“Destined to Reign” by Joseph Prince
Life is too short to waste reading bad books or getting distracted by bad doctrine. One of my aims in keeping this blog is to promote good books that help us understand our position in Christ, that unpackage the goodness of God revealed to us through Jesus. To that end I can highly recommend Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince.
Destined to Reign is a distillation of 10 year’s worth of preaching by Prince at New Creation Church in Singapore. The cover may give you the impression that this is some kind of self-improvement book, but it isn’t. This is a book celebrating our Great King and all that He has done on our behalf.
In this book Joseph Prince takes aim at the mixing of law and grace that has continued since the time of the Galatians. He says, “even though the law is holy, just and good, it has no power to make you holy, just and good” (p.16). The purpose of the law is to reveal our need for a Savior. When we mix law with grace we lose the benefits of both. He notes that the 10 commandments were kept hidden under the mercy seat inside the Ark of the Covenant. They were not for public viewing, yet today we put them on posters and hang them in our churches and Sunday Schools.
This practice of mixing law with grace gives rise to what he calls “schizophrenic Christianity”. A schizophrenic Christian is one who says:
“Sometimes God is angry with me, sometimes He is happy with me. Sometimes He blesses me, sometimes He curses me. Sometimes God cares for me, sometimes He leaves me. Today, He prospers me, but tomorrow, He may give me poverty to humble me. Today, He heals me, but tomorrow He may give me a disease to teach me a lesson. Today, He forgives all my sins. Tomorrow I am responsible for my sins.” (p.37)
In other words, God is good, but only sometimes. People who think like this are living between two covenants. They are not rightly dividing the word of truth. They are living as if the cross did not make any difference.
The main clause of the new covenant, according to Prince, is found in Hebrews 8:12: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Christians are perfectly forgiven. There is no sin the Christian is not forgiven of. Yet many Christians live as if this were not true. They give or work because they think they need to strive to remain forgiven. This is tantamount to saying that the blood payment of Jesus was not enough.
Like Paul, Joseph Prince is strongly opposed to mixing grace with human effort. He says there is nothing we can do to qualify ourselves.
“This is the true ministry of any new covenant Bible teacher or preacher – he seeks to unveil Jesus to you and qualify you by the blood of Jesus. He does not come to unveil your faults or bring your sins to remembrance to disqualify you from entering God’s presence and enjoying His blessings. That is what an old covenant preacher does.” (195)
Some books convey just one great revelation, but Destined to Reign covers everything from forgiveness to faith and healing and communion. Inevitably there is some repetition, but the lessons of grace probably need to be repeated. Many good questions are raised in the book. For example, “Is God judging America?” Answer: No. America and its sins have already been judged at the cross.
Although this book covers a lot of ground, mostly it is about Jesus and how we can find Jesus on every page in the Bible. Studying Jesus’ comments made on the road to Emmaus, the author reasons that we don’t read the Bible to find out what to do and what not to do. We study the Bible to see all the things said in the scriptures concerning Jesus. A great strength of Destined to Reign is how it reveals Jesus and the new covenant in the elements of the old covenant – the five burnt offerings, the Ark of the Covenant, etc. You will never look at Leviticus the same way.
I should take this opportunity to also recommend the companion Destined to Reign Devotional which presents the main book in daily bite-sized chunks. I actually bought the Devotional first and each morning I fight the temptation to read more than the current day’s reading. You can also access these devotions online for free here.
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See all E2R’s book reviews here
Escape to Reality 
Amen! I think this book has done more for me than any other book. What I love is that he teaches right from the Bible and you always leave with a peace. No condemnation. So different than we have been traditionally taught but it really does make sense.
Christy
http://www.OverflowLiving.com
Thank you, Father God for sending Your Son, Jesus, and His Finish Work. Grace has taught me how much I am loved and thus I love You back and I need You really bad, everyday, I in You and You in me. Amen!!!
