CAN YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU ARE ETERNALLY SAVED AND SECURE

As a very interested observer in the “Lordship Salvation” debate over the last twenty years, I was pleased to read during this past year Charlie Bing’s outstanding book, “Lordship Salvation: A Biblical Response.” Bing, who pastors Burleson Bible Church in Burleson, Texas, originally wrote the contents of this book in 1991 for his doctorate degree at Dallas Theological Seminary.

This 205 page book is broken down into six sections.

I. INTRODUCTION

II. FAITH AND SALVATION

III. REPENTANCE AND SALVATION

IV. CHRIST’S LORDSHIP AND SALVATION

V. DISCIPLESHIP AND SALVATION

VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

This reviewer greatly appreciated that Bing’s comments are exegetically-based, highly- interactive, clarifying, and gracious yet firm. He carefully analyzes word meanings and usage, along with closely examining numerous key biblical passages relevant to this discussion, summarizing his conclusions at the end of each section.

In stating his purpose for writing this book, Bing writes,

In recent years a renewed debate has raged over the conditions of salvation. At issue is the nature of the prerequisite response necessary for a person to receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. (pg. 1)

The intensity of the debate in recent years is enough to justify this study of Lordship Salvation. But it is the various biblical, theological, and practical issues involved, all crucial to orthodox Christianity, which demand clarification and biblical evaluation. (pg. 1)

The answer to the simple question “What must I do to be saved?” is disputed in the Lordship Salvation controversy. According to Lordship Salvation, the instruction “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31) includes theological implications and commitments which many modern evangelistic presentations have misrepresented, distorted, or concealed. (pg. 1)

All agree that no more important question in this life could be asked and answered. The correctness or incorrectness of one's answer affects the eternal salvation of multitudes. Those who teach Lordship Salvation have offered their interpretation of the biblical conditions for salvation and these conditions should be evaluated biblically and answered. (pg. 2)

Considering the anathema the Apostle Paul pronounced upon those who pervert the true gospel (Gal.1:9-10), it is of utmost importance that its purity be maintained. (pg. 2)

One’s view of the gospel and how its saving effects are appropriated by the sinner will determine not only the message of evangelism proclaimed but also its methods. The Lordship Salvation presentation of the gospel is necessarily more involved as seen in J. I. Packer's comment: "In our own presentation of Christ's gospel, therefore, we need to lay a similar stress [as Christ did] on the cost of following Christ, and make sinners face it soberly before we urge them to respond to the message of free forgiveness.” Accordingly, Charles Price relates this story to illustrate how the gospel should be presented:

After we had talked for a couple of hours, the young man seemed to be prepared to give himself to Christ. My friend, no doubt sensing that asked him a question: "In light of all we have talked about this evening, can you think of any reason why you should not become a Christian tonight?"

The young man sat for a few minutes, then looked back at him and replied, "No, I cannot think of any reason."

I was excited by this, but to my amazement, my friend leaned across the table and said, "Then let me give you some!" For the next few minutes he began to explain the cost of being a Christian. He talked about the young man's need to surrender his whole life, his future, his ambitions, his relationships, his possessions, and everything he was to God. Only if he was prepared to do this, my friend explained, could Christ begin to work effectively in his life.

...My friend then leaned even further across the table and asked, "Can you still not think of any reason why you shouldn't become a Christian tonight?"

After another moment, the reply came, "I can think of some now."

My friend responded, In that case, do not become a Christian until you have dealt with every one of those reasons and are willing to surrender everything to Christ." (pg. 2) – Charles Price, Real Christians (Colorado Springs, CO: Nav Press, 1987)

Lordship Salvation teaching also has an inevitable effect upon the assurance of the believer. Assurance from the objective promise of God appears to recede in importance to the subjective assessment of the quality of faith of the one professing faith and the equally subjective evaluation of visible fruits of obedience in one's life. This makes absolute assurance impossible in this life, so it is taught, "Doubts about one's salvation are not wrong so long as they are not nursed and allowed to become an obsession." (pg. 2)

– John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus (Grand Rapids; Zondervan Publishing House, 1988)

Need I write anymore regarding the importance of this issue? And while the formatting is not always user friendly, this is a must read for any student of the Scriptures interested in this crucial issue. In fact, while I have read “The Gospel According to Jesus” by John MacArthur, “Absolutely Free” by Zane Hodges, and “So Great Salvation” by Charles Ryrie, it is my personal opinion that this book is the best written on the issue from an exegetical standpoint.

Lastly, unlike some in the Free Grace camp, I was glad to see that Bing holds the view that…

…repentance is necessary for salvation. In this there is agreement with the Lordship Salvation position. However, the understanding of what repentance means differs significantly. The basic Lordship tenet that repentance always involves sin and that repentance is turning from sins or the resolve to turn from sins is not supported from the lexical and biblical evidence. (pg. 91)

…repentance is a change of mind, attitude, and disposition which implies and normally leads to an outward change in life and conduct, though the latter is not essential to the term itself. The focus of repentance must be determined by the context. In regards to salvation, repentance is implied in the call to believe in Christ. Thus it does not find the same emphasis as faith in gospel preaching. (pg. 91)

On a final note, the Lordship view of repentance can not offer an absolute assurance of salvation (as with their view of faith) for one can never be absolutely sure all sins have been forsaken. If it is asserted that repentance means resolving to forsake all known sin, then the absurd scenario emerges in which it would be best to keep people ignorant of their sins when preaching the gospel. On the contrary, the Free Grace position believes sinners must be told of their precarious predicament and urged to change their minds in regards to their ability to save themselves, and to believe in the One who can save them, the Lord Jesus Christ. (pg. 91-92) ¢

You may order your copies for $12.00 from:

Grace Life Ministries

P.O. Box 302

Burleson, TX 76097

(817) 295-5600 / ccbgracer@aol.com

Reviewed by Dennis Rokser