using a key scripture.

In response, Ayintete questioned Lawal's interpretation, particularly referencing John 3:16. "According to your own John 3:16, the one who has believed has eternal life and will perish right?" Ayintete posted on X. He argued that eternal life, being God's life, cannot face condemnation and that New Testament epistles serve to guide believers toward spiritual growth, not to determine the permanence of their salvation.

The epistles are for revelation, development in ministry, maturity in that which we have received, warning against lifestyles that do not reflect our righteousness.

— Apostle Harrison AyinteteExplaining his view on the purpose of New Testament epistles.

Lawal also contended that teachings like "hyper-grace" contribute to sin within the church. Ayintete refuted this, questioning the prevalence of such teachings and humorously asking if sins in major denominations were sponsored by hyper-grace. He challenged Lawal to a public debate to openly discuss the matter.

You even said Hypergrace is the reason sins are everywhere. Bro, how many churches preach Hypergrace? So all the sins in RCCG is sponsored by Hypergrace? All the lies in Deeper Life? They don’t tell lies in your own churches?

— Apostle Harrison AyinteteQuestioning Pastor Lawal's assertion about the impact of 'hyper-grace' teachings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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