Lordship Salvation in a Nutshell

do you think unbelievers , those not born of the Spirit can do good works that justify them ?
If they do good works (genuinely good works, those made out of love), it is BECAUSE they are born of the Spirit, and they are not really unbelievers. Otherwise they would not do good works. ;)

The Scriptures do not present "neutral trees" to evaluate. Either they produce good fruit, or they don't. Good fruits mean good trees. Bad fruits mean bad trees.
 
@DavidTree

I did find this and it seems to pretty much go along with what you're talking about.

First, Hodges notes, “MacArthur argues (pp. 172–73) that Ephesians 2:8–9 teach that ‘the entire process of grace, faith, and salvation’ is ‘the gift of God.’ This assertion is unfounded.… The Bible never affirms that saving faith per se is a gift.” According Hodges, MacArthur apparently gives God too much credit, since “God does everything, including the impartation of faith.” Hodges appears shocked that MacArthur would go so far as to say, “Spiritual sight is a gift from God that makes one willing and able to believe.” He comments, “The theology MacArthur evidently embraces is a formula for despair,” since it leaves nothing for humans to do in the matter of their new birth and justification (p. 219 n. 1).

Michael Horton, “Introduction: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover,” in Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation,
Nothing for humans to do re. new birth and justification ... why, that sounds like we need God's grace, because we are dead towards God in trespasses and sins! That is only a formula for despair in oneself; but, it leads one to cry out to God for mercy.
 
You gotta be born again by placing your faith in Jesus.

Then once saved... it is possible to 'turn from sins'

But 'turning from sins ' as popular as it is to say.. is not placing your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Its putting your trust in your own turning...rather than on Jesus Christ.

That is a primary problem with Lordship salvation.

The life long commitment of good works has to come AFTER salvation.
 
You gotta be born again by placing your faith in Jesus.

Then once saved... it is possible to 'turn from sins'

But 'turning from sins ' as popular as it is to say.. is not placing your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Its putting your trust in your own turning...rather than on Jesus Christ.

That is a primary problem with Lordship salvation.

The life long commitment of good works has to come AFTER salvation.
Someone is who born again is in Christ's likeness and who is turning from their sins and who is being saved from their sin. In Titus 2:11-13, our salvation is described as being trained by grace to do what is godly, righteous, and good, and to renounce doing what is ungodly, so it is not the case that we need to become saved first, then we will do those works or that we need to have done those works first, then become saved, but rather God graciously teaching us to be a doer of those works is part of His gift of salvation. It is contradictory to think that are trusting in ourselves by trusting in Gods instructions. We can't trust in God's word made flesh instead of trusting in God's word, but rather God's word is His instructions for how to trust in God's word made flesh.
 
You gotta be born again by placing your faith in Jesus.

Then once saved... it is possible to 'turn from sins'

But 'turning from sins ' as popular as it is to say.. is not placing your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Its putting your trust in your own turning...rather than on Jesus Christ.

That is a primary problem with Lordship salvation.

The life long commitment of good works has to come AFTER salvation.
You have to be born again, in order to have faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus, in John 3, we MUST be born again, in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God (and we know that entry to the Kingdom of God is through faith in Jesus Christ).

Also, the biblical order, when both are mentioned together, is always "repent and believe". The Greek word translated "repent" means to change your mind. You cannot trust in Jesus, unless you have a changed mind (because the natural man hates the light and will not come to it (John 19,20) and he does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:14).

Lordship salvation is nothing to do with trusting in your own turning, especially since repentance and faith are both gifts from God, not something produced by sinful man.

Lordship salvation is simply acknowledging who Jesus is - our Lord and Saviour (always in that order, biblically). Those who seek to split those apart and have him as Saviour only are, in effect, rejecting Jesus as Lord (we will not have this man to rule over us...).
 
You have to be born again, in order to have faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus, in John 3, we MUST be born again, in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God (and we know that entry to the Kingdom of God is through faith in Jesus Christ).

Also, the biblical order, when both are mentioned together, is always "repent and believe". The Greek word translated "repent" means to change your mind. You cannot trust in Jesus, unless you have a changed mind (because the natural man hates the light and will not come to it (John 19,20) and he does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:14).

