Featured Can a Reformed deny Lordship salvation and endorse the sinners prayer?

This is the second time that you objected to such a message. What exactly is the “God has a wonderful plan for your life” message that Lutzer preaches? I had always thought that God did have a wonderful plan for our lives, and certainly that notion can be found throughout Scripture. But I think that you are speaking of something else. If you don’t mind, will you please give me an example of this in Lutzer’s work so that I can better understand your objection?

For the record, yes they can reject Lordship salvation and remain Reformed. Enns, for example, notes that the issue is “whether or not one can become a Christian simply by believing the gospel, or whether or not one must surrender to Christ as the Lord of one’s life. Part of the answer lies in a misunderstanding of Romans 10:9. Confession of Christ as Lord identifies Christ as deity; the issue is not concerning His lordship. In addition, if surrendering one’s life to Christ as Lord is necessary for salvation, then there could be no carnal Christians, yet Paul makes it clear that the Corinthians whom he speaks of being ‘in Christ’ wee indeed carnal (1 Cor. 3:1). Lordship is based on application of the knