Question About Lordship Salvation

[BlackSheepBaptist]

Hello, I have a question about Lordship Salvation. gotquestions.org says, "Lordship Salvation emphasizes that submitting to Christ as Lord over your life goes hand-in-hand with trusting Christ to be saved. It also focuses on a changed life as the result of salvation. Those who believe in Lordship Salvation would have serious doubts about a person who claims to believe in Christ but does not have good works evident in his life." (I would include the link, but christianforums.com won't let me)

So, my question for those who believe in Lordship Salvation is: do I have to believe that, or can I just do it? In other words, do I have to believe in Lordship Salvation to be saved, or can I just live the way LS says you have to live in order to be saved, to be saved? Does that make sense? You see, I'm puzzled, because Lordship Salvation doesn't seem to emphasize that you have to actually believe in it, it just says you have to do certain things. So, let's say, I just believe you have to believe on Jesus Christ to be saved, and I don't think you have to repent of your sins, or do good works, or anything else to be saved, okay? So, I DON'T believe in Lordship Salvation, BUT let's also say that I happen to stop making a habit of sinning and have a life of good works and I persevere in the faith until I die, okay? So I don't actually believe in LS, but I believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, and I happen to meet the other requirements in so far as how I lived, am I saved according to LS, or not? If not, why not, and do you think that Lordship Salvationists should maybe emphasize that a bit more if it's essential for salvation? I hope my question makes sense. I appreciate whatever input you have. Thank you.

 

[twin1954]

The Lordship Salvation controversy started back in the 70's as a reply against easy believism. Yes it was a good answer to the controversy at the time. But it has become a heresy of subtle legalism. It makes repentance and good works to be a standard by which believers are judged. It has set a standard that the Scriptures do not. The question isn't must you repent and do good works but is it the natural outcome of faith in Christ? In other words all believers do both but it is never a standard of salvation. True believers do not do either to be seen of men but do it as a result of actually being saved. In fact 99.9% of the good works that believers do is never seen of men. Moreover the Lord Himself tells us that we do not even know that we are doing them. Matt. 25:37-40

 

[Avid]

... True believers do not do either to be seen of men but do it as a result of actually being saved...

The unique thing of the salvation of our LORD is that God dwells in our hearts by His Holy Spirit. God directs us, leads us, empowers us, and gives us by grace the tools necessary to live right in His sight. It is true that this is done in the heart before the LORD. It is true, according to the scriptures, that this shows forth in the life of the believer.

Jesus Christ is LORD, whether we think so, believe it from the scriptures, acknowledge this in our behavior, or NOT. Jesus is LORD over all. The devils believe this, and they tremble. It is not reasonable that a person who God has awakened and whose heart god has worked, would not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD over all the creation of God. The scriptures say that Jesus is the Creator, and all these things were created for Him, and for His good pleasure. Jesus Christ is LORD over the wicked, and the just. He is LORD over the righteous and the unrighteous. He is LORD over the devils and the angels of Heaven.

As Christians, as people who are made right with God, we see this clearly, and relinquish the lordship over our own existence. It shows in our life, and others have no idea why we do as we do. This is because our LORD directs us by His Holy Spirit, and that is a force not seen or acknowledged by the world. They often resign us to the category of the insane or crazy people. We are called "mad" by the wisdom of the world.

Acts 26
24 ¶ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
​

Anyone who makes a religion out of any single aspect of the scriptures, but does not acknowledge the whole scripture, is in a category occupied by many or most of the churchgoing crowd of today. As was stated above, the expectations of our LORD upon believers (that are fulfilled in them from the heart,) are turned into a religion of their own.

Now, the false converts have a standard they say is hard to meet. NO! This standard is IMPOSSIBLE for the false convert to meet, because it is a work of the flesh for him, and not a work of God in his heart.

.

 

[98cwitr]

Lordship salvation theory has a lot of truth in it but seems to have the order of works and salvation in reverse. You dont do good works and then salvation comes, but once saved and regenerated via the Spirit good works (fruits of the Spirit) will be done because it's now in your nature to do them.