Paul,
I really hit by the notion that the 10 Commandments were not for normal public viewing and instead resting safe under the mercy seat. Coming from the States where the 10 Commandment issues in public places are debated daily I was saw that perhaps the focus has been on the wrong thing 🙂 Keep it coming brother…
I know what you mean Steve, mind-blowing huh. Even though the law is good, holy and just, is has no power to make us good, holy and just. It can tell us to not commit adultery, but it can’t make us love our wives. JP says, “learn to treat the 10 commandments and condemnation as the same thing.” The ministry of condemnation is hidden away inside the ark, which is covered by the blood representing God’s gift of no condemnation. The law condemns, but Jesus justifies. I know which ministry I want to be a part of!
“JP says..” Ellis, I need to warn you that you are in actual fact helping to sow weeds among the wheat. “learn to treat the 10 commandments and condemnation as the same thing.” Since when did God ever condemned us by giving the Moral Law? Does the traffic laws condemn you as a driver ? I have seen men like you , seduced right before my very eyes. and before he knows it, he does not even know right from wrong according to the Moral Law that Jesus upgraded. Don’t mistake the Moral Law for the Ceremonial Law, and Jesus said : “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”Matthew 5:17 Whatever happened to “Jesus said?” You seriously need pray and reconsider your position , and to repent ( and not according to this ‘another gospel’ in which this mans defines it. )
gees i hope you guys like mormonism this is the new joseph smith plain and simple read your bible yourself funny for 2000 years no one seen this till now new revalation .
joseph prince, joseph prince same story just new CHARISMA.
Dear Scot,
Care to briefly explain?
Actually hyper grace has been around for 2000 years beginning with St Paul and is not a new doctrine recently invented.Its just that it has been buried under centuries old legalism and heresy by the religious establishment who make good living out of making people feel guilty.Like prostitution its one of the oldest games in town.
@David — You are right. Joseph Prince said it many times himself that the Gospel of Grace does not originate from him. He merely “blew the dust off” Paul’s epistles.
I would like have the books of Joseph Prince
Good Day sir can you please explain to me what psalms 69:28 means,can we really loose our salvation?
It means David knew some people that really ticked him off! Fortunately, David is not Jesus. The only time Jesus mentions the Book of Life is when He promises not to erase our names from it. More here.
good day my beloved brother in Christ,can i have your opinion about some christians saying salvation is progressive?thank you and God bless you more.
Did Christ die progressively? No. Those who say salvation is progressive are mainly saying that you have to work at it. That would not be Grace but works. When Jesus was confronted with the question of what to do with the woman caught in adultery, He did not ask her to perform some daily task that would clear her from sin, he forgives her there and then with no conditions. Yes we are still in a body that is fallen and that will never be saved, we get a new one, our spirit though is born anew (not progressively) by God’s Holy Spirit (which is a mystery). Grace received truly, can enable us to lead a life not bound by sin – to be masters over our sinful flesh rather than the other way around, I know this for a fact because I used to believe the progressive salvation gospel and I was a miserable sinful Christian. The message of Grace that I received through the ministry of NCC by the Holy Spirit set me free forever Hallelujah!!
Old thread but relevant question.
God bless you.
Jesus did give the woman caught in adultery a condition – “Go and sin no more”. We are not saved BY works but we are saved FOR good works (See Ephesians 2:8-10 – verses 8-9 talk about the former and verse 10 the latter). We are to still keep the law but not legalistically. Paul clearly said the law is good (Romans 7:12) and has not ceased – we were married to sin and the law condemned us but now we are married to Christ and we can keep the law by the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). Grace does not annul the law but fulfills it and enables us to keep the heart of the law – loving God and loving others. Our hearts are now the tablets upon which the law is written (Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 3:3), hidden away in living arks, living temples of the Holy Spirit – us!
good day beloved paul,i just want to ask permission from you if i can somehow post some of your articles (topics) in my facebook account (with your name written after the topic title)? thank you and God bless you more.
