Lordship Salvation—Satan's Biggest Lie

By David J. Stewart

Romans 4:6, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”

The biggest lie of Satan in churches today is the demonic doctrine of Lordship Salvation. The Bible warns us that Satan is a master deceiver and liar (2nd Corinthians 11:13-14; Matthew 7:15; John 8:44). Satan doesn't work in the tavern, for he is the owner of such places. Satan owns all the gambling casinos, nightclubs and movie-houses.

It is in the Church where the Devil is least expected, where he is able to do the most damage; but he knows that he must be sneaky, subtle, to avoid being detected. False doctrine is much like rat-poison, it looks and smells good, containing mostly good food, but there's just enough poison to kill its victim. Such is the case with Lordship Salvation, it's a deadly teaching.

The Bible only presents one Gospel; yet we see two very distinct plans of salvation being taught today in America's churches:

1. Christ's righteousness alone

2. Lordship Salvation (Christ's righteous + self-righteousness)

Ray Comfort is an extremely popular evangelist, with his ministries, THE WAY OF THE MASTER and LIVING WATERS. Unfortunately, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron teach the heresy of Lordship Salvation...

“Merely being sorry for your sins, or confessing them to God won't help you. You must turn from sin (repent).”

SOURCE: LIVING WATERS ministry, SAVE YOURSELF SOME PAIN

Heresy! That is self-righteousness! Adding even the slightest work of self-righteousness to the Gospel corrupts it into a false way, a false plan, a road to damnation.

This is why I'm warning everybody about Ray Comfort's teachings... he teaches Lordship Salvation, i.e., that acknowledging one's guilt of sin and trusting Christ for forgiveness is not enough to be saved, he teaches that a sinner MUST cease from committing those sins as well. The entire notion of Lordship Salvation is rooted in self-righteousness (and the Devil knows it). Honestly, Ray Comfort is training a whole generation of self-righteous Pharisees, who think they're saved because they've stopped sinning as part of saving-faith. It is deadly false religion, and no faith at all.

One person, upon hearing Ray Comfort's false teachings, became scared that they weren't saved. So that person came to Ray Comfort for some assurance. The question and Ray Comfort's answer are presented on THE WAY OF THE MASTER website, on their FAQ page, Frequently Asked Questions...

“I have just read The Way of the Master — and I am scared that I'm not saved.”

SOURCE: The Way of the Master

Now here is Ray Comfort's lame answer...

“It is healthy to examine yourself and see if you are in the faith. Once you have repented of all sin (see Psalm 51, 1John 1:9), don't doubt God's promises. Doubt produces fear. It is also a great insult to God—if I don't trust you, it means I think you are a liar.”

SOURCE: The Way of the Master

Notice that Ray Comfort focuses on self-righteousness here, telling this person to repent of all sins (and as I just showed you, Comfort understands repentance to mean ceasing from one's actual sins). No mention is made of the gift of God, the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, or of God's unconditional love for sinners. Ray Comfort's mind is stuck in reverse gear, respectfully.

Ray Comfort speaks of God's promises, but doesn't mention what they are. Comfort's main focus is that a person cease from all their sins. It is just a false, false, false Gospel. Lordship Salvation may be shrouded in Biblical truth, but it is a malicious lie of the Devil. This is the power of a lie. The most believable lie is one that surrounds itself with the most truth.

Also, Psalm 51 has absolutely NOTHING to do with salvation. David had committed adultery and murder (2nd Samuel 11-12) and Psalm 51 records David's prayer of repentance. David was a Christian believer who had backslidden into sin. David was in denial about his sins for several months before Nathan the prophet eventually confronted king David. Notice in Psalm 51:12 that David only asks God to restore “the joy of Thy salvation.” David had only lost his joy as a Christian; but did NOT lose his salvation. Notice that it was God's salvation and not David's... THY SALVATION. Jonah also knew that SALVATION IS OF THE LORD. It is God's Salvation. Our part is simply to come as guilty sinners (Romans 3:19) and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). God does the rest.

Consider further the following excellent words by Dr. Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951)...

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

Thank God for doctrinally sound men of God like Pastor Ironside.

