Category Archives: The Law

You Might Be a Lordship Salvationist If… (Part 2)

Posted on May 9, 2015 by | 41 comments

by johninnc

2 Corinthians 11:3: 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.

Almost three years ago, we featured an article entitled You Might Be a Lordship Salvationist If…

Many people misconstrued the intent of this article, thinking that it was either comedic, tongue in cheek, mean-spirited, etc. However, the intent of the article was to challenge people – both born-again believers and religious non-believers – to challenge beliefs they might hold that are contrary to grace.

The original article is linked below:

Original article

We know that sequels are rarely on par with the original, but respectfully offer the following additional points:

  1. You believe that there is some “middle ground” between Lordship “salvation” and grace – that the truth “LIES somewhere in between.”
  1. You believe that someone must desire to turn from his sins in order to be saved.
  1. You believe that there is some “missing link” between grace and Lordship “salvation,” and you are bound and determined to find it.
  1. You think that doctrine isn’t important, as long as someone “loves the Lord” and wants to serve Him.
  1. You believe you are keeping God’s commandments.
  1. You think being a Christian is not as good as being a “Christ follower.” In fact, you think they are one and the same.
  1. You think that Christians are under any of the Mosaic law.
  1. You are insistent that the thief on the cross would have done good works if he had been afforded the opportunity.
  1. You believe that someone must want to get better in order to be saved.
  1. Your gospel is that Christ died and was raised from the dead. In other words, you don’t believe it was “for our sins.” (see the Apostles’ Creed).
  1. You think that some of the people that the Bible says believed, did not have “saving faith.” Instead, they had “spurious faith,” or only believed some of the things about Him. In other words, they were never “truly saved.”
  1. You are torn up about peoples’ sins, but indifferent as to what “gospel” they might have heard and believed.
  1. You troll grace websites, agreeing with ALMOST everything they say, but trying to get them to “throw you an LS bone.”

I admit the last one is “tongue in cheek.” However, it is more of a warning to those who are clear on grace.

I can’t tell you how many times I have received, or read, a long-winded “leaven sandwich,” in which the writer tries to imbed the leaven somewhere between a couple of thousands of words of grace.

This is usually done by an intermittent commenter, who will wait a few months between submissions, each time trying a different angle on the same error.

41 Comments

Posted in Christianity, Lordship Salvation, Salvation, The Law

Lordship Salvation: Believing in Vain

Posted on October 15, 2014 by | 92 comments

By johninnc

Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The word “vain” appears in the New Testament 38 times. In the context above, vain means “useless” or “ineffectual.”

There are three crucial points to Galatians 2:21.

First, Paul doesn’t participate in frustrating grace, and neither should we.  Nor should we have anything to do with those who frustrate grace.

2 John 1:10-11:

[10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
[11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Second, to try to be justified by the law is to frustrate grace. Like the word “vain”, the word “frustrate”, in this case, also means to make ineffectual.

Third, there is no law that could provide righteousness to mankind. If there were, then Christ need not have died to pay for our sins.

Galatians 3:21: Is the law against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

As believers in Christ, we know that Jesus has saved us completely. We know that He paid the FULL price for our sins. We know that we didn’t contribute to our salvation by forsaking our sins, confessing our sins, saying a prayer, walking an aisle, committing to reform ourselves, or by allowing Jesus to change our lives.  We know that when we believed in Jesus, we received eternal life that can never be lost or forfeited.

We know that our righteousness comes from Christ, and not our attempts to keep the law, whether it be God’s perfect law or the Lordship “salvationists'” (LSers) arbitrary laws. In other words, we know that Christ is not dead in vain. We know that He is risen and alive and that we have eternal life through Him.

Romans 3:21-26:

[21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
[25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

LSers frustrate grace by insisting that simply believing in Jesus is not sufficient to either receive, keep, or evidence eternal life. In so doing, they create a false gospel of works, devoid of power to save those who trust in that false  gospel for eternal life. And, for those Christians who are duped into LS after they receive eternal life, they are robbed of any power for Christian living or evangelizing the lost.

In Romans 4, the Apostle Paul confirms that the admixture of faith in Christ PLUS works for eternal life is not possible :

Romans 4:14: For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.

Notice the similarity between Galatains 2:21 and Romans 4:14. If we could be justified by the law, Christ is dead in vain. If those trying to be justified by the law could be justified by the law, then justification by faith is of no effect.

If you ask an LSer what “believe in vain” means, you will likely get some answer that has to do with one’s works. For example, that someone may believe in Jesus, but not have eternal life, because they haven’t turned from their sins, or they haven’t shown sufficient good works. They may throw “faith without works is dead” or “even the demons believe and they tremble” at you. They may talk about “head faith versus heart faith”, or say that “real faith is obedient faith.”

And, yet, we know that LSers don’t keep God’s laws. They may say they are trying, but trying is a work.

Galatians 3:10-11:

[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

LS is the unsupportable belief that the PERFORMANCE of works, the PROMISE of works, or the EVIDENCE of works must accompany faith in Christ in order to establish, or provide evidence, that such faith has resulted in eternal life.

