Lordship Salvation Is A Counterfeit Form Of The Gospel Message
Channel: Right Doctrine Matters
Date: 2023-12-21

Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008) explains why "Lordship Salvation" is a counterfeit form of the Gospel message. Many people have been lied to by preachers, misled to think that they are not saved unless their life has changed for the better, but that is not true.

One of my favorite quotes is from Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965)...

"There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness." —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House; 1959 (p. 117)

Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty! Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His work. The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU. True repentance has nothing to do with “turning from sin” and everything to do with “acknowledging one's sinfulness” (Romans 3;19-20). Like the thief on the cross who simply acknowledged his sinfulness (Luke 23;39-43), the only part a person has in salvation is the beggar's part.

Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold offers these helpful words...

“Lordship Salvation is the unsupportable and unbiblical belief that the performance of good works, the promise of good works, or the evidence of good works, must accompany faith in Christ to establish or provide evidence that such faith has resulted in eternal life.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Jesus Versus John MacArthur”