Lordship Salvation – Romans 10:9-10

 I’ve been in the ministry long enough know that even good Christians can get easily side-tracked. By that I mean that they get shunted off onto doctrinal sidings and driven into dead-ends. Even those who hate and avoid the word “doctrine” are often doctors of doctrine without knowing it. And it really amazes me over what sort of inconsequential things some Christians can get delirious. In other words, as Paul says later in Romans, everyone should have convictions about meat offered to idols. But to disfellowship someone just because he disagrees with your opinion about various foods is silly. Would the Lord Jesus excommunicate someone for eating squirrel or horse meat? I don’t think so. Or would He disassociate Himself from someone who plays Cribbage on a Sunday afternoon? Whether He would or not, many of the saints of God would, because the game involves playing cards. I’m thinking of people who truly love the Lord Jesus Christ. We can expect the hypocrites and camp scavengers to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine, but I’m referring to those who really love the Lord and sincerely want Him to be glorified.

Now, there are many different sidings where these well-meaning people get derailed and dumped. But one is merely on definitions of words – instead of real doctrine. And a second siding is people.

In my ministry I have watched so many well-meaning Christians following Baptist cultists. To some people, the guy with a church of 10,000 members must be the next thing to God Himself. Or if he has a national magazine with 25,000 readers, he must know the Holy Spirit by His family name. Or if has his own TV program, God has obviously defeated the Prince Power of the air just for him. We thumb our noses at such idolatry – as we bow before the shrines of Charles Spurgeon or John Gill. If “The Prince of Preachers” says such and such, then such and such must be the gospel. No sir, that is not necessarily so, no matter what man might have said it.

I’ve watched many good people get derailed by the use and misuse of simple words. I may have told you about a man who was a member of the same church of which I also was a member. He had been hearing messages on the doctrine of grace for several years. Then a relative of his came to visit, and he lambasted something which he called “Calvinism.” That good-hearted church member jumped right in there and started attacking that word too. The man had accepted the Bible doctrine at face value as it was clearly taught by his pastor, but he hated the word that was often associated with it – and perhaps properly so. But he tied the two things together improperly. He was derailed on the siding of a single unfortunate and unbiblical word, and lost the doctrinal truth at the same time.

This morning I want bring your attention to two words which are hated by some Baptist cultists. Yet, many of the very people who hate the words believe the doctrine – if they would only think about it. Then their well-meaning, but ignorant followers, tag right along, blindly hating what they are told to hate. Together they get confused and shunted off onto a useless and dead-end siding. And no, I’m not talking about “election” and “predestination.” This confusion is totally unnecessary, because these people are quarreling over mere words. But quite often they have no problem with the ideas behind the words.

The subject that I want us to re-examine this morning is “Lordship Salvation.” I believe in “Lordship Salvation,” despite it being a heretical doctrine in the books some the great “soul-winners.” And the fact is: everyone who teaches salvation, as we find it in Bible, teaches Lordship Salvation.

First, I’ll let you examine my doctrine.I believe what the Bible says about the Saviour – the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, I rejoice in the many doctrines of John 3:16. One of the many things contained in this verse is that through Christ comes Eternal Life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In other words through faith in Him is forgiveness, redemption, justification, adoption, sanctification and much, much more. Or to put it very simply, there is salvation from sin in Jesus Christ. And who is that Christ? The baby laying in the manger? You’re better off worshiping Dagon or Molech than worshiping that infant child. Who is this Saviour?

Let’s add some of the great soul-winning verses in the New Testament to the statements of John 3:16: Acts 16:30-31 – “And the jailer brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 2:16-22 – “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Who is this Lord? Can there be any doubt? Acts 2:36 – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and Christ.”

I believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ. It says that He is the Creator of this universe – Colossians 2:13-17: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” That Christ Jesus is the Creator means that He is the Lord – Nehemiah 9:6 – “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.” The Bible says that Jesus Christ is no mere man – Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The Bible says that Jesus Christ is Lord of the sabbath – Luke 6:5. It says that Jesus is Lord of both the dead and the Living – Romans 14:9. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end – Revelation 1. He it is “who liveth but was dead, and behold he is alive for evermore, Amen, and has the keys of hell and of death.” I believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ because that is what the Bible teaches.

It is interesting to note that the word “Saviour” is found only thirty-seven times in the Bible. Twenty-four of these references are found in the New Testament. But the word “Lord” is found over four-hundred times in the New Testament alone. The word “Saviour” cannot be found in the Book of Romans – but “Lord” is there forty-four times. In the Book of Acts “Saviour” is found twice, but “Lord” is found forty-seven times. Biblically-speaking which is the more important word: “Saviour” or “Lord?”

I believe that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour ever presented to sinful men. And I have believed on Christ as my personal Saviour/Redeemer. That Redeemer is the Lord of Creation, Lord of Heaven and Earth, and Lord of salvation. Since I believe in the Lordship of the Savior, it seems logical to say that I believe in “Lordship salvation,” even though some people may define those terms differently.

Now, I also believe what the Bible says about the subject of REPENTANCE. Acts 17:30 is a duty incumbent upon all of humanity – “God hath commanded all men everywhere to repent.” I accept Peter’s admonition in Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. I believe what Jesus said in Luke 13:3 – “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance was the message of John the Baptist, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel and a host other servants of God.

