A Defense of Lordship Salvation

I want to quickly address one more thing before I specifically respond to free-grace theology. The position I advocate (against free-grace theology) is sometimes labeled “lordship salvation.” Because of some misunderstanding (and sometimes misrepresentation by free-grace advocates), I want to define what it is that I (along with the vast majority of biblical scholars and teachers) hold to.

First of all, let me state what Lordship salvation is not. It is not an attempt to mingle works with grace (as in Roman Catholicism) and somehow allow for good works to be the basis of salvation. Every Lordship advocate I know of affirms that salvation is obtained by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Lordship salvation does not believe that a person is saved by good works at any point—whether at the beginning, middle, or end of salvation. We believe that salvation is by grace from start to finish.

So what do we believe?

In essence, Lordship salvation teaches that a person is saved by grace through faith in Christ, but that the grace that saves is a transforming grace (leading a person to walk in the way of holiness, Tit. 2:11-14), the faith that saves is a working faith (Js. 2:14-26), and the Christ that saves is Lord and Ruler of the one being saved (Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9-10).

One of the best definitions of Lordship salvation I have ever heard is provided by Nathan Busenitz, John MacArthur’s personal assistant:

“The lordship position teaches that salvation occurs at the moment of conversion, and that conversion includes a change of heart such that those who were enemies of Christ now love Him.”

Busenitz expands upon his definition with irrefutable logic:

“Lordship teaches that true Christians love Jesus. And that those who do not love Jesus are not true Christians. After all, Jesus said, “If God were your Father, you would love Me” (John 8:42). Paul said that anyone who does not love Jesus is accursed (1 Cor. 16:22). And Peter described the belief of his readers in these terms: “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him” (1 Pet. 1:8). And what does love for Christ look like? He Himself tells us in John 14:15—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” That is pretty straightforward: Love for Christ is a willingness to keep His commands.”

See the rest of his thoughts here.

This is the substance of Lordship salvation and, it seems clear, is the point of departure from free-grace theology (which I wrote about in my last post). Again, the differences between free-grace theology and Lordship salvation is not over how we are saved. Both sides agree that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. The issue is over what being saved looks like. The issue is over the nature of salvation. Are those who believe transformed in such a way that they inevitably produce fruit and persevere in loving [read: practically obeying] Christ throughout their lives? To this question both sides give different answers—free grace theology says no; Lordship salvation says yes. In this is the point of departure.