Lordship salvation is nothing to do with trusting in your own turning, especially since repentance and faith are both gifts from God, not something produced by sinful man.

Lordship salvation is simply acknowledging who Jesus is - our Lord and Saviour (always in that order, biblically). Those who seek to split those apart and have him as Saviour only are, in effect, rejecting Jesus as Lord (we will not have this man to rule over us...).
we know biblically faith always precedes life.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Notice what comes first

1- Repent , turn away from sin
2- the after you repent you get a new heart/spirit ( calvinism- regeneration, new life)
3- repent then you live, have life- ie new heart, spirit.

John has the same order in in his opening of the gospel and in his purpose statement for writing his gospel.

John 1:12-13
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Same order as above receive, believe, call on Him then the new birth follows.

John 20:31
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Once again the order is consistent with the OT- belief/repentance precedes life.


Romans 10:8-13
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Again above we see its hearing the gospel, believing the message , confessing then calling upon the Lord results in salvation.

Acts tells us the same order in 11:18- "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” Repent precedes life.

Paul confirms the order in Ephesians below as well. Hearing and believing precedes the Holy Spirit that we were sealed with not before belief.

Ephesians 1:13
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit

James and Peter have the same exact order in James 1:18 , 1 Peter 1:23.

See how scripture is consistent when you do not read your doctrine into it but read it objectively, without bias ?
Calvinism has it backwards with life,regeneration, the new birth preceding faith.

conclusion: as we read in these SALVIFIC passages there is a consistent order.

1- hearing the word, the gospel
2- believing the gospel
3- receiving the gospel
4- calling upon the Lord
5- confessing Jesus is Lord
6- resulting in the new birth, born of God, salvation, eternal life


hope this helps !!!
 
we know biblically faith always precedes life.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Notice what comes first

1- Repent , turn away from sin
2- the after you repent you get a new heart/spirit ( calvinism- regeneration, new life)
3- repent then you live, have life- ie new heart, spirit.
That passage (Ez. 18:30-32) was spoken to Israel, under law. The law is all about "Do this and you will be blessed; do that and you will be cursed.". This is not the way of the New Covenant, which is, "I will do this for and in you; and you will be blessed.". In other words, there is a contrast between works righteousness and salvation by grace, which you appear to have overlooked.

John has the same order in in his opening of the gospel and in his purpose statement for writing his gospel.

John 1:12-13
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Same order as above receive, believe, call on Him then the new birth follows.
Unfortunately, the translation you have quoted obscures the order of these events with its word order.

John 1:12,13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We should note that "...to them that believe on his name..." is present tense, but that "Which were born ... of God." is in the past. In other words, the order of events is that having been born of God preceded believing on his name.

John 20:31
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Once again the order is consistent with the OT- belief/repentance precedes life.
Repentance/faith do indeed precede the giving to us of eternal life in Christ; but, they follow the giving to us of renewed human life in being born again.


Romans 10:8-13
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Again above we see its hearing the gospel, believing the message , confessing then calling upon the Lord results in salvation.

Acts tells us the same order in 11:18- "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” Repent precedes life.

Paul confirms the order in Ephesians below as well. Hearing and believing precedes the Holy Spirit that we were sealed with not before belief.

Ephesians 1:13
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit

James and Peter have the same exact order in James 1:18 , 1 Peter 1:23.

See how scripture is consistent when you do not read your doctrine into it but read it objectively, without bias ?
Calvinism has it backwards with life,regeneration, the new birth preceding faith.

conclusion: as we read in these SALVIFIC passages there is a consistent order.

1- hearing the word, the gospel
2- believing the gospel
3- receiving the gospel
4- calling upon the Lord
5- confessing Jesus is Lord
6- resulting in the new birth, born of God, salvation, eternal life


hope this helps !!!
The real issue here seems to be a conflation of the new human heart/spirit that God gives us in regeneration, with the eternal life that he gives us in Christ, following repentance/faith in him. Without appreciating this difference, confusion is the result (including causing some Scriptures to appear to conflict with others).
 
we know biblically faith always precedes life.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Notice what comes first

1- Repent , turn away from sin
2- the after you repent you get a new heart/spirit ( calvinism- regeneration, new life)
3- repent then you live, have life- ie new heart, spirit.

