The lead pastor at Goodness Nation, Apostle Harrison Ayintete, has criticised Pastor of Zoe Household Global, Adedolapo Lawal over his teaching against the “once saved, always saved” doctrine, urging the cleric to “learn the Bible before teaching.”

Ayintete, in a post on X, faulted Lawal’s interpretation of salvation, arguing that believers who have received eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ cannot lose their salvation.

The exchange followed Lawal’s recent sermon in which he rejected the “once saved, always saved” doctrine, arguing that salvation requires continued faith, repentance and holy living.

Lawal maintained that while believers can have assurance of salvation through faith in Christ, Scripture repeatedly warns Christians against falling away, abandoning the faith and living contrary to the gospel.

He cited the New Testament epistles and Jesus’ warnings to the seven churches in Revelation as evidence that believers must continue in obedience rather than assume salvation is irreversible regardless of their conduct.

He also argued that teaching unconditional eternal security encourages moral laxity within the church and downplays biblical calls to holiness, insisting that believers must read the whole of Scripture rather than rely solely on verses such as John 3:16.

Responding to Lawal’s sermon, Ayintete wrote, “Pastor Adedolapo Lawal, sir, I thought you knew better than this, though.

“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?”

He argued that New Testament epistles were written to guide believers towards spiritual growth and maturity rather than to determine whether they remained saved.

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

“Spiritual development and growth is never the same as spiritual birth,” he said.

Ayintete also rejected Lawal’s claim that the teaching of “hyper-grace” had contributed to increasing sin within the church.

“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?

“You people talk like you produce some better saints than we do,” he wrote.

He further challenged Lawal to a public debate on the subject, insisting that the issue should be discussed openly.

“If he sure for you say Hypergrace nor dey Bible, set up a proper debate on the subject, I will meet you there because at this point, we need that conversation,” he added.

In a follow-up video, Ayintete accused some ministers of deliberately portraying hyper-grace preachers negatively.

He maintained that Jesus’ promise of eternal life in John 3:16 and John 10 guaranteed permanent salvation for believers.

“The Lord Jesus said in John 3:16 that whosoever has believed in Him has eternal life and will not perish.

“Jesus said over and over, ‘I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.’ Ephesians 1 says we are sealed with the Spirit unto the day of our redemption,” he said.

Ayintete argued that believers overcome sin through the Holy Spirit rather than fear of hell or losing salvation.

“We believe in hyper-grace, we preach it and we raise godly believers to the glory of God. We are not going to be silent anymore,” he said.