Lordship “salvation” is no salvation at all. It is belief in salvation by works. It is believing in vain.

For a message of hope that is not vain, click here:  Eternal Life for You

92 Comments

Posted in Assurance, Eternal Security, Free Grace, Hope, Lordship Salvation, Once saved always saved, Salvation, Security of believers, The Law

Tell Me, Those Of You Who Desire To Be Under The Law, Do You Not Hear The Law?

Posted on July 6, 2014 by | 233 comments

Tell Me, Those Of You Who Desire To Be Under The Law, Do You Not Hear The Law?

Re-posted from our friend, Holly Garcia

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. Acts 15:24

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. I Tim 1:5-7

I’d like to address those who are confused by the Law or law-keepers. What law are we under? Are we under the ten commandments? What commandments do we follow? Do we keep the Sabbath? I think a good understanding of the law and the covenants are crucial to knowing why we are NOT under the law of Moses. The law includes the ten commandments and is one unit.

PLEASE, look up each Scripture. Make it a Bible study. Do not take my word for it. I was blessed to tears reading these Scriptures; it reminds me of what He has done in my place.

MEDIATOR OF THE OLD/MOSAIC COVENANT

Moses

MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT

Jesus

But if any one preach the Jewish law unto you, listen not to him. For it is better to hearken to Christian doctrine from a man who has been circumcised, than to Judaism from one uncircumcised. But if either of such persons do not speak concerning Jesus Christ, they are in my judgment but as monuments and sepulchres of the dead, upon which are written only the names of men. Flee therefore the wicked devices and snares of the prince of this world, lest at any time being conquered by his artifices, ye grow weak in your love. (* ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus – I am not recommending them, just quoting to show others mentioning this problem with Judaizers was continuing, pervasive from the beginning.)

MOSAIC LAW

MADE WITH:

  • Israel through Moses – Deut 4:7-8, Deut 5:1-3, Deut. 4:7-8; Ps. 147:19-20; Mal. 4:4
  • Not made with Abraham – The Lord made NOT this covenant with our fathers, but with us… (Deut 5:2)
  • Not made with the Gentiles – Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. (Acts 15:24) ….having NOT the law (Rom 2:14)

NAMES: (This will be important later as you see the fulfillment of Christ dying on the cross and risen again)

• The Law – Matt 22:36 (No one kept the law. John 7:19)

• The Law of the Lord – Luke 2:23-24, 27, 39

• The Law of the Jews – Acts 25:8

• Your Law/Their law/Our law – (spoken to the Pharisees – John 8:17; 10:34; 15:25; 19:7)

• The Law of Moses – Acts 15:5, 24, 13:39; John 7:23;

• The Law at Mt. Sinai (also Horeb) – Gal 4:24

• The Law of Sin and Death – Rom 8:2

• Bondwoman – Gal 4:24

• Hagar – Gal 4:25

• Bondage – (because they were brought out of the house of bondage-Ex 20:2-3 and Gal 4)

• Ministry/ministration of Death (2 Cor 3:7)

• Letters engraved on stones (2 Cor 3:7) – Ten Commandments

• The Letter (Rom 2:29, Rom 7:6; 2 Cor 3:6)

• Ministry of Condemnation – on stones (2 Cor 3:9) – Ten Commandments

• Wall of Partition – Eph 2:15

• Handwriting of ordinances against you-Col 2:14-15

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom 7:24

PURPOSE OF THE LAW

  • To show us God’s holiness (I Pet 1:15-16, Lev. 11:44-45, 19:2; 20:7)
  • To show us God’s righteousness (Rom 3:25-26)
  • To keep the Jews set apart from others (Lev 11:44-45; Deut 7:6; 14:1-2)
  • As a wall of Partition (Eph 2:15)
  • Appoint Feasts and times for worship for Israel (Lev 23)
  • To show us we fall short of His glory, and cannot approach Him (Ps 24:3-5)
  • Temporarily forgave sin, enabled fellowship with God.(Lev 1-7)
  • Kept under guard for the faith, afterward to be revealed. (Gal 3:24)
  • Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:24)
  • To give us knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20; 5:20; 7:7, 24-25; Gal 2:19)
  • Added because of Sin UNTIL the Seed (Jesus) would come. (Gal 3:16-19)
  • Guilt- Stop our mouths (Rom 3:19)
  • Causes us to sin more. This, as one person put it, is “strange but true” (Rom 4:15; 5:20, 7:7). The law makes us terribly aware of our own sinful state. How merciful God is to show our great need for Him, and His great love for us.

FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW

Christ came to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17). The very same verse Judaizers will use this passage to try to compel us to keep the law, saying that He did not come to destroy the law.   No…He didn’t; He came to fulfill the law. It is done. It is finished.

