Which of Chafer’s 33 Blessings Do You Agree / Disagree With?

Summary

Grace in Focus
Grace Evangelical Society
Episode: Which of Chafer’s 33 Blessings Do You Agree/Disagree With?
Date: May 19, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this concise, thought-provoking episode, Bob Wilkin (GES Executive Director) and co-host Sam Marr respond to a listener question about Lewis Sperry Chafer’s famed “33 Blessings” received at the moment of faith in Christ. They explore which points from Chafer’s list they support, which they disagree with, and which essential blessings they believe were omitted. The conversation highlights not just nuanced theological distinctions within Free Grace circles but also how systematic theology has developed across generations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Chafer’s 33 Blessings

• Context: Originally crafted by Lewis Sperry Chafer in his Systematic Theology (volume 3, “Soteriology”), the “33 Blessings” enumerate the benefits conferred upon believers at the moment of faith.
• Initial Position:
  • Bob Wilkin affirms agreement with most of Chafer’s list but wants to highlight both omissions and points of contention.

    "I agree with most of his 33 points. I guess let me first say a couple things that I think should be there that are not specifically mentioned." (Bob Wilkin, 01:43)

2. Blessings Missing from Chafer’s List

• Permanent Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

• Baptism by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ

• Sealing by the Holy Spirit

  "He doesn't have sealed here as one of the 33 that we're sealed by the Holy Spirit. ...He also doesn't even have regenerated as one of the 33." (Bob, 03:01)

• Regeneration

  • While “regeneration” appears under “children of God,” Wilkin prefers explicit distinction.

  Mnemonic: RIBS—Regeneration, Indwelling, Baptizing, Sealing—should each be explicit blessings. (03:01)

3. Points of Disagreement with Chafer’s List

Bob outlines four key points in Chafer’s list that he finds problematic.

a. Eternal Plan of God (Election & Calvinism)

• Key Issues:
  • Chafer’s first blessing leans toward Calvinistic election: “called in the eternal plan of God.”
  • Wilkin does not support the idea of “pre-temporal election” regarding individual salvation.

    "I don't agree with his first point in the eternal plan of God because I don't believe God elected anybody to everlasting life." (Bob, 08:23)

  • Preference: Election in the New Testament is generally to service or privilege, not unconditional salvation (08:31).

b. Forgiven All Trespasses (Forensic vs. Familial Forgiveness)

• Chafer’s View: All past, present, and future sins judicially forgiven at salvation (positional).
• Wilkin’s View:
  • While believers are declared righteous (justified), “forgiveness” in the New Testament indicates a repeated need for familial forgiveness as we walk with God.

    "I obviously agree that we have right standing forever, but I don't see anywhere in the New Testament that's called forgiveness." (Bob, 09:40)
    "I would say [Col 2:13] means he's forgiven us all our trespasses up to this point. ...That doesn't mean I don't need forgiveness in an hour, in a day, in a week, whatever." (Bob, 09:40)

c. Chosen Generation, Holy Nation, Peculiar People (Replacement Theology Risk)

• Interpretive Mistake:
  • Chafer applies 1 Peter 2:9 (originally for Jewish believers) to the universal church, risking replacement theology—identifying the church as Israel.

    "If you're not careful and you take what [Chafer’s] saying here, you end up with replacement theology. The church is now the chosen nation. We're now the chosen people. No, we're not. We're not a nation. The church is never a nation." (Bob, 10:41)

d. Glorified (Already/Not Yet)

• Bob’s Objection:
  • Chafer teaches glorification as already realized at faith (cf. Rom 8:30).
  • Bob insists glorification awaits co-heirs with Christ in the future; it’s not automatic at justification.

    "Even in Romans 8:30 the glorification is the glorification of the co-heirs with Christ." (Bob, 11:51) "‘Is to be revealed’ implies that it's not yet—it’s something that's going to happen. Even that alone means it doesn't happen at the moment of regeneration." (Sam, 11:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Omissions:

  “The ribs—regeneration, indwelling, baptizing, sealing—as four ministries of the Spirit that occur when we're born again. ...I'd like to see those specifically mentioned in his list.” (Bob, 03:01)

• On Election:

  "I don't agree with his first point ...because I don't believe God elected anybody to everlasting life." (Bob, 08:23)

• On Forgiveness:

  "He basically takes this future forgiveness not being forgiveness, but being justification, being declared righteous. ...But I don't see anywhere in the New Testament that's called forgiveness." (Bob, 09:40)

• On Replacement Theology:

  "No, we're not [the nation]. We're not a nation. The church is never a nation." (Bob, 10:41)

• Final Reflection:

  "I think it is remarkable what Lewis Barry Chafer came up with considering he was a ...self-trained theologian and he was very accurate on most things. I'm very thankful for him, thankful for his founding of Dallas Seminary. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't tweak some of the things he said." (Bob, 12:00)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:06 — Listener Q&A Introduction: Chafer’s List
• 01:43 — Missing Blessings ("RIBS" mnemonic)
• 05:07 — Critique of "Eternal Plan of God"/Election
• 08:31 — Suggestion: Election to service is instant at faith
• 08:40 — Issues with “Forgiven All Trespasses”
• 09:40 — Familial Forgiveness and Justification Discussion
• 10:41 — On "Chosen Generation” & Replacement Theology
• 11:51 — Disagreement: "Glorified" is Not Yet, for Co-heirs
• 12:00 — Summary and Reflection on Chafer’s Legacy

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Conclusion

Bob Wilkin offers a nuanced appreciation for Chafer’s influential work while clearly delineating where Free Grace theology diverges or would further specify Chafer's points. This short episode brings doctrinal clarity on the New Testament’s doctrine of the believer’s blessings, clarifying popular misinterpretations and encouraging ongoing theological refinement—always “keeping grace in focus.”

Transcript

[A]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society. Lewis Barry Chafer, founder of Dallas Theological Seminary, had a list of 33 blessings that you get when you receive the gift of eternal life. Does GES agree with most of these? All of these? Are there some that Bob Wilkin disagrees with? Well, that's where we're headed today on this edition of Grace in Focus. Thank you for joining us, friend. This is a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Our website is faithalone.org we'd like you to go there and take a look at our magazine. It's a free subscription magazine. It is also called Grace in Focus. It is a full length magazine. Great color, great articles, and it is free all except if you live outside of the 48 contiguous United States. You have to pay the postage. Otherwise, absolutely free. We want you to have it. Go to our website, get signed up today at Faith Alone. And now with today's question and answer discussion, here are Bob Wilken and Sam Marr.

[B]

All right, Bob, we've got a great question today from Kent. This is something you have mentioned on radio a lot and I've kind of taken for granted, but I never looked at it myself. But he's asking about Lewisbury Chafer's 33 blessings. And this is part of his systematic theology.

[C]

Yeah, this is volume three, soteriology.

[B]

And so the question is, which of those 33 things do you agree and disagree with? Because on radio you said a bunch. He lists these 33 things. I agree with most of them, but today we're gonna go through the ones that you disagree with and some ones that you think are left out of that list.

[C]

Okay, well, this could get me kicked out of the dispensational alumni group or the Dallas Theological Seminary alumni group. But no, I mean, I agree with most of his 33 points. I guess let me first say a couple things that I think should be there that are not specifically mentioned. I'm looking at volume three of his Systematic Theology. I'm in the table of contents, but I've also gone back and looked at some of the pages. Within the table of contents is chapter 13, and it's from pages 234 to 265, so about 30 pages under the riches of divine grace. In terms of ones that are missing, I don't see a direct statement of the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He mentions the Holy Spirit in places, and I haven't taken the time to read through all of the 30 pages carefully, but I think one of the 33 he listed should be indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Another one is he doesn't mention being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.

[B]

Now he does mention the family and being born again, but not specifically baptized by the Holy Spirit.

[C]

I believe he's got indwelling in here, but it's not listed as one of the 33. It's a sub point and I'm sure he must have baptized in here somewhere. But he doesn't have it listed as one of the 33. I would say baptized should be one of the 33. He doesn't have sealed here as one of the 33 that we're sealed by the Holy Spirit. In other words, he makes us eternally secure, even though I'm sure it's one of his sub points. So I remember ribs, regeneration, indwelling, baptizing, sealing as four ministries of the Spirit that occur when we're born again. He also doesn't even have regenerated as one of the 33. However, it's under point 8 which is children of God. When you go to that section on page 241, you see he talks about being born again and being born of God and being regenerated. So he has it there. But I would prefer to call that regeneration rather than children of God or have two separate points, regeneration and children of God. So the ribs, regeneration and dwelling, baptizing, sealing. I'd like to see those specifically mentioned in his list. They're not. Now in terms of things which are in the list which I disagree with, there are at least four that I have some issues with. So maybe we could talk about those four. The first one is called in the eternal plan of God. And when I go there I find that what he's promoting here is essentially Calvinism, the Five Points. Now I know that Dr. Chafer was Emeraldian, which means he did not believe in limited atonement, right? So he did not believe that Christ only died for the elect, but he did believe in a pre temporal election. And do you know what pre temporal means, Sam? I shouldn't use that expression because most people would probably go what's pre temporal?

[B]

That got elected before time?

