The following Question and Answer was adapted from John MacArthur's book, The Gospel According to Jesus, revised edition, pp. xiv and 243.  ©1994 by John MacArthur. All Rights Reserved.

Question

What does the Bible teach about lordship salvation and what must one do to be saved?

Answer

“Jesus is Lord” was the core of the early church’s confession of faith, the primary nucleus of truth affirmed by every true Christian (1 Cor. 12:3). “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9). The lordship of Christ is clearly at the heart of true saving faith.

Nevertheless, many influential voices in contemporary evangelicalism are preaching with great fervor that we should not tell unbelievers they must yield to Christ as Lord. His lordship has nothing to do with the gospel, they claim. They make the preposterous allegation that calling the unsaved to surrender to Christ is tantamount to preaching salvation by works.

The Bible is clear. This is the gospel our Lord sends us forth to proclaim: That Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, humbled Himself to die on our behalf. Thus He became the sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty of our guilt. He rose from the dead to declare with power that He is Lord over all, and He offers eternal life freely to sinners who will surrender to Him in humble, repentant faith. This gospel promises nothing to the haughty rebel, but for broken, penitent sinners, it graciously offers everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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