Question

I’ve heard both John MacArthur and Francis Chan teach we must fully surrender to Christ’s lordship in our lives in order to receive the gift of salvation. How could someone be mature enough at the point of salvation to fully know what it means to follow Christ without time for sanctification to occur?

The Truthful Response to Lordship Salvation

There’s a context for everything. In the Moody Handbook of Theology, Paul Ens writes, “The issue here is whether or not one can become a Christian simply by believing in the Gospel or whether one must surrender to Christ as Lord of one’s life. Part of the answer lies in a misunderstanding of Romans 10:9, which says, ‘If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’ This identifies Christ as a deity. The issue is not concerning his Lordship. I recognize Him as God, as a deity. 

In addition, if surrendering one’s life to Christ as Lord is necessary for salvation, then there could be no carnal Christian. Lordship is based on the application of the knowledge of scripture. The knowledge of scripture comes with spiritual maturity, which in turn follows our salvation. Lordship is important, but it cannot be a condition for salvation. That adds to the Gospel. A further problem is misunderstanding the term disciple.”

The idea that if He’s not Lord of all, He’s not Lord at all is heavy. We still lust, get angry, and covet. Which one of us can make it right? Discipleship is where we’re growing in Christ, maturing, and becoming more like Christ. If we look at Matthew 6, 7, and 8, Jesus speaks to a primarily Jewish audience. He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” So to anyone who pushes Lordship, you must consider that anytime you sin, by your standards, you are thus not saved. That borders on perfectionism, which is worse than legalism. 

What Should You Focus on?

Are you growing as a believer? When you sin, are you guilty and ashamed of your sin? Do you confess? Do you repent? If you continue to struggle with the same sin, do you seek help? Do you go to the world? Are you in God’s Word, trusting in God’s Spirit, and around God’s people? Are you growing? That is much more important than a term that can be so confusing and misunderstood. Thank the Lord there is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Links Mentioned:

The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Ens

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