The Falsehood Of 'Lordship Salvation' Ignores Babes In Christ And Backslidden Saints
By David J. Stewart
"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." —Proverb 24:16
There is a raging battle in theological circles today over the issue of LORDSHIP SALVATION, i.e., the false teaching that a sinner MUST forsake their actual sins to be saved. No such hellish doctrine is taught in the Word of God. Proponents of this heresy pervert the Biblical meaning of the Word "repent." Whereas the Greek meaning of the word "repent" is METANOIA, meaning "to change one's mind"; Lordship Salvationists claim that it means "to forsake your sins." Even without looking at the Greek, the English King James Bible has no such teaching. The Bible always speaks of repentance TOWARDS GOD, and not from sin. Acts 20:21 says, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Lordship Salvationists DON'T allow for a Christian to backslide. As far as they're concerning, a backslidden believer is no believer at all. This is adamantly refuted in the Word of God by numerous references to heroes of the faith who backslide into horrible sin (such as king David who committed adultery and murder). The foolish doctrine of Lordship Salvation leaves absolutely no allowance for a believer to backslide. Like it or not, there is an ongoing raging battle in EVERY believer between the sinful flesh and the Spirit of God (Romans 7:22,23; James 4:1).
Even the Apostle Paul said in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." Now why would the Apostle Paul DO EVIL if Jesus were his Lord and Master? Hmmm? This Scripture alone proves the willing ignorance and hypocrisy of the proponents of the Lordship Salvation heresy. Even the best of Christians, such as the Apostle Paul, commit sin.
Proponents of the Lordship Salvation heresy go way overboard in their attack against Bible-believing Christians, such as myself, who refute Lordship Salvation. They allege that we believe a Christian can live just like the sinful world, and follow the Devil, and still be saved. But their broad-based ignorance doesn't take into consideration the fact that believers are still living in the carnal flesh, and will repeatedly "fall" as Proverb 24:6 states... "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." Like it or not, there are NO perfect Christians. We are all sinners saved by God's grace. In fact, some believers go into sin and stay there.
King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband to cover up the illegitimate pregnancy. David remained in an unrepentant state for one year. Ananias and Sapphira commit sins unto death (Acts 5:5,10). Jonah ran from God's will. Samson had immoral relations with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). Now you can't get any more worldly than that! Yet, Samson was a believer. The proponents of Lordship Salvation are self-righteous hypocrites, who refuse to recognize babes in Christ and the backslidden as true believers.
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." —Romans 4:5
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The Hypocrisy of Lordship Salvation
Dr. John R. Rice Refutes Lordship Salvation
The Foolish Doctrine of Lordship Salvation
Scriptural Proof that Lordship Salvation is a Lie