Is Lordship Salvation Just A Matter Of Semantics?
By David J. Stewart | October 2014
Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
I won't mention any names in this
article to be nice, but I listened to a pastor of a large church brush off
the Lordship Salvation issue as “a matter of semantics.” Ladies and
gentleman, unless there are two plans of salvation (which there are not),
then it is far beyond simply being a mere matter of semantics (the study of
language meaning). By alleging that it is a matter of semantics, the
pastor assumes that everyone looks at the plan of salvation a little
differently as human beings; thus, we ought to be tolerant of those subtle
differences and not bite and devour one another.
Author (and heretic) C.S. Lewis
called these differences of opinion, “formulas.” Unfortunately, Mr. Lewis
even includes the satanic Roman Catholic false plan of salvation as just
being another innocent “formula.” My friend, there is only one Gospel, not
formulas.
Ever since Billy Graham has embraced the Roman Catholic church, building a sinful ecumenical bridge between mainstream evangelicalism and Catholicism, the heresy of Lordship Salvation has become much more popular in the churches. The reason why is because Lordship Salvation is a hybrid plan of salvation that both Catholics and apostate evangelicals can embrace. Here is proof in the following article by David MacDonald titled, “Are Catholics Born Again?,” in which he attempts to theologically unite Catholics and evangelicals on the basis of Lordship Salvation.
What is “Lordship Salvation?” It is a satanic heresy which adds human effort to “the simplicity that is in Christ”...
2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
The “simplicity that is in Christ” refers to how easy it is to be saved. (Note: All Scriptures are quoted only from the trustworthy King James Bible.) We are all guilty sinners in the eyes of our holy God (Romans 3:19); but Christ died upon the cross for our sins, He was buried, and then after three days Jesus rose bodily from the dead. This doctrine is taught in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, and is defined as “The Gospel.” This is the Gospel (good news) by which we are saved if we believe. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believes. That is how easy it is to be saved.
We see
this precious truth taught in 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” It is so simple to be
saved, as simple as walking through a door, and Jesus Christ is that Door
(John 10:9). If you acknowledge that you are a woeful sinner (incapable of
saving yourself) in the eyes of a holy God, and receive the Gospel of Jesus
Christ as full payment for your sins, you are saved! It's that simple!
Can Salvation Really Be That Easy?
Yes, yes, it is really that easy to be saved. You see, Christ paid your sin debt. The reason why it is so easy to be saved is because Jesus Christ paid our debt of sin in full. There's nothing left unpaid. The bill has been paid-in-full by the blood of the Lamb! Literally, God purchased us. 1st Corinthians 7:23, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” God purchased the Church (every born-again believer) with the blood of Jesus, His only begotten Son.
Notice that the Bible says in Acts 20:28 that GOD purchased the Church “with His own blood.” Clearly, we see the deity of Christ taught here, that is, Jesus is God almighty! There is one true God, Who exists in three unique persons; namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 2:2,9 - King James Bible). This is the doctrine of the Godhead, which has been completely removed from modern corrupted Bible versions.
1st Peter 1:18-19 teaches that we have been redeemed by the blood of “A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT.” Jesus never sinned, not even once. The Lord lived a perfect life. The world portrays Christ as a fornicator and deceiver, but the Bible teaches that Jesus was sinless (Hebrews 4:15). 1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” If Christ had been imperfect, then He could not have been the sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Jesus paid a debt on the cross that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. It was because Jesus was perfect, sinless and holy that He could pay for everyone's sins with His precious blood.
Now you can understand why the Bible calls eternal life “a gift” (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23). In fact, Romans 5:15 even calls eternal life a “free gift.” One of my favorite Scriptures that I learned as a child, seeing it regularly on a big wall plaque at church is Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What a wonderful Bible verse! Eternal life is a gift. Don't forget that word... GIFT! If you keep this word in mind, it will help you avoid being led into a false plan of salvation that requires human effort. I'm talking about false prophets like Chip Ingram, David Cloud, Paul Washer, Billy Graham, Ray Comfort and John MacArthur. On page 114 of the excellent book by Michael Patrick Bowen titled, “I NEVER KNEW YOU,” the author provides an excellent accurate explanation of true Biblical repentance...
“Repent, as Christ meant it to be in terms of salvation, means to change your mind from trusting in what you can do for God to trusting only in what He can do for you.”
SOURCE: Michael Patrick Bowen, a quote from the awesome book, “I NEVER NEW YOU” (Page 114)