The Road to Emmaus shows the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law – Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Luke 24:44

We are not under the law, it was taken away, changed… we are dead to it. The law, the wall of partition, was broken down at the cross, nailed to the cross, and done away with. Christ redeemed us from under the law, and is the End of the Law for righteousness for those of us who believe – (Romans 10:3-4). Here are some more places you can look:

  • The Law is NOT made for the Righteous – 1 Tim 1:9a
  • No longer under the Law – Rom 6:15
  • Cast out the bondwoman – Gal 4:23-25, 30)
  • Christ took away the first, so He could establish the second – Heb 10:9
  • Dead to the Law by the body of Christ – Rom 7:4
  • Set free from the Law – Rom 8:2
  • Wall of partition was broken down at Christ’s death – Eph 2:15
  • Law was until John the Baptist – Matt 11:13; Luke 16:16
  • Nailed to the cross – handwriting of ordinances – Col 2:14-15
  • Law done away with – The Letter – 2 Cor 3:11
  • Redeemed from under the Law, adopted as Sons, when Christ came – Gal 4:4-5
  • Disciples were ministers of the new covenant NOT of The Letter – 2 Cor 3:6
  • A change of Law, no more Levite Priests.

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the Law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the Law. (Heb 7:12-13)

  • Final Sacrifice once for all – Heb 9:12
  • Last Word – He was the fulfillment and the last word – Heb 1:1-2
  • New Covenant
  • Once Christ came, the Mediator of the more excellent ministry established on better promises. (Heb 8:6)
  • In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Heb 8:13)
  • It is obsolete: In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Heb 8:13 – see also Jer 31:31-34)
  • The Law never justified: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)

The Power of God and the wisdom of God are in the gospel. (Rom 1:16-17; I Cor 1:17-18, 24)

WE ARE UNDER A NEW LAW

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – the Law of Christ. (Rom 8:2; Gal 6:2)

Righteousness

Does not come by the Law (Gal 2:21)

Is only by His free gift, never the Law (Rom 4-5), through faith in Him. (Phil 3:9, Rom 3:22)

Justification

Does not come by the Law. (Rom 3:20; Gal 2:16; Gal 3:11)

Is only by faith. (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16; Gal 3:11, 24)

Sanctification

The Law cannot sanctify permanently; the Law was only temporary.

Comes by faith in Christ and is permanent. (Acts 20:32; I Cor 1:2; Heb 10:14)

Comes by the Blood of Christ:

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (Heb 13:12)

Comes by the Holy Spirit by belief in the truth (Rom 15:16; 2 Thess 2:13; I Pet 1:2)

Is by the Word (Eph 5:26; John 17:17)

Comes by the Father who preserves us in Jesus Christ, keeps us from stumbling and presents us faultless, as we are kept by HIS POWER. (see Jude 1,24; 1 Pet 1:5; 2 Tim 1:12)

Sanctification before God is FOREVER:

By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb 10:14)

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (I Cor 6:11)

JESUS CHRIST

Who became for us:

Wisdom from God

Righteousness

Sanctification

Redemption

All glory to God! (pp 1 Cor 1:29-31)

THOSE WHO ARE STILL KEEP THE LAW

Ask yourselves:

  • Are you doing it to be made right?
  • Because you think it commends you to God?
  • Because you think the commandments are still in effect?
  • To be justified?
  • Because you “really love Him”?
  • Do you travel to Jerusalem to keep the appointed feasts?
  • How many of the laws do you fall short in?

If you are doing it for any of the above reasons, you have fallen from grace.

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Gal 5:4)

Did Peter, who was the apostle to the Jews, preach the law? Where?   The Righteousness of God is APART from the law. (Rom 3:21-22)

Can someone follow certain portions of the law out of freedom? Keep a feast? What if it bothers a Jewish believer to eat pork? Or another believer to eat something that he doesn’t know if it was strangled or even mistreated? What if you are in the home of a Jew and they are kosher?

What if the child of an alcoholic does not want others to drink wine around them? Or they have come to believe a holiday is pagan and they just feel odd about participating?

These are all matters of conscience, or wisdom to those who are without. As long as they do not do it because they feel they must keep the Law. As long as they do not believe it contributes in any way to their righteousness, justification, salvation — OR as long as they do not compel others in any manner to keep the Law, then they are free to do what their conscience can handle.

But—remember, BOTH SIDES, do not make the other stumble for the sake of food. Food does not commend us to God, nor Sabbaths, nor Holy days, nor days celebrated, nor days not celebrated. (Read Rom 14; Col 2; 1 Cor 10:12-31. Especially—read Galatians carefully. You may certainly consider 1 Cor 9:19-22, Paul was all things to men so he might save some.)

If any try to live by the law, be justified by the law, they are under a curse, for they need to continue in ALL things (not possible) that are written in the Law. (Gal 3) If you are trying to compel people to live under the Law, you are in the wrong and are not being honest about the gospel. Thus, you are preaching an accursed gospel. (Gal 1-2) Worse, what if you never understood the gospel of grace? You are lost.

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Acts 15:10

* Holly’s Web Site: Redeeming Moments

233 Comments

Posted in Free Grace, The Law