To: WriteOn
I would argue that lordship theology does not have to be works based. What it requires of the believer is that they follow God's commandments. It also, to my way of thinking, requires that we admit our sin and ask for forgiveness.
Personally, I have seen what Free Grace Theology can do to it's believers. Once you accept the idea that you can do whatever you want, no matter the consequences, and it will not affect your salvation, you have no reason to follow the laws.
It is my opinion that neither thology outlined in the article is accurate.
For many in the Free Grace camp, they have taken the idea to an extream. This is, of course, known as "cheap grace". They will knowingly commit a wrong, because they have remembered that God will forgive them as long as they ask. Unfortunately, I feel that these people are doomed for 2 reasons. First, one must be sincere in their faith and prayers for forgiveness. These people are not sincere.
Secondly, they often did not truly as Christ in to their heart. It isn't enough to recite a prayer, you have to truly mean it. In Romans 6, Paul wrote:
1: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2: By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
If their salvation is legitimate, they can not knowingly live in sin.
The Lordship Grace people are often in the right track, but they confuse works with faith. I believe that works are an offshoot of our salvation, not a cause of it. We perform these tasks because it is the right thing to do, not in hopes of rewards on earth or in heaven.
Like most things, the problems with these two philosophies come from those who take them to an extreme.
To: sharktrager; the_doc; WriteOn
It isn't enough to recite a prayer, you have to truly mean it. ~ sharktrager
We must always remember that preaching and prayer are the ~means~ and not the cause of anyone's salvation. The "I accept Jesus" belief that causes salvation is not the right view of prayer.
The precious doctrines of Calvinism which are found in the Bible set forth a God who actually saves, and does not merely make salvation possible for sinners to somehow save themselves by a decision, or by cooperation in their salvation. Rather, these doctrines delcare a God who actually saves by...
- plan
- purpose
- power
Each Person of the Trinity works for the salvation of the same people, thus securing the salvation of those people infallibly.
The Father's loving election. |
The Son's powerful redemption. |
The Spirit's effectual calling & regeneration. |
God the Father planned it. God the Son achieved it. God the Spirit communicates and efficaciously applies it. There is no war in the Trinity. We do not support the erroneous idea that God has done all He can, and is now standing idly by waiting to see what sovereign sinners are going to do with Jesus. The right understanding is what is He going to do with His creatures.
These doctrines of Calvinism show the cross as revealing God's power to save, not His impotence. God was not frustrated at the cross. He was the Master of Ceremonies. As Peter declared, "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:23).
Salvation is of the Lord.
Woody.
14 posted on
11/22/2002 12:27:01 PM PST by
CCWoody
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