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MacArthur On The Dangers of Non-Lordship Doctrine

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Martin, May 1, 2007.

  1. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    I just recieved a copy of John MacArthur's new book "The Truth War". In this book MacArthur addresses the Lordship salvation debate. MacArthur says...

    Very good, and Amen!

    "Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?" -Lk 6:46

    "For this you know with certainty that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be parktakers with them;" -Eph 5:5-7
     
  2. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I'm afraid, Martin, you have been deceived by Macarthur's "empty words". :tear:
     
  3. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    ==No, but at one time I was decieved by the empty words/teachings of non-lordship folks like Ryrie, Hodges, and Wilkin. Those folks teach that the impure can inherit the Kingdom of God. Yet Scripture clearly warns that "no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God" (Eph 5:6). The empty words Paul warns about are those who claim that the impure can inherit the Kingdom of God. Scripture warns that they cannot and in fact that they will have no part in it (1Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-21). Their part will be in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8).

    So no, I am not deceived. I am following what Scripture clearly says. The no-lordship teachings are dangerous to the individual who is self decieved into thinking they are saved when they live in violation of God's Word (1Jn 2:3-6) and the no-lordship teachings are dangerous to the larger church (1Cor 5:9-13).
     
  4. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Lot?......
     
  5. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    Why do you keep bringing up Lot? Do you really believe that he disproves, or violates, the clear New Testament teaching on these matters? From what I recall Lot was not living in open sin or anything like that. At some point in this discussion you are going to have to come face to face with the New Testament teachings on this matter. Why not go ahead? Let's start with 1Cor 6:9-10.
     
  6. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    The no-lordship teachings are dangerous to the individual who is self decieved into thinking they are saved when they live in violation of God's Word

    Does that apply to Lot or doesn't it? OT or NT is irrelevant.
     
  7. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    Martin what you are doing is what a lot of other people in Christendom inside and outside of the LS debate do and that is equate the kingdom with eternal salvation. They are not one in the same thing. So while you have accruately said that no corrput person will inherit the kingdom that is not talking about eternal salvation. Those are two totally different concepts and contexts.

    Lordship salvation is errant, because it is putting works into an equation where they can not go. Our works NEVER enter the picture of eternal salvaiton before, during or after.

    Lordship has to do with something "after" eternal salvation is completed and only then. Lordship is related to discipleship. And discipleship is not dealing with eternal salvation.
     
  8. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    ==What are the teachings of Paul, John, and Jesus on this issue? Their statements are woefully clear. Neither Lot, Noah, David, or Peter refute those statements or contradict those statements. I agree, it does not matter whether it is in the Old or New Testaments. The statements are clear either way.
     
  9. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Since you continue to avoid the issue of Lot, the teachings of Paul and Jesus state we are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by making Christ Lord over all areas in our lives. This isn't what faith entails. Faith is the evidence of what is hoped for and not seen...that Christ is who He says He is, and He did what He said He did. Period. You do this, you will be saved. Putting Christ first in all areas of your life is a step in sanctification...not justification.
     
  10. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    ==Based on Paul's statements in 1Cor 6:9-11 (and 1-8), John's statements in 1John 2:3-5, 3:9-10 (etc) I don't think inheriting the Kingdom and eternal salvation are two different things. The teaching seems clear. Those who live in sin will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Paul), they are not born of God (John). Revelation 21:7-8 adds even more by noting that the saved will inherit the new heavens/earth and the unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire.

    ==Rev 21:27

    ==Of course a person is not saved, or kept saved, by their works. However what a person does, works, show whether or not the person has had a change of heart/mind (1Jn 3:9-10).

    ==A believer is a overcomer (1Jn 5:1,4-5) and a disciple (Jn 10:27).
     
  11. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    ==Right, and they also state that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 5:3-12, 1Jn 2:3-6, 3:9-10, Rev 21:8,27, etc). Speaking of avoiding, when are you going to address those clear Scriptures?


    ==Saving faith is confessing that Jesus is Lord (Master) and believing that He died/rose again to pay for your sins (Rom 10:9, 1Cor 15:3-4). To confess means to agree with. When a person confesses Jesus as Lord they are agreeing that He is who He claimed to be (Lord). If a person agrees that Jesus is Lord then they should behave as if they believe that. Why would someone call Jesus "Lord" if they don't obey Him? A person will obey the one they view as their Master/Lord. That is why Jesus asked "Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?" (Lk 6:46). A person who continues in a lifestyle of willful sin against Christ has not truly acknowledged Him as their Lord.

    There is also the issue of repentance.
     
  12. johnp.

    johnp. New Member

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    Hello Martin. I think there are two different things being confused here. A Christian that lives a debauched lifestyle should not be embraced, 1 Cor 5:13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

    How do we deal with sinners who have made a confession of faith yet live a lifestyle of the world, tell them they are going to Hell unless they quit? How long or how egregiously they rebel against Christ's authority has nothing to do with it has it? There are instances of Christians dying because of their sins so I think it is wrong to say that someone who calls on the Name of the Lord will not be saved regardless of the way they live.

    "If you love Me you will obey my commands." But not everybody all the time a? Some are worse than others but all are Prodigals, sons of their Father. It is allowing these people into your Churches, I can't say I have witnessed this, that causes the problems, if there are problems.

    This is wrong because Paul tells those homosexuals they are not homosexuals anymore because they had been washed and sanctified even though they continued in homosexual practices.
    1CO 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

    When a man is born again he has a new nature with inclinations towards God and power to overcome, to a large degree, many of our old loves. We won't find that power by our own effort to be good but we will if we recognise our new nature and are aware of the old one still knocking about and trust in Christ, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Php 1:6.
    That's what I think anyway. :) 1CO 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything.