[C]

Before time, right? It means that before he created, he decided who would be part of his family and who wouldn't. Now they have the Calvinists call the Ordo salutis, which is the order of salvation. And different Calvinists have a different Ordo salutis depending on whether they believe his decree to condemn preceded was that before the creation. I believe they all say it was. But was there a decree to condemn and what, you know, I'm not, I'm not up on what I should be on the Calvinist Ordo Salutis. But basically they think that before God created anybody, he decreed who would be the elect. And those Calvinists that believe in double predestination say he also decreed those who would be condemned. Now some Calvinists believe in single predestination, so they say he didn't decree anybody to be condemned. He just bypassed all the rest of the people. But as far as I can tell here on this point, his first point is in the eternal plan of God. He's got five terms foreknown. He talks about foreknowledge. Unfortunately, he uses 1st Peter 1:2, which is not talking about election to eternal life at all. It's they were elect sojourners, and God foreknew that they would be sojourners.

[A]

The Grace Evangelical Societies recently published old testament commentary volume one is now available. Find [e-mail] store. It's where you can also find Bob Wilkins latest book, the Gospel is Still Under Siege, as well as many other titles by Grace Evangelical Society authors. Please come by and have a look today. You'll find the GES store at our website faithalone.org that's faithalone.org store. Now back to today's topic.

[C]

He uses predestined. He uses 1st Peter 1:2 again and he uses some other verses. And I would say the predestination is that those who are born again have been predestined to be conformed to his image, so that God is going to see to it when we are glorified, we are conformed to his image. Elect. Here's what he says about election, and this to me is unclear. The term elect as related to Christians is distinctive in that it designates those who are predestined, but with only an implication relative to destiny. I don't know what that means. They are elect in the present age and will manifest the grace of God in future ages. That's all he says about election. And then he has chosen and then he has called. So I would say, without getting into too much detail, I don't agree with his first point in the eternal plan of God because I don't believe God elected anybody to everlasting life.

[B]

Would you add if you were to replace it election to service there as something that happens at the moment of belief?

[C]

Okay, yeah. And then I would also his fifth point is forgiven all trespasses. And up until about two years ago, I would have agreed with him. He basically says when you go to page 238, he says it's a paradox. He says a distinction is called for between this abiding judicial forgiveness. In other words, he believes we've been forgiven past, present and future, and the oft repeated forgiveness within the family of God. This seeming paradox that one is forgiven and yet must be forgiven is explained on the grounds of the truth that there are two holy and unrelated spheres of relationship between the believer and God. He sees this positional forgiveness as standing, righteous standing. So he basically takes this future forgiveness not being forgiveness, but being justification being declared righteous. Okay, well, I obviously agree that we have right standing forever, but I don't see anywhere in the New Testament that's called forgiveness.

[B]

Right.

[C]

He. He cites Colossians 2:13, where it says he has forgiven us all our trespasses. I would say that means he's forgiven us all our trespasses up to this point. If we're in fellowship with God, we're forgiven. But that doesn't mean I don't need forgiveness, you know, in an hour, in a day, in a week, whatever. So I would disagree with them on number five. Also on 19, he says 19 is a chosen generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people. And that's on page 251. And he's taking this from first Peter 2:9. Well, first Peter 2:9. Peter was writing to Jewish believers, and he was saying they were a chosen generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people. In other words, the remnant of believing Jews were this. If you're not careful and you take what Schaeffer's saying here, you end up with replacement theology.

[B]

Right?

[C]

The church is now the chosen nation. We're now the chosen people. No, we're not. We're not a nation. The church is never a nation. And so I would disagree on his 19. And the final one I would disagree with is 31 on page 264 of his volume three. Basically, what he does here is he goes to, like Romans 8:30, where you have this golden chain. And he says that that refers to believers already having been glorified. Well, I don't understand Romans 8:30 that way. And he also cites Romans 8:18. I reckon that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. What he doesn't understand is that verse 17 says, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we might be glorified together. So verse 18 is saying the US refers to the co heirs and even in Romans 8:30 the glorification is the glorification of the co heirs with Christ.

[B]

Well, and doesn't the is to be revealed imply that it's not yet it's something that's going to happen? Even that alone means it doesn't happen at the moment of regeneration.

[C]

It would disqualify from his list of 33. So most everything on this list I agree with and I would add a few the ribs regeneration, dwelling, baptized young. I would take away a few because I think they're misleading, but for the most part I'm in essential agreement. And I think it is remarkable what Lewis Barry Chafer came up with considering he was a Christian musician and he was an evangelist, not an exegete. He was not a theologian, but he became a self trained theologian and he was very accurate on most things. I'm very thankful for him, thankful for his founding of Dallas Seminary. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't tweak some of the things he said. So I hope that helps Kentucky and in the meantime, let's keep grace in focus. Amen.

[A]

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