 

[Skala]

Lordship salvation theory has a lot of truth in it but seems to have the order of works and salvation in reverse. You dont do good works and then salvation comes, but once saved and regenerated via the Spirit good works (fruits of the Spirit) will be done because it's now in your nature to do them.

If by the word "salvation" you mean justification, I agree with you.

But, I've never heard a proponent of Lordship salvation teach that good works brings about justification.

 

[JM]

RC’s conflate sanctification with justification and I believe this is a common problem for Protestants that have some declension toward Rome.

 

[hopeon]

Hello, I have a question about Lordship Salvation. gotquestions.org says, "Lordship Salvation emphasizes that submitting to Christ as Lord over your life goes hand-in-hand with trusting Christ to be saved. It also focuses on a changed life as the result of salvation. Those who believe in Lordship Salvation would have serious doubts about a person who claims to believe in Christ but does not have good works evident in his life." (I would include the link, but christianforums.com won't let me)

So, my question for those who believe in Lordship Salvation is: do I have to believe that, or can I just do it? In other words, do I have to believe in Lordship Salvation to be saved, or can I just live the way LS says you have to live in order to be saved, to be saved? Does that make sense? You see, I'm puzzled, because Lordship Salvation doesn't seem to emphasize that you have to actually believe in it, it just says you have to do certain things. So, let's say, I just believe you have to believe on Jesus Christ to be saved, and I don't think you have to repent of your sins, or do good works, or anything else to be saved, okay? So, I DON'T believe in Lordship Salvation, BUT let's also say that I happen to stop making a habit of sinning and have a life of good works and I persevere in the faith until I die, okay? So I don't actually believe in LS, but I believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, and I happen to meet the other requirements in so far as how I lived, am I saved according to LS, or not? If not, why not, and do you think that Lordship Salvationists should maybe emphasize that a bit more if it's essential for salvation? I hope my question makes sense. I appreciate whatever input you have. Thank you.

Usually those pastors who are emphasizing pressing, and insisting that you prove your salvation by your works, are pastors who have a dictating agenda, are ambition, want to be great for God, and are unable to rest in the finished work of Christ.

 

[hopeon]

Hello, I have a question about Lordship Salvation. gotquestions.org says, "Lordship Salvation emphasizes that submitting to Christ as Lord over your life goes hand-in-hand with trusting Christ to be saved. It also focuses on a changed life as the result of salvation. Those who believe in Lordship Salvation would have serious doubts about a person who claims to believe in Christ but does not have good works evident in his life." (I would include the link, but christianforums.com won't let me)

So, my question for those who believe in Lordship Salvation is: do I have to believe that, or can I just do it? In other words, do I have to believe in Lordship Salvation to be saved, or can I just live the way LS says you have to live in order to be saved, to be saved? Does that make sense? You see, I'm puzzled, because Lordship Salvation doesn't seem to emphasize that you have to actually believe in it, it just says you have to do certain things. So, let's say, I just believe you have to believe on Jesus Christ to be saved, and I don't think you have to repent of your sins, or do good works, or anything else to be saved, okay? So, I DON'T believe in Lordship Salvation, BUT let's also say that I happen to stop making a habit of sinning and have a life of good works and I persevere in the faith until I die, okay? So I don't actually believe in LS, but I believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, and I happen to meet the other requirements in so far as how I lived, am I saved according to LS, or not? If not, why not, and do you think that Lordship Salvationists should maybe emphasize that a bit more if it's essential for salvation? I hope my question makes sense. I appreciate whatever input you have. Thank you.

 

[hopeon]

resting on the finished work of Christ doesn't mean fulfilling an agenda and being over-zealous to prove your salvation. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

 

[Lady Bug]

I struggle with the verse about "he who doesn't pick up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." how does this not mean that we have to serve Christ as our Lord as part of salvation? Or what about the verse about "if you eye causes you to sin, cut it out (figuratively)...it's better to enter life maimed than to have your whole body cast into hell..." (i.e. repenting of a sin in order to escape damnation/be saved...which doesn't make sense from an OSAS standpoint)

(this is coming from someone who is sincerely looking into the eternal security doctrine but am finding roadblocks along the way)