As with other false prophets, Ray Comfort leans heavily upon the quotes of historically great men to support his unbiblical position. Ray Comfort's, THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, quotes Spurgeon often. Unfortunately, Ray Comfort (as does John MacArthur) horribly take Charles Spurgeon's words out of context, and claim that Spurgeon taught Lordship Salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this quote by Spurgeon himself plainly reveals...

"You must not expect that you will be perfect in 'repentance' before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. 'Repentance' is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. God gives the salvation himself..."

— Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (from a sermon preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on September 23, 1855)

Amen! Why doesn't Ray Comfort quote those words by Spurgeon? Ray Comfort is guilty of twisting the Scriptures around and misrepresenting the beliefs of Spurgeon to support his unbiblical position.

If Ray Comfort ever stops preaching heresy, and starts preaching the righteousness of Jesus Christ, then I will be his biggest fan and promote his ministry; but until that time comes I must contend for the Biblical faith, and so should you as a Christian, because Satan is working relentlessly to corrupt the church through false Bibles, false prophets and false doctrines.

As is customary with the Lordship Salvation crowd, they speak much doubletalk. Ray Comfort says that he believes salvation is based solely upon Christ's work of redemption; but then he contradicts himself when he continually requires sinners to clean up their life in order to be saved. And I'm not splitting hairs over semantics either, Ray Comfort is teaching a false Gospel when he mandates that sinners stop sinning as part of saving-faith. The Bible teaches in Romans 4:5-6 that we are saved by Jesus' righteousness, without works, and not by anything we do. Ray Comfort says it is NOT enough to confess one's sins to God to be saved, but that a person must also stop committing those sins to be saved. This goes 100% contrary to the plainest teachings of the Word of God! As believers, we must take a Biblical stand against those who corrupt the simplicity which is in Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Ray Comfort's plan of salvation is extremely HARD, because it requires a large amount of self-denial, self-abandonment and self-righteousness. You are required to stop all sinful activates if you want to be saved. That is a false Gospel.

Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that it's ok for anyone to commit sin; I'm simply saying that everyone sins, and it is self-righteous hypocrisy to require people (many who've never even been into a church building) to depart from all their sinful habits as a prerequisite to be saved. That hellish doctrine is not taught in the Bible. To no surprise, Kirk Cameron is a follower of the Modernist John MacArthur! On Kirk Cameroon's website, he voices praises for the John MacArthur Study Bible. This explains where Mr. Cameron and Ray Comfort get their Lordship Salvation heresy from, because John MacArthur is Mr. Lordship Salvation himself. 

Pastor John MacArthur stated...

“The life we live, not the words we speak, determines our eternal destiny” (Hard to Believe, p. 93).

MacArthur even titles his blasphemous book, HARD TO BELIEVE. Oh, listen my friend, it is not hard to believe. Salvation is as simple as walking through a Door (John 10:9). Salvation is as simple as drinking a glass of water (John 4:14). Salvation is as simple as getting on the ark. Even the smallest person in the smallest family in the smallest place with the smallest faith can be saved eternally if they'll simply come as a guilty sinner and believe upon the Lord Jesus as the Christ for forgiveness. Acts 10:43, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Amen!

Here is an excellent statement...

In salvation, it is God Who changes man; and not man changing him self.

A changed life is the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit, and not a part of the ROOT of saving-faith. I'll stop preaching against Ray Comfort's heresy when he stops perverting the Gospel. I also expose other false prophets who teach Lordship Salvation; namely, Paul Washer, Jack Chick, John MacArthur, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson and Moody Bible Institute. Anyone who requires lost sinners to “make a commitment” to Christ to be saved is teaching Lordship Salvation. The truth is that in salvation God has made a commitment to us, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Salvation is receiving, not giving. Ray Comfort's plan of salvation mandates that sinners give up the sinful world, give up their sinful habits, give up their sinful relationships, et cetera; but God gave up His dear Son to pay for our sin debt, so that we could be freed from the curse of the Law. In salvation, it is God Who gives, not the sinner.