John has the same order in in his opening of the gospel and in his purpose statement for writing his gospel.

John 1:12-13
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Same order as above receive, believe, call on Him then the new birth follows.

John 20:31
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Once again the order is consistent with the OT- belief/repentance precedes life.


Romans 10:8-13
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Again above we see its hearing the gospel, believing the message , confessing then calling upon the Lord results in salvation.

Acts tells us the same order in 11:18- "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” Repent precedes life.

Paul confirms the order in Ephesians below as well. Hearing and believing precedes the Holy Spirit that we were sealed with not before belief.

Ephesians 1:13
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit

James and Peter have the same exact order in James 1:18 , 1 Peter 1:23.

See how scripture is consistent when you do not read your doctrine into it but read it objectively, without bias ?
Calvinism has it backwards with life,regeneration, the new birth preceding faith.

conclusion: as we read in these SALVIFIC passages there is a consistent order.

1- hearing the word, the gospel
2- believing the gospel
3- receiving the gospel
4- calling upon the Lord
5- confessing Jesus is Lord
6- resulting in the new birth, born of God, salvation, eternal life


hope this helps !!!

Yes, its like trying to put the accelerator down on a car with the engine off for Calvinism.

Start the car... then its possible to use it.

Place your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (which is in itself repenting) .. then you are saved and can start the walk with Jesus.

The believer may not also persevere in the faith. That doesn't mean they hadn't placed their faith in Jesus Christ and got saved.

The Holy Spirit will discipline them as His child if they fail to persevere. But there is no guarantee they will persevere.
 
That passage (Ez. 18:30-32) was spoken to Israel, under law. The law is all about "Do this and you will be blessed; do that and you will be cursed.". This is not the way of the New Covenant, which is, "I will do this for and in you; and you will be blessed.". In other words, there is a contrast between works righteousness and salvation by grace, which you appear to have overlooked.


Unfortunately, the translation you have quoted obscures the order of these events with its word order.

John 1:12,13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We should note that "...to them that believe on his name..." is present tense, but that "Which were born ... of God." is in the past. In other words, the order of events is that having been born of God preceded believing on his name.


Repentance/faith do indeed precede the giving to us of eternal life in Christ; but, they follow the giving to us of renewed human life in being born again.



The real issue here seems to be a conflation of the new human heart/spirit that God gives us in regeneration, with the eternal life that he gives us in Christ, following repentance/faith in him. Without appreciating this difference, confusion is the result (including causing some Scriptures to appear to conflict with others).
the new birth comes after the hearing and believing in the gospel.

1- you have been born again
2- through the living and enduring word of God
3- this was the word that was preached to you.

so we see the new birth is a result of hearing and believing the preaching of the word of God. the gospel message.

James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:21-24

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
 
the new birth comes after the hearing and believing in the gospel.

1- you have been born again
2- through the living and enduring word of God
3- this was the word that was preached to you.

so we see the new birth is a result of hearing and believing the preaching of the word of God. the gospel message.

James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:21-24

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
The Scriptures are fine, but you have added something that is not there. None of them says that the new birth is a result of hearing and believing the preaching of the word of God. What they do say is that we are born again through the word of truth, which is what I have been saying all along.

1) We hear the gospel

2) The Holy Spirit makes us born again

3) The new, soft heart/spirit repents and believes the gospel

4) We are given the Holy Spirit to indwell

2) and 3) cannot be reversed, for several reasons:

The natural (i.e. unregenerate) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness to him.

The natural man hates the light and will not come to it.

We must be born again, in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God; and we know that entering the Kingdom of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, so being born again has to come first.

Now, these things happen in a moment of time, but the logical order is an absolute necessity.
 
2) The Holy Spirit makes us born again

3) The new, soft heart/spirit repents and believes the gospel

...

2) and 3) cannot be reversed, for several reasons:

...

Now, these things happen in a moment of time, but the logical order is an absolute necessity.

If 2 and 3 happen in a moment of time, distinguishing 2 from 3 has no practical relevance.
Furthermore, the order has no practical relevance because Jesus explained to Nicodemus that a person is born again by the water and spirit.
Water (the baptism) is a symbol of repentance, of the willingness to have our old life buried.
So, if "being born again" (step 2) requires repentance (step 3), we could say step 3 is required to step 2
.

