True and False Christians by Paul Washer and Tim Conway EXAMINED

I recently stumbled across this video compilation of Paul Washer and Tim Conway entitled True and False Christians. I believe it does a good job of revealing a number of problems lurking in their somewhat acerbic brand of Lordship Salvation Calvinism. Among those problems are:

1. An unscriptural view of regeneration,
2. A shallow, non-systematic approach to statements made in John’s first epistle,
3. A tendency to assert that they are able to discern another person’s state of grace, and
4. An unfortunate misinterpretation of the Lord’s intent in Matthew 7.

Does the Rich Young Ruler Story Teach Lordship Salvation?

I suppose it is no mystery that TETH has long opposed the teaching that is commonly referred to as Lordship Salvation.  Having spent a great deal of time in the company of Lordship Salvationists, I am aware that there are some texts in the bible that they believe support a Lordship Salvation point of view.  I was recently confronted with the following statement about the Lord’s interaction with the Rich Young Ruler (RYR) in Matthew 19:

Steve Lawson - The Narrow Way to Life - Biblically Examined

This short excerpt from Steve Lawson speaking on the topic of the narrow gate is a good example of how Lordship Salvation theologians violate numerous fundamental sovereign grace precepts when they interpret scripture. Those precepts are:

1. Repentance is commanded and therefore an act of obedience, and any act of obedience is a work of righteousness. (Matthew 3:2)
2. We are saved “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” (Titus 3:5)
3. All of the requirements of eternal salvation were met by Christ, not by us. (Hebrews 1:3, II Timothy 1:9)
4. Man in his natural state is incapable of receiving spiritual truth (I Corinthians 2:14) and unable to respond based on spiritual deadness (Ephesians 2:1). 

A closer look at Lawson's statements on what is meant by the strait gate is helpful in pointing out how Lordship Salvation theology violates the aforementioned sovereign grace precepts.

Steve Lawson - Almost Saved

In this video blog TETH examines Lawson’s concept of the “almost saved” and finds it to be at great variance with the teaching of salvation by sovereign grace taught in the bible.  A full transcript is found below with teth commentary in blue.

Greg Gilbert - What is the Gospel?

Several years ago I was given Greg Gilbert's short book What is the Gospel? as a gift. While this book makes many good affirmations, it is also an example of the sort of self-contradictory assertions made by those in the Neo-Calvinist camp.  

Lordship Salvation Dialogue

In a recent YouTube dialog regarding a video by Paul Washer, I engaged in the following discussion on the doctrine of Lordship Salvation.  It is all too common for Christians to defend the patron saints of their theological camps in the manner that this brother does, and not upon the validity of the doctrinal truths these men promote.  I'm passing this dialog along as an example of how these conversations tend to go.  

Steve Lawson - It Will Cost You Everything

The doctrine of Lordship Salvation (LS) has certainly made great in-roads in evangelicalism over the last two decades. The writings and sermons of John MacArthur and his numerous disciples have, to many, become the theological standard whereby biblical orthodoxy is assessed. This is in spite of the fact that LS theology is riddled with antinomies and contradictory assertions. Perhaps nowhere is this more on display than in the LS assertion that the bible makes no distinction between sonship, or eternal salvation; and discipleship, which is walking in obedience. The fundamental issue with the LS assertion that there is no distinction between eternal salvation and discipleship is brought to light when one considers the bible’s testimony that eternal salvation is by grace and not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), alongside the bible’s testimony that discipleship comes with great personal cost (Luke 14:26-27).