Dr Paul Allen

Caricature of Charles Spurgeon. Caption reads "Noone has succeeded like him in sketching the comic side of repentance and regeneration". (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Author: David W. Jones. Over a century ago, speaking to the then-largest congregation in all Christendom, Charles Spurgeon said, I believe that it is anti-Christian and unholy for any Christian to live with the object of accumulating wealth. You will say, “Are we not to strive all we can to get all the money we can?” You may do so. I cannot doubt but what, in so doing, you may do service to the cause of God. But what I said was that to live with the object of accumulating wealth is anti-Christian.[1] Over the years, however, the message being preached in some of the largest churches in the world has changed—indeed, a new gospel is being taught to many congregations today. This gospel has been ascribed many names, such as the “name it and claim it” gospel, the “blab it and grab it” gospel, the “health and weal

The heart of the question centers on Paul’s statement in  2 Corinthians   5:21 : ”He made Him who knew no sin  to be sin on our behalf , so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” In what sense did Jesus become “sin on our behalf”? Does that phrase mean that Jesus literally became a sinner on the cross? There are some today who teach that Jesus became a sinner (or took on a sin nature) at the cross. Benny Hinn is one such advocate. In a TBN broadcast, Hinn exclaimed: “He [Jesus] who is righteous by choice said, ‘The only way I can stop sin is by me becoming it. I can’t just stop it by letting it touch me; I and it must become one.’ Hear this! He who is the nature of God became the nature of Satan when he became sin!” (Benny Hinn,  Trinity Broadcasting Network , December 1, 1990) Kenneth Copeland echoes those same teachings. In Copeland’s words: “The righteousness of God was made to be sin. He accepted the sin nature of Satan in His own spirit. An