    We are free from any law, Jesus died for my sins.

    john.
     
  13. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    Well it looks like you already have your mind made up despite what Scripture says. By the way none of those Scriptures prove your point. Sorry.

    Inheritance is something that comes at the end of a period of time. The free gift of eternal salvation is something that we possess right now, not something we are waiting on. That alone is enough to refute your stance, but as I said it looks like your mind is already made up. Hopefully no one else will fall on the wrong side with you :)

    And this is meant as no offense as I am sure you are a very nice guy and we would get along great should we sit down for a visit. However works in a person's life are not a guarantee as you suggest.
     
  14. JDale

    JDale Member
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    McArthur has a long history of teaching so thoroughly that he teaches himself into a corner. On the other hand, he isn't the first person to note that American Evangelicalism has a decades (maybe over a century?) long history of "dividing Christ."

    The first person I ever heard this from was A.W. Tozer, who in the mid-20th century preacher the sermon "I Call It Heresy!" The subtitle was "An Evangelical Heresy: A Divided Christ."

    The thrust of what he identified as heresy was the concept that one could "accept Christ as Savior," but somehow put off "making Christ Lord" of their lives until some later date. Tozer condemns that kind of message as "heresy." Frankly, I concur.

    I have heard this type of preaching all my life. In the SB Church I grew up in, in Durham, NC,I remember many times (I can't count them all) the invitation was given for salvation, for "rededication," and most often with these words: "Perhaps at some time in the past you've accepted Christ as Savior, but you've never made Him Lord of your life. Won't you do that now?"

    I heard that message far beyond just the church I grew up in though. Churches I attended in college, and not just SBC churches, but also IFB churches and beyond.

    Often disagreements about "Lordship Salvation" are a matter of how one defines "Lordship," and of semantics. IF one teaches that Christ can be Savior but NOT Lord, indeed Tozer and McArthur is right -- that's heresy. If one teaches that Lordship means one will not sin (or not sin in a certain way -- which I've heard even on this forum) then that too is an aberration from Biblical truth. If one teaches that Lordship is maintaining a faithful, obedient, humble and GROWING relationship to God in Christ Jesus, THEN we are talking Biblically.

    For one to claim that they are "saved" and yet live in continual sin is nonsensical. For one to claim salvation and yet bear no fruit, experience no growth, exemplify no change spiritually in their lives -- that too is foolishness.

    Given the tendency of McArthur to trap himself in his own words, I can understand why some eye his views with suspicion. On the other hand, to say that "repentance in unnecessary for salvation," or that "Christians need not bear fruit," or that "requiring one accept Jesus as Lord for salvation is works" as some opponents of "Lordship Salvation" charge is both patently unbiblical and defies logic and common sense.

    JDale
     
  15. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    JD I asked you on another thread to back up that statement with Scripture. You haven't done it on the other thread, can you back up this statement with Scripture in this thread?

    It's easy to make statements and it's easy to agree with folks such as Tozer and/or McArthur, but please show me in Scripture where that statement is fact.

    Thanks. I await your reply.
     
  16. Hope of Glory

    Hope of Glory New Member

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    I think part of the semantics would be "Lord of what?"

    You can be saved without making him Lord of your life.

    But, no matter what, one day he will be Lord.
     
  17. JDale

    JDale Member
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    JJ:

    I think you have me confused with someone else, as I have never addressed "Lordship Salvation" on any other thread before, and have only posted here the first time today.

    As to your question, I don't remember a question about this topic, nor do I know what you specifically asked me to prove with Scriptural evidence. Could you be more specific?

    If you are referring to "Lordship Salvation," as I understand its meaning, these are just a few of the passages that I find most compelling with regard to the necessity that Christ must be "Lord" in the life of the individual disciple: Matthew 7:11,12; Luke 6:46-49; Romans 10:10-13; 2 Peter 3:18, etc.

    Peter emphasizes again and again in his letters "the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ..." Jesus is NOT Savior OR LORD, He is SAVIOR AND LORD -- or he is neither.... Luke 6:46 is the clearest teaching of the Lord Himself on the subject: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

    JDale
     
  18. JDale

    JDale Member
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    Indeed -- what is meant by "Lord?"

    No, one CANNOT be saved without receiving Christ AS Lord -- and in fact, Jesus ALREADY IS LORD -- He's not just "going to be..."

    JDale
     
  19. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    JD I believe it was in the "Other Denominations" area where we visited previously and no the thread was not entitled LS as such, but many of these same issues were being discussed in that thread that are being discussed here.

    And you have done the same thing here that you did there and that is just giving a list of texts. However is none of those texts does it equate the salvation as being eternal salvation. And eternal salvation is rarely mentioned in the four gospels, because that is not the message that was being presented.

    What I was looking for was an explanation on your part showing how any of the texts that you want to use are speaking of eternal salvation.

    I'll look forward to your reply again. Let's just take your Luke text since that is actually the one you typed out. Please show how Luke 6:46 is talking about eternal salvation. And then explain to me how my obedience (which is a work on my part) is in agreement with Ephesians 2:8-9 which says that eternal salvation is not by works (my obedience).
     
  20. Oasis

    Oasis New Member

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    JDale
    Hi JDale,

    I agree with you on the above. Good thoughts.
    As for John MacArthur, I've never heard him say, or read in any of his or Tozer's books, the belief that a Christian will not sin.
     
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