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I don't much like John MacArthur ...just I can't fault those scriptures...
I do like what @Godssrvr said in his post, as a balance.
I don't much like John MacArthur ...just I can't fault those scriptures...
Scripture teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Any preaching of the gospel of salvation that places responsibility on the believer either before, during, or after coming to faith is a false gospel. Lordship Salvation requires something a lost person cannot provide, and we know scripture teaches eternal life is a free gift through faith alone in Christ. Presenting ourselves as living sacrifices has nothing to do with being justified by faith. We are justified by the work Jesus did for us when we place ALL our trust in Him alone.
Should we live in obedience and submission? By all means yes! But until we are indwelt with the Spirit of God, the only "obedience" a lost person can possibly have is faith in Christ. When the lost person has "obeyed from the heart" (Romans 6:17), they then have the Holy Spirit indwelling and are capable of righteousness which comes through walking in the Spirit.
The 'responsibility' you mention is always after being born again.
"Obedience and submission" is responsibility.
We will persevere, because God preserves us.
Yes I agree with you. What I am pointing out is this responsibility has nothing to do with being justified. It in fact cannot even be accomplished until after being born again. This is why teaching the believer is justified through keeping this responsibility makes Lordship Salvation a false gospel.
This statement contradicts itself. It isn't our "perseverance" that saved us, it's His preservation.
I didn't know the L/S teaching was saying "...the believer is justified through keeping this responsibility..."
I have already pointed out some of the responsibility of salvation that Lordship Salvation places on the believer in former comments. Basically, they describe what is "true faith" and what isn't by suggesting how a person will live after they're saved. If how a person lives determines if they have had "true faith", then faith MUST be accompanied by works, making it a false gospel by placing confidence in the flesh, rather than in Christ alone.
If you disagree with me it's okay. I don't debate this because it's never fruitful in my experience, but scripture cannot be compromised and it speaks for itself. Romans chapters 3-5 teaches faith alone on our part.