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers... Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake” (Titus 1:10). Satan is a master deceiver. It is what he does best. 2nd Corinthians 11:13-14 warns that Satan's ministers will come to us disguised as minister's of righteousness. Yet, sadly, the average professed Christian today is woefully ignorant of the Scriptures and doesn't care.

Mr. Comfort has influence over tens-of-millions of lost sinners, and is teaching them that they cannot be saved until they clean up their life of sin, thus negating the gift of God. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23). A gift is freely given (John 3:16), freely offered (Romans 10:13) and freely received (Revelation 22:17). Again, Ray Comfort says...

“Merely being sorry for your sins, or confessing them to God won't help you. You must turn from sin (repent).”

SOURCE: LIVING WATERS ministry, SAVE YOURSELF SOME PAIN

Ray Comfort corrupts the Biblical message of salvation. To no surprise, all Lordship Salvationists claim to believe in a free grace Gospel, but they do not. To say that salvation is the free gift of God, while simultaneously demanding that sinners stop living in sin to get saved, is a major contradiction.
 

Salvation is a Gift; Not a Reward

If I buy you a Christmas gift and offer it to you on the condition that you stop getting drunk, then how can it be a gift? It's not a gift; but rather, a reward. Salvation is a Gift; NOT a reward. God's gift of Eternal Life is without works, there's no strings attached, it's free to anyone who wants it, just so long as you come as a guilty sinner by way of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Salvation is not a matter of sinners making a commitment to God, but rather, of God's commitment to sinners who place their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, for forgiveness. Romans 10:11, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” The word “ashamed” means that Jesus won't let us down, we won't be disappointed, He won't fail us, we won't regret putting our faith in Him.

Ray comfort and Kirk Cameron teach that lost sinners MUST stop living in sin to be saved...

"You must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have NOTHING to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you... If you will confess and forsake your sins..."

SOURCE: http://www.livingwaters.com/good/022.shtml

In sharp contrast to Ray Comfort's heresy, Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951) is 100% correct on repentance. He says in his Gospel tract, ANOTHER GOSPEL? ...

"When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him."

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, Another Gospel.

Dr. Ironside is Biblically correct!
 

All Christian Believers are Soundly Saved

Ray Comfort teaches that professed Christians who deliberately lie, lust and openly allow sin in their life were never saved to begin with...

“When someone is soundly saved, God says I'll take my Law and I'll write it on their hearts, and cause them to walk in my statutes. That's what happens when someone is soundly saved, they have regard to the divine Law. No longer are they workers of iniquity. They don't lie, they don't steal, they don't kill. They don't commit adultery. They don't lust. They don't hate. They don't get angry without cause. They don't covet. It's those we erroneously call backsliders, who fall away, because they have never slid forward in the first place.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Ray Comfort, audio sermon, TRUE & FALSE CONVERSION

King David was a "man after God's own heart" (1st Samuel 13:14); yet he commit adultery with Bathsheba, impregnated her, and then murdered her husband to hide the sin (2nd Samuel 11,12). Abraham laughed in God's face because he lacked faith (Genesis 17:17). Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:21). Samson had sex with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). Isaiah was a man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:3). Peter cursed the name of Jesus and used profanity (Mark 14:71). Peter went publicly naked (John 21:7). One-third of the Bible was written by murderers: Moses, David and Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus). With the exception of Paul, Moses and David were already saved when they commit murder. 

Yet, Ray Comfort errantly teaches...

“If someone is soundly saved, then he will never fall away.”

SOURCE: Rap Comfort, audio sermon, TRUE & FALSE CONVERSION

Evidently Ray Comfort hasn't considered the man in 1st Corinthians 5:1-5. The entire church at Corinth would disagree with Ray Comfort, whom the Apostle called “carnal” and “babes in Christ” (1st Corinthians 3:1). The Bible is filled with Christians who fell away, going into what is commonly called “deep sin,” but they didn't lose their salvation. There is NO such thing as a Christian who is not SOUNDLY SAVED. Every believer is safe in Jesus! Ray Comfort's entire philosophy is rooted in self-righteousness.
 

