The Author of my Faith
Puritan Board Freshman
Can someone give me a precise clear understanding regarding the debate on Lordship Salvation?
Is it a view that all Calvinists hold to?
Is it a view that all Calvinists hold to?
Last edited:
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
The Westminster Confession of Faith
CHAPTER XV.
Of Repentance Unto Life.
II. By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.
The Second Helvetic Confession
Chapter 14
WHAT IS REPENTANCE? By repentance we understand (1) the recovery of a right mind in sinful man awakened by the Word of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit, and received by true faith, by which the sinner immediately acknowledges his innate corruption and all his sins accused by the Word of God; and (2) grieves for them from his heart, and not only bewails and frankly confesses them before God with a feeling of shame, but also (3) with indignation abominates them; and (4) now zealously considers the amendment of his ways and constantly strives for innocence and virtue in which conscientiously to exercise himself all the rest of his life.
TRUE REPENTANCE IS CONVERSION TO GOD. And this is true repentance, namely, a sincere turning to God and all good, and earnest turning away from the devil and all evil. 1. REPENTANCE IS A GIFT OF GOD. Now we expressly say that this repentance is a sheer gift of God and not a work of our strength. For the apostle commands a faithful minister diligently to instruct those who oppose the truth, if "God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth" (II Tim. 2:25). 2. LAMENTS SINS COMMITTED. Now that sinful woman who washed the feet of the Lord with her tears, and Peter who wept bitterly and bewailed his denial of the Lord (Luke 7:38; 22:62) show clearly how the mind of a penitent man ought to be seriously lamenting the sins he has committed. 3. CONFESSES SINS TO GOD. Moreover, the prodigal son and the publican in the Gospel, when compared with the Pharisee, present us with the most suitable pattern of how our sins are to be confessed to God. The former said: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants" (Luke 15:8 ff.). And the latter, not daring to raise his eyes to heaven, beat his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (ch. 18:13). And we do not doubt that they were accepted by God into grace. For the apostle John says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (I John 1:9 f.).
What do you mean by Lordship salvation?
Lordship salvation, as I understand it, came about in opposition to 'easy believism' common in certain circles. It says that you must make Christ the Lord of your life before you can claim to be a Christian. The teaching was primary in the Keswick circles in which I circulated for several years. This group also held to the idea that the will does not need to be regenerate, and election, predestination and the other Calvinistic doctrines had no part in this teaching.
What do you mean by Lordship salvation?
Lordship salvation, as I understand it, came about in opposition to 'easy believism' common in certain circles. It says that you must make Christ the Lord of your life before you can claim to be a Christian. The teaching was primary in the Keswick circles in which I circulated for several years. This group also held to the idea that the will does not need to be regenerate, and election, predestination and the other Calvinistic doctrines had no part in this teaching.
I do not know what I mean by lordship salvation that is why I am asking the question what is the deal with Lordship Salvation
The best book I have read on the subject is Christ the Lord. The Reformation and Lordship Salvation. Michael Horton is the editor. This book clearly sent me on my way becoming reformed or as reformed as a baptist can be. I always keep this book at hand. But now I really enjoy anything by Michael Horton.
This "debate" ended (I believe) almost a decade ago.
Essentially, some proponents of "free grace" (namely Zane Hodges and then Charles Ryrie) wrote some "widely read" books articulating a view that had long been maintained in many evangelical/dispensational churches, namely, that there is a distinction between having Christ as one's Savior and having Him as one's Lord. According to them, someone can have Christ as his savior, but not have Him as his Lord. Thus, one can "profess Christ" and yet live as a total pagan, apostasize and become a God-hating atheist, and yet still go to heaven.
along with Charles Stanley, are far removed from orthodoxy.
along with Charles Stanley, are far removed from orthodoxy.
What is Charles Stanley's position? Why is he not orthodox on this?
Can someone give me a precise clear understanding regarding the debate on Lordship Salvation?
Is it a view that all Calvinists hold to? http://www.puritanboard.com/images/smilies/think.gif
Can someone give me a precise clear understanding regarding the debate on Lordship Salvation?
Is it a view that all Calvinists hold to? http://www.puritanboard.com/images/smilies/think.gif
Brother, it may help to know and understand what Lordship Salvation is NOT. What does Lordship Salvation argue against?
The people who reject Lordship Salvation say that if I went to a youth group meeting and scared some young teen into confessing that "Christ is King and I have sinned, please King Jesus forgive my sins," Then even if that child NEVER confessed Christ one more night of their life, even if that person sinned and cursed God everyday of their life; the people who reject Lordship Salvation whould fight you to the death to make you agree that their everlasting salvation was never in question because of that one time confession. That is it in a nutshell. That is why I am against it. Don't even get me started on why they don't understand the four types of soils.
along with Charles Stanley, are far removed from orthodoxy.
What is Charles Stanley's position? Why is he not orthodox on this?
Stanley wrote a book entitled Eternal Security. In it, he makes some startling statements.
“God’s love for His people is of such magnitude that even those who walk away from the faith have not the slightest chance of slipping from His hand.” (74)
“Salvation or justification or adoption – whatever you wish to call it – stands independently of faith. Consequently, God does not require a constant attitude of faith in order to be saved – only an act of faith.” (80)
[In the context, Stanley is arguing that permanence is not included in the essence of faith. Note also the extreme confusion regarding ordo salutis.]
(1) Justification is a matter of imputation (reckoning, charging): the sinner's guilt is imputed to Christ; the latter's righteousness is imputed to the sinner (Gen_15:6; Psa_32:1-2; Isa_53:4-6; Jer_23:6; Rom_5:18-19). Sanctification is a matter of transformation (2Co_3:17-18). In justification the Father takes the lead (Rom_8:33); in sanctification the Holy Spirit does (2Th_2:13). The first is a “once for all” verdict, the second a life-long process. Nevertheless, although the two should never be identified, neither should they be separated.
The interesting thing is that the flesh will pervert any approach to God. On the one hand, it is the height of impiety to imply that those Whom God has redeemed to Himself will continue in Sin or that the work of the Holy Spirit wrought by Christ's intercession would have no effect upon the life of a believer.
On the other hand, the very notion that something has to be called Lordship Salvation points to a poverty of Arminianism and the very term is often co-opted in a typically Arminian way. Let me explain.
The orthodox concept, explained above, is that those who are elect are brought to Christ, regenerated by the Word, and repent of their sins and trust in Christ. Because they are Christ's, sanctification is certain in their union with the death and resurrection with Christ. No man, understanding the Gospel, could continue in a state where He despises the Lord such that he is willing to consider the stench of His sin lightly.
Nevertheless, the Arminian approach to the above is not to ground a specific work of salvation in God but in the decision of the person. Hence, the notion that somebody accepts Christ as Savior and not Lord is borne out of decision. Somehow, in this crass schema, God is supposed to add that simple "coming forward" as adding to the righteousness of Christ on the Cross. Those that continue with an Arminian schema and insist that you have to accept Christ as Lord for salvation are simply asserting a person is adding even more "fervor" or strength of faith or obedience to the work of Christ as the grounds for salvation.
In other words, Lordship salvation mixed with an Arminian apprehension of the salvation simply adds more works to the Gospel and is no more Gospel than the former.
This is not to say that MacArthur or others fall prey to the error but only to note that you can't simply assume that a person talking about Lordship Salvation is really talking about the Gospel. Roman Catholics, after all, have always had a form of Lordship Salvation and have never bought into "Easy Believism".