"But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew ... But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak." -Mark 14:68,71
The
above passage of Scripture is speaking about the Apostle Peter. Peter
sinned by denying Jesus. Yet, Peter was a born-again believer.
King David was a Christian; yet he conspired to have a man killed to cover up
an unwanted pregnancy from an adulterous affair with that man's wife.
Moses was a murderer. Jacob was a thief. From looking at the Old
Testament alone, we would have no reason to think that sinful Lot was a
believer; yet, 2nd Peter 2:7 calls Lot a "just" man. The Lordship
Salvation crowd would have considered all of these men unsaved. Yet, we
see they were saved.
This subject needs to preached about on a regular
basis, because the damnable heresy of LORDSHIP SALVATION has
infiltrated our churches, and is leading multitudes into Hell. What is
"Lordship Salvation?" Lordship Salvation is the unbiblical teaching that
a person MUST depart from their sins to be saved. Lordship Salvationists
pervert the true meaning of the word "REPENT" in the Word of God. In 2nd
Peter 3:9 we read, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The
Greek word for "repentance" here is "metanoia" and literally means "a change
of mind." Not a change of lifestyle; BUT, a change of mind. The
changed life should follow afterwards; but the Bible is filled with examples
of Christian's who continued to live in rebellion and sin, such as Solomon.
Turning from Unbelief verses Turning from One's Sins
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." -Mark 1:15
Carefully notice in Mark 1:15 above that Jesus didn't say "repent ye, and turn from your sins." No, Jesus clearly stated, "repent ye, and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL." It is plain to see that Biblical repentance is a change of one's mind concerning sin and unbelief, which causes that soul to turn in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Jesus never once said to a person, "Give up your sin and I'll save you." No, rather, Jesus said "Go, and sin no more" after making them whole (John 8:11).
We must be extremely careful when we tell lost sinners that they need to be willing to turn from their sins to be saved. I have read many Gospel tracts that give the impression that a person MUST forsake their sins to be saved--which is NOT true at all. A person DOES need to repent of their sins to be saved, but that change begins in the mind and may take some time to show in that person's personal life (1st Peter 2:2). The ONLY repentance which God requires of a man to be saved is for that man to acknowledge his sinful condition and; thus, recognize his desperate need for a Savior. I certainly think it would be reasonable for a repenting sinner to desire to turn from his sins; BUT, as we learn from countless believers in the Bible, that's not always the case. Judges 16:1 states, "Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her." I am NOT condoning sin, I am simply saying that Christians at best are still sinners.
Lordship Salvation and the Pentecostal Charismatic heresy of losing one's salvation are related monsters. Lordship Salvationists ADD works to faith to get saved, and the Charismatics ADD works to faith to STAY saved. Regardless, these two damnable heresies are both rooted in works salvation!
Please read
What is Biblical
Repentance?
The Change Comes AFTER a Person is Saved, NOT before
The internet is plagued with heretics who are teaching that a person must forsake their sinful life to be saved. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 reads, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Please notice that a man does NOT become a "new creature" until AFTER he is in Christ (saved). The change comes after a person is saved, NOT before. If a person claims to be a Christian but is living a wicked life, then I would sincerely doubt that person's salvation as well. However, I am not going to start teaching damnable heresy by saying that sinners must forsake their sins to be saved. Salvation comes through childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing may be added. Once a man becomes a new creature in Christ, then he begins to change. Lordship Salvationists are sanctimonious (i.e., hypocritical in their beliefs) in that they are sinners themselves. The entire notion that a lost sinner must give up sin to be saved presents a serious indictment against Lordship Salvationists--"For all have sinned..." (Romans 3:23). Let he who is without sin among you teach Lordship Salvation.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." -John 3:16
The Hypocrisy of Lordship Salvation
The Foolish Doctrine of Lordship Salvation
Scriptural Proof that Lordship Salvation is a Lie
Lordship Salvation Ignores Babes in Christ and the Backslidden