Perhaps what you want to say is that the Holy Spirit first enables us to repent. The Holy Spirit sensibilizes our spirit to repent.
I agree with that. Before anything that we perceive as a human action, there is an action from God that enables that human action. God comes always first. Praise to Him!
 
The Scriptures are fine, but you have added something that is not there. None of them says that the new birth is a result of hearing and believing the preaching of the word of God. What they do say is that we are born again through the word of truth, which is what I have been saying all along.

1) We hear the gospel

2) The Holy Spirit makes us born again

3) The new, soft heart/spirit repents and believes the gospel

4) We are given the Holy Spirit to indwell

2) and 3) cannot be reversed, for several reasons:

The natural (i.e. unregenerate) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness to him.

The natural man hates the light and will not come to it.

We must be born again, in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God; and we know that entering the Kingdom of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, so being born again has to come first.

Now, these things happen in a moment of time, but the logical order is an absolute necessity.
To be born again is to receive spiritual life

According to scripture it must be preceded by faith

John 20:31 (LEB) — 31 but these things are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

In your claim, man is not born through the word as it has no effect and all simply reject it.

The word through speaks of agency but in your view it has no agency at all and all agency is in the spirit who regenerates apart from believing the word
 
I can understand the perspective of making salvation all about God giving it without man's merit in getting it. That's His grace.

I also agree with God drawing the sinner before they can believe in Him. So God begins way of conversion.

But calling receiving Christ by faith in Him..belief before getting converted...
a work.. is not right.

It's a change of mind, heart ... not a set of good behaviours.

John 3:16... belief/faith
John 5:24... belief/faith
All through the book of John. Also in Acts.

It's as if the calvinist only sees works based salvation as an alternative.. but belief on Jesus Christ isn't a 'work'

Repent = going from unbelief to belief. Not a set of behaviours.
 
To be born again is to receive spiritual life

According to scripture it must be preceded by faith

John 20:31 (LEB) — 31 but these things are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

In your claim, man is not born through the word as it has no effect and all simply reject it.

The word through speaks of agency but in your view it has no agency at all and all agency is in the spirit who regenerates apart from believing the word
Faith preceeds the New Birth
 
Nothing for humans to do re. new birth and justification ... why, that sounds like we need God's grace, because we are dead towards God in trespasses and sins! That is only a formula for despair in oneself; but, it leads one to cry out to God for mercy.
The Scriptures are fine, but you have added something that is not there. None of them says that the new birth is a result of hearing and believing the preaching of the word of God. What they do say is that we are born again through the word of truth, which is what I have been saying all along.

1) We hear the gospel

2) The Holy Spirit makes us born again

3) The new, soft heart/spirit repents and believes the gospel

4) We are given the Holy Spirit to indwell

2) and 3) cannot be reversed, for several reasons:

The natural (i.e. unregenerate) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness to him.

The natural man hates the light and will not come to it.

We must be born again, in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God; and we know that entering the Kingdom of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, so being born again has to come first.

Now, these things happen in a moment of time, but the logical order is an absolute necessity.
Faith preceeds the New Birth
 
It is rather simple. One must repent of their rebellious ways towards God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. To the one who says I am born again and yet there is no discernible difference of their person is wishfully thinking. Repentance is a change of mind to live in submission to God instead of in rebellion to Him

This does not mean we are without sin, but that we have heard and obeyed God to have a change of mind-decide wholeheartedly to stop living sinfully and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto justification to eternal life.

The repentance and trusting in Jesus Christ is our part, and before anyone thinks this is works salvation, I ask you, who repented and believed for you. Was it you or God? Yes, it was you, so let's properly understand works salvation as depending upon one's self instead of faith salvation that trusts God to justify us. We are not saved by repentance, but because we genuinely decided to stop living to sinfulness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved.

Notice what Peter said to the Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:20-23 "But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! (21) You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (23) For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

Peter points out to the man his heart was not right in God's sight and to repent-have a change of mind from his practicing of wickedness.


Notice what Paul said to the men of Athens in Acts 17:29-30 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. (30) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Paul points out that God commands men everywhere to repent of idolatry.


Notice in Revelation 2:21-22, our Lord said, "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. (22) Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds."

