Lordship Salvation teachers love to quote Matthew 7:22-24 as they piously point their wretched fingers at free grace teachers like myself. Here is the passage if you are a little foggy about their content...
Matthew 7:22-24King James Version (KJV)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Lordship salvation advocates love to say that they believe that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Doesn't everybody claim that today? Sure, but few really believe that it is "faith alone" or "faith plus nothing". Typically these Lordship false teachers either front load or back load the gospel message.
They front load the gospel when they tell you that you can gain eternal life by believing on Christ plus turning from sin, repenting, being sorry for you sin, being willing to turn from your sin etc., etc. Beware of anyone who tells you that you can be saved by believing "plus" anything else!
They back load the gospel when they say that truly born again people will demonstrate a certain level of good works or a certain approved lifestyle and usually they are the judge of what is "approved".
Front loading or back loading the gospel is a practice that is unique to the Lordship salvation false teachers that litter the Christian landscape of our churches today. It is heretical to add anything to a simple child like faith in Christ as Savior.
These false teachers who think that my view (the Biblical view) is too simplistic love to take us to Matthew 7 and use these verses to prove their point. The trouble is these words of Christ condemn the Lordship teachers not the free grace believer.
Notice that Jesus said that at the judgement there will be "many" that will recite their spiritual resume to Him in hopes of impressing Him with their so called Holy lifestyle. They cast out demons, they taught, they preached and they did many wonderful works.
Notice three truths about this passage.
First, Jesus doesn't refute their claim to having accomplished all these wonderful works. These people aren't going to be guilty of not doing good works. The problem for them is going to be that good works aren't what avails us to God! They called their work "wonderful" and Jesus didn't argue with them.
Second, Jesus didn't say this would be an isolated case here or there, He said that many on judgment day will parade their spiritual resume before Him. Take a look at the Christian booksellers list and you will find book after book by authors who think that simple saving faith by itself will not be good enough to gain entrance to Heaven. Read any church statement of faith and I would venture to say that any comments that they make about salvation will include something about turning from sin, doing good works or some other addition to faith alone. There are many today on this pathway to Hell.
Third, Jesus said that He will reject all spiritual resumes on the day of judgment. He will reject all people who come before Him trying to convince Him of their worthiness by calling attention to their own behavior. Depart from me...the saddest words in the Bible!
I love the way that Burleson Bible Church in Burleson, Texas, define the condition of salvation...
The Condition for Salvation. We believe that all human beings are sinners, and as such are separated from God and in need of salvation (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). We believe that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace provided for all in the saving work of Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2), and that any who simply and only believe in His saving work, not in their own good works, effort, or merit, will receive the gift of eternal life (Rom. 4:5; Eph. 2:8-9).
Have you simply and "only" believed in Christ's saving work? You see that is the only way that you will impress Jesus on that glorious day. You won't need to remind Jesus of any works that you have done. He will know you because you took Him at His word and simply and only trusted Him as your Savior!
It's interesting that the NET translation of the passage calls these castaways "lawbreakers". These Lordship Salvationists who say that simple faith must be accompanied by total commitment, total surrender and turning from sin, seem to miss some logical implications of their demands. What exactly is total commitment? What does total surrender look like? How many sins should I turn from?
The fallacy of these unscriptural demands is that God requires one of two things to gain forgiveness of sin. He demands total perfection. If you fail to totally surrender to Him at any point in your life then you weren't totally surrendered were you? If you fail to put away one single solitary sin than you are a "lawbreaker". Since no one can meet these standards we need a second option...that option is to simply and only trust in Christ as your Savior. He was the only one in history who ever was totally committed, totally surrendered and turned from every sin!
Simply and only trust Christ and His saving work today. It is the only way that Matthew 7 will be a happy moment for you!
