In regards to salvation, there have been two major teachings in Christianity, which are both wrong. Dispensationalism provides an easy way to make the doctrine of salvation clear which is about eternal life and therefore is of paramount importance in the Christian life.
We teach that we are saved by grace through faith, however it is not true that a Christian MUST bear spiritual fruit as is evidenced in the Bible numerous times.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
What is easy believism?
Easy believism teaches that sin has nothing to do with repentance, and that a saved person can still commit the worst kinds of sins.
What is Lordship salvation?
Lordship salvation teaches that a saved person has to show some fruits in their spiritual life if they have been saved and had true faith. Teachers like John MacArthur and John Piper are in this school of thought. In other words, if a Christian has genuine faith, they must display a changed life through their actions and behavior.
These two sides are summarized in the table below.
| Easy believism | Lordship salvation |
| Sin has nothing to do with repentance. It’s a change of mind from unbelieving to believing. | Sin is connected to repentance. It’s a change of mind about sin. |
| A saved person can commit the worst kinds of sins. | A saved person has to show some fruits. |
| Carnal person. | Spiritual person. |
| Wicked at the end. | Spiritual at the end. |
| Still in sin | Turn from sin. |
| Not sorry for sins. | Sorry for sins. |
| Unbelief to belief. | Belief that will grow. |
| Doesn’t surrender everything. | Have to surrender everything. |
Dispensationalism can easily resolve the above dichotomy. Easy believism concentrates so much on the flesh nature, and Lordship salvation focuses on the spiritual nature. Through dispensationalism, we know that a saved believer has both carnal and spiritual natures at the same time.
A saved Christian could either be fleshy that one can hardly see the spiritual nature, but the flesh nature is not eradicated entirely. Or, they can be spiritual that the fleshy nature can be hardly be seen. Otherwise, it will be the eradication of flesh or the spirit, and they are both heresies.
When one gets saved in Jesus Christ, they have to grow. Otherwise, the fleshy nature can grow and the Holy Spirit will hardly be seen. Genuine believers battle a lifelong carnality.
Lordship people cannot deny that carnal nature exists in saved believers, as evidenced in the following verses.
1 Corinthians 5:1 “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
Easy believism people also cannot deny that sin is connected to repentance for salvation.
Acts 26:20 “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
If one received a grant from the government, it’s not something one worked for. It’s a gift.
Acts 11:16 “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
Saved believers should be grateful that God continues to work in us until the rapture. God chastises, rebukes, and helps the Christian to grow.
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
The dangers of Lordship salvation are that they cause a false gospel to be preached, questioning what exactly is real faith, genuine repentance, “submissive obedience”, and constantly making one feel that they have false faith. The gospel message is simple (so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:3c) and is not to be corrupted, salvation is a gift from God, and there’s nothing anyone can do to undo salvation (Romans 8:35-39).
Christians should take this grace that has been gifted to them by living a life of righteousness, bearing fruit with patience and sanctifying themselves.
For further reading,
– Biblical understanding of salvation
– Covenant theology and the covenant of grace
– Faith works to bear fruit?
– Is there an evidence of faith?
– What is the definition of faith?