Our Lord clearly states unless they repent-have a change of mind about the sinful deeds they were doing, they would suffer for them.


A few examples from the gospels and Acts...
Mat 3:1-2 "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Mat 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mar 6:12 "So they (the 12 Disciples) went out and preached that people should repent."
Act 2:38 "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Act 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,"

And finally, John wrote, 1Jn 3:4-10 (NLT) "Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. (5) And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. (6) Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. (7) Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. (8) But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. (9) Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. (10) So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God."

Either Jesus Christ is your Lord or you are. It cannot be both ways. Salvation is about man relinguishing his will to living as he pleases to living as God pleases. It is a matter of humbling one's self, and rightfully so, and coming to God in faith of Jesus Christ. He is the LORD we are not.

Mat 7:17-20 (NLT) "A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. (18) A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. (19) So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. (20) Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."


God Bless
 
It is rather simple. One must repent of their rebellious ways towards God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. To the one who says I am born again and yet there is no discernible difference of their person is wishfully thinking. Repentance is a change of mind to live in submission to God instead of in rebellion to Him

This does not mean we are without sin, but that we have heard and obeyed God to have a change of mind-decide wholeheartedly to stop living sinfully and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto justification to eternal life.

The repentance and trusting in Jesus Christ is our part, and before anyone thinks this is works salvation, I ask you, who repented and believed for you. Was it you or God? Yes, it was you, so let's properly understand works salvation as depending upon one's self instead of faith salvation that trusts God to justify us. We are not saved by repentance, but because we genuinely decided to stop living to sinfulness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved.

Notice what Peter said to the Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:20-23 "But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! (21) You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (23) For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

Peter points out to the man his heart was not right in God's sight and to repent-have a change of mind from his practicing of wickedness.


Notice what Paul said to the men of Athens in Acts 17:29-30 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. (30) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Paul points out that God commands men everywhere to repent of idolatry.


Notice in Revelation 2:21-22, our Lord said, "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. (22) Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds."

Our Lord clearly states unless they repent-have a change of mind about the sinful deeds they were doing, they would suffer for them.


A few examples from the gospels and Acts...
Mat 3:1-2 "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Mat 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mar 6:12 "So they (the 12 Disciples) went out and preached that people should repent."
Act 2:38 "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Act 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,"

And finally, John wrote, 1Jn 3:4-10 (NLT) "Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. (5) And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. (6) Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. (7) Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. (8) But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. (9) Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. (10) So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God."

Either Jesus Christ is your Lord or you are. It cannot be both ways. Salvation is about man relinguishing his will to living as he pleases to living as God pleases. It is a matter of humbling one's self, and rightfully so, and coming to God in faith of Jesus Christ. He is the LORD we are not.

Mat 7:17-20 (NLT) "A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. (18) A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. (19) So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. (20) Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."


God Bless

Thru repentance and good works we are saved???
 
Thru repentance and good works we are saved???
Did I state that?

I stated, "we have heard and obeyed God to have a change of mind-decide wholeheartedly to stop living sinfully and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto justification to eternal life."

And also stated, "let's properly understand works salvation as depending upon one's self instead of faith salvation that trusts God to justify us. We are not saved by repentance, but because we genuinely decided to stop living to sinfulness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved."

God Bless
 
Did I state that?

I stated, "we have heard and obeyed God to have a change of mind-decide wholeheartedly to stop living sinfully and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto justification to eternal life."

And also stated, "let's properly understand works salvation as depending upon one's self instead of faith salvation that trusts God to justify us. We are not saved by repentance, but because we genuinely decided to stop living to sinfulness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved."

God Bless
JESUS is the SAVIOR of the world = John 3:16
JESUS is LORD of Lords and KING of Kings = Revelation 19:16
JESUS is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End = Revelation 1:8

Does JESUS become our SAVIOR and LORD for us who are called???
ABSOLUTELY

We do not need lordship salvation but we MUST have and need, follow and obey JESUS, who is our SAVIOR, LORD and KING

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Personally, "lordship salvation" sounds like a religious gimmic/sales/guilt pitch by men who wear paper crowns.......

I prefer FAITH in the WORD that Saves us = Romans 10:5-13 , Hebrews 11:1-6, 1 Peter 1:22-23
 
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