Lordship Salvation and the New World Order

Of course, nearly all Lordship Salvationists are in denial. Lordship Salvation is a doctrine of the New World Order, because it has become a universal teaching in the world's churches. Just as the Catholic Church teaches FAITH AND WORKS for salvation, so does Lordship Salvation require FAITH AND WORKS, but in a more subtle manner. The end result will be the merging of Lordship Salvation churches with the Catholic Church and other apostate religions into a One-World Religion.

The Illuminati’s Council on Foreign Relations has enlisted the services of evangelicals, Pastor Rick Warren and Richard Land, to marshall tens of millions of evangelical Christians in a global crusade to convert humanity to the New Global Spirituality.

Feds Train Clergy To "Quell Dissent" During Martial Law

The New International Version (NIV) is the New World Order Bible. This is why Romans 13:1 in the NIV tells us to blindly obey the “governing authorities”; whereas, the King James Bible tells us to submit to the HIGHER POWERS (God being the highest). The NIV is corrupt, which is used by all apostates today. Wake up people!!!
 

Ray Comfort Corrupts Matthew 7:22,23

"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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." —Matthew 7:22,23

On page 1197 of THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, Ray Comfort comments on Matthew 7:22,23...

"These are perhaps the most frightening verses in the Bible. Vast multitudes of professing Christians fit into the category spoken of here. They call Jesus 'Lord,' but they practice lawlessness. They profess faith in Jesus, but have no regard for the divine law. They tell 'fibs' or 'white' lies, take things that belong to others, have a roaming eye for the opposite sex, etc. They are liars, thieves, and adulterers at heart, who will be cast from the gates of heaven into the jaws of hell."

SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1197; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Ladies and gentleman, Ray Comfort is teaching works salvation! According to what we just read by Ray Comfort, every believer who is still living in deliberate sin won't be allowed into Heaven. It is a complete mishandling of the Scriptures by Ray Comfort. Matthew 7:21 puts verses 22 and 23 into context...

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." —Matthew 7:21

The reason why these people were called “workers of iniquity” wasn't because they still had some sins in their life as Mr. Comfort foolishly teaches. No, rather, these people had not done the WILL OF GOD concerning salvation. John 6:40 tells us what the will of God is...

"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." —John 6:40

That is God's plan of salvation, i.e., that sinners believe on Jesus. It is the Lordship Salvationists who run around saying, “Lord, Lord,” but they have not done the will of the Father, which is to simply believe. Concerning believing on Christ for salvation, Ray Comfort makes salvation hard...

If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent. However, the Bible tells us that a false convert "believes" and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13); he remains a "worker of iniquity" ...

SOURCE

Tragically, Ray Comfort wrongly recognizes repentance as a change of lifestyle; whereas “repent” in the Bible concerning salvation simply means “a change of mind.” Mr. Comfort teaches that believing on the Lord is NOT enough to be saved; but that a sinner must also cease from his sinful lifestyle, which Comfort understands to be repentance. This is a very DIFFERENT plan of salvation than the one presented to Abram in Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” This is the imputed righteousness of Christ, which God places on our record at salvation. Amen! We need no righteousness of our own, and a good thing, because we have none to offer.

33rd degree Freemason and prolific writer, Manly P. Hall states . . .

“The half-truth is the most dangerous form of lie, because it can be defended in part by incontestable logic.”

SOURCE: The Secret Destiny Of America, pg. 195, by Manly P. Hall, a 33rd degree Freemason; 1944; ISBN: 0-89314-388-X; publisher: The Philosophical Research Society, Inc, Los Angeles, California.

Satan is subtle, a master deceiver and a beautiful liar. If Satan can't cause you to deny or question the Bible, then he'll publish hundreds of Bibles to confuse you. If that doesn't work, then he'll send false prophets who pervert the Words of God to mislead you, particularly concerning how to be saved.

A person doesn't give up their sins to get saved; they give up their sins because they ARE SAVED! A changed life is the FRUIT of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and not a prerequisite of saving-faith. Our part is simply to acknowledge our guilt of sin and receive Jesus as our Christ. Salvation is receiving, not giving. Eternal life is the gift of God.