But WHY did the Lord command that repentance? One reason is due to the fact that we are all idolaters at heart. Some worship fishy gods like Dagon of the Philistines. And then others worship singing and acting gods like Jennifer Lopes and Brittany Spears. Some worship Italian gods like Mozzaretti and Ferrari. And some worship French gods like Chevrolet and Pierre Cardan. But we are all idolaters at heart – we have a propensity, a weakness – for idolatry. Some bow before alcohol, some bow before immorality, others before cocaine and cannabis. Some worship money, or the things that money brings, or the things that bring money. Some even worship the lowest god in universe – themselves. It is because of this idolatry which we all possess, that God commands that we repent.

And WHAT is repentance? Melt all the theology off, and it thaws out to be a change of heart about our sin – including idolatry. It is an acknowledgment of our personal sin and a turning to Christ for deliverance. It is the knocking of Dagon to floor and the setting up of a new God, a new Lord, in our life. And who is that new Lord? It is Jesus Christ, the Saviour, the Lord of the Universe. The replacement of an idol-god by a new God, should mean that the new is now Lord. Repentance should be the establishment of a new Lord in the sinner’s life. Since there is no salvation apart from true repentance, real salvation is a “Lordship salvation.”

So much of what is done in the name of “soul-winning” today has a rotten core of Satanic deception to it. A little prayer about being sorry for sin is not repentance, nor does it bring salvation. Being sorry that we were caught with our hands in the cookie jar is not repentance nor salvation. Asking Jesus to come into our heart is neither repentance nor salvation. True salvation involves a broken heart over sin, and with it comes a surrender to the Saviour. And that surrender means “Lordship salvation.” Of course, those people who preach easy believism and their little salvation prayer hate Lordship. You sure can’t add many notches on your spiritual gun teaching people that they have to experience a change in spiritual leadership in order to be a Christian. Besides, how many people do think would come to Christ if they knew that He wanted be their King? Many professional evangelists just don’t tell them that part. They just say, “Believe on Jesus.” My friends, the Bible NEVER says anywhere: “Believe on Jesus.” But the Bible does say, “Believe on THE LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that says: “My boss is a Jewish carpenter.” I’m sure that we’ve all seen the stickers that reads: “Real men love Jesus.” I’m not sure but that these two statements don’t come within a whisker of being blasphemous. Christ Jesus may have once been a Jewish carpenter, but He isn’t one today. I take my orders from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And I believe that our love should be upon the risen and glorified Christ, not the good buddy who once walked among the Palm trees of the Jordan River. I think that it may be sin to minimize the Lordship of Christ like this.

If you believe what the Bible says about faith in Christ and what it says about repentance, then you believe in “Lordship salvation.” There is no alternative. “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the (Biblical) doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” On the other hand, when Stephen lay bleeding and dying with his head broken open by Jewish rocks…. He looked up into heaven and said, “I see the Son of man standing on the right hand of the Father.” Then his dying lips pronounced, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Well, okay preacher, maybe I believe these things. So what?Welcome to the fellowship of the people who wish to glorify Christ. I believe that someone ought to receive all the respect, compliments and glory that they deserve. And that is infinitely more true of the Saviour than for anyone else. I am not ashamed to call him “My Lord.” He indeed is: “Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.” When we come to a junction and the choice is between more glory to Christ and less glory to Christ there is really no decision to be made. The doctrine of Lordship Salvation glorifies the Son of God – why should anyone despise it? To deny or limit the Lordship of Christ is to make him a mere human being.

Furthermore this doctrine weeds out the hypocrites and the self-deceived. Those who are saved by prayer, rather than by grace through faith, know nothing of Lordship. Those who have given up a couple of sins and think that is salvation – will not hang around the church that declares the supremacy of Christ. Those who have started going to church and started tithing, thinking that this buys salvation … Those who are still living in the stink of their sins … Their fornication, their cursing, their lying, their hatred and their envy … These are repelled at the thought of the Lordship of Christ. Please don’t think that I’m saying that a Christian can be sinlessly perfect. There is no such thing upon this planet, or in this flesh if we were to travel to another planet. Lordship salvation is simply the acknowledging of Christ, the Saviour, as one’s Lord. It is the admission that He has the right to rule our lives.

And by the way, people don’t make Jesus the Lord of their lives either. It is a matter of surrender to the One who is already Lord by Divine Authority. It’s the same as making Jesus their Saviour. The Lordship of Christ is not a matter of doing anything. It’s a matter of believing and being – being submissive to Christ.

So how does this apply to us individually? There are two ways. First, if this is Bible doctrine then it needs to be believed and taught to others. I am not ashamed of even this part of the gospel of Christ “for it is the power of God unto salvation.” And “I will not shun to declare unto you the whole counsel of God,” including this.

But more importantly, this doctrine needs to be lived from the inside out. The question is this: “Is Jesus Christ the Lord of YOUR life?” If He said, “Jump over the moon,” would you go put on your jumping shoes? It’s not up to you to come up with excuses. Will you say, “Yes, Lord?” And does your life reflect the Lordship of Christ? Does your sin vex your soul, because you know that it contradicts the Saviour? Or do you say that it really doesn’t matter whether or not you sin? How can you say “Lord, Lord, and do not the things that He says?” Have you not been bought with a price, the shed blood of Christ? If so, then you are not your own, you belong to another. You are no longer your own lord and master.

So who is Lord of your life? Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” That is Lordship salvation John 10:27 style.

Have you – in repentance – acknowledged the Christ of the Bible? Will you come to the LORD Jesus Christ today?