Faith, to post articles on your FB wall, simply click the “Like” button found under each post.
I was just presented with this book and his DVD today and I am enthusiastic because I Love him, I love mormons too, william Branham, Ellen G. White and other blessed men of the Almighty…
hi but mormons point to a crossless savior but joseph prince points you to the cross ie His Death, Burial And Ressurection which is da gospel
This has to be the best book out there!
Great review!
I agree with Christy…being Christian more than 20 yrs I never encounter such a blessing..at first I was skeptical when people talk about grace and even shut my mind on the topic. But after struggling and many questions not been answered in my life..I made my mind to buy the book Destined to Reign quietly and read it…Till today..I thank God for my reset button in my spiritual journey..my spiritual life never be the same, the I see things around me change drastically – be it my family, ministry, job, etc…As I enjoy my God, I surely enjoy everything around me..
I was led to his book by a person who suggested it led them out of a Hebrew Roots/Law Keeping movement. I had been in a relationship with a wonderful lady but she was caught up in the Hebrew Roots/Law Keeping movement. Felt the need to follow the Law, no unclean food, true Sabbath, etc. I wanted to get the book to send to my ex but wanted to read it for myself first. This book was GREAT! I was already from a Faith based learning, Kenneth Hagin, etc but Prince just seems to add so much more. And his message on Law vs Grace was so spot on based on what I was seeing in my ex’s life.
Funny thing though, I posted a review of his book on another Christian forum where he was getting some negative reviews there. I thought the reviews of him were slightly off. One of the regular posters responded back with this reply…
“His stuff is well written but there is very little gospel in it. If you look over your book again carefully how much actual scripture is in it? You will find that it is mostly his commentary, his view point, his opinion and very little gospel. A person’s speculation is not the gospel. It may sound good or make you feel good,give you goosebumps but it is not the gospel. I have found his teachings to be contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
Needless to say I was stunned. How could someone calling themselves a believer, and one who believes in Grace, say that about Princes book? It took me months to finally respond to that post. I thought I would clear up some things and specifically point out just how many scripture references he includes in his book. I even included a few sentences from page 20 of his book “Unmerited Favor” to show what he thinks about his work vs the work of Jesus Christ. Did no good however. Joseph Prince is ALL about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His finished work, of that I have absolutely no doubt.
So not only do the Jews/Hebrews have a veil over their eyes but we’ve even got modern day, so called Christians, that refuse to see the truth of the Word.
I only recently discovered this site. Thank you Paul for your thoughts and words here. I am loving this Grace message.
Hi Felix, good to hear from you. In my experience 90% of Christians or more do not fully appreciate the gospel of grace. They know they are saved by grace but they are often running back to that old husband of law. Sure, they may not blindly follow the ten commandments, but if you come to church feeling too guilty to worship because you haven’t had a great week, then your under the condemnation of the law. You are not walking in grace.
Hey don’t forget that Christ who brought GRACE told us didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfil it to make it easy for us. How many of us who celebrate grace today show the LOVE which Christ commanded us to do? If we do not show love to one another then it’s still the same disobedient to the 10 commandment. From what I’m seeing today ironically, it appears that it’s easy to obey Ten Commandments than to show love. Those who criticise the law are those who promote sin. I remember apostle Paul asking us in the scripture if we shall remain in sin for the grace to abound? He said God forbid. I believe that if we appreciate what Christ did for us we should try to obey his commandments. The price he paid for us on the cross is a price of salvation and not a licence to remain in sin. So we must reciprocate by showing love to one another which indirectly is a way of fulfilling the Ten Commandments. If u love ur brother u cannot steal, kill, commit adultery, covet ur neighbour, or worship another god etc. thanks and God help us all.
St Augustine- As you so sure of your position I challenge you to read Hebrews 8:8-13 and then Deuteronomy 4:13, 9:9. Then ask yourself why the Sprit laid such a small selection of Laws upon the gentile believers in Acts 15. Galatians speaks for itself If you have not had someone tell you it means something other than the Laws handed down at Mt Sinai. Yes we are to follow the commands of Jesus but those commands are not the Laws given to Moses. Matthew 22:37-40, John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:22-24 also tells what the commands of Jesus truly are.
But One important understanding has been missed so far. The Law condemns all who sin to death. Jesus died for our sins meeting the death penalty requirement of the Law. The Law has nothing else it can say to us legally. We through Christ died to it.(Romans 7) To go back to the Law is to go back to our first husband and commit adultery against Christ who is supposed to be our husband.(going by the word picture of Romans 7) The law of love is higher than the laws on stone because they are sum total intent of all rules, laws and prophecies written in scripture. I suggest reading the book that the article speaks of as he gives a very clear scriptural rebuttal of how Jesus fulfilled to completion the laws of Moses.
You know Felix, most Believers do not have a clue, just like me, cuz its not being preached. Its kind a scary to even know this but one thing, “The gates of hell shall not prevail.” For those that are understanding the gospel of grace, must then impart this true gospel to Believers that will listen until it spreads like gang
erine lol.
THis is a good book, reading it now
I njoy listening ànd reading from pastor Prince. His grasp of grace in Christ Jesus is obviously one of d works of grace. It is a solid truth that only in Christ Jesus are we complete, can function, njoy the best of God and live life to the fullest. keep advancing His kingdom prospering in His pleasure.
Laide
Thank you Joseph Prince for your book Destine to Reign and for many of your grace messages. I never even realise I was formally under religion, legalism and tradition until I encountered your messages on God channel. This has radically changed my life. I thought living in fear was a way of life for us Believers until I realised through your messages that I was hood winked by the enemy. I have even been delivered from some aliments, have a few to go and two bad habits but I’m not really counting, im just resting more in the Lord and I have to strive to do that.You actually saved me or rather Christ, through you, from preventing me going insane. Its great to very necesarry to go church but my God, the preaching in many of the churches is terrible.I go to a fantastic church. It is wonderful in many ways until someone enters the pulpit to preach, and its 99.9% condemnation. I no longer leave the church feeling condemned thou and with my heart pounding for fear of being judged, I just pray for the church and sometimes I suck my teeth cuz i’m annoyed at the message and leave in full assurance of God’s love.
God bless you and your family. Happy New Year
I read this book in August 2009 and it changed my life…(can’t say that about many books) but God used it to show me that Jesus finished all the work at the cross and I didn’t have to beg God any more, confess sins, etc. No more self efforts! Praise God!
Destined to Reign and Unmerited Favor are excellent books. They changed my whole persepective about God and taght me the need to be like the berean church that searched the scriptures. God is a good good God. Many thanks to the few men of God that are now propagating Grace in its pure form. Thanks to Dr. Paul Ellis, Pst Joseph Prince, Andrew Wommack….. may His Shalom Peace continue to overshadow you…..
Thanks Paul for the review. I’m reading the book for a second time and it’s like I’m reading it for the first time. The revelations are just awesome. I thank God for such a blog as this that propagates the gospel of grace. More Grace to you Paul. Keneth
I have just finished reading the book tittled Unmerited favor by Joseph prince, I feel so inspired by the unveiling truth about the Gospel of Christ, today I know that iam the righteousness of God in Christ because of what Jesus did except my doings. And Iam intending to repeat the book again.
I THANK GOD FOR HIS LOVE TOWARDS THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON TO DIE IN OUR PLACE SO THAT WE MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDATTLY…THANKS PASTOR JOSEPH PRINCE FOR SHARING AND TEACHING ON THE GOSPEL OF GRACE…GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR MINISTRY..
This book is wonderful i read this book and It’s show the deference of two covenants. Thanks E2R introducing the books which we have to read i also wasted time by reading bad books Now i’m only reading your blog and studying scripture index and subjects. Thank you soo much for injecting the knowledge about God as daddy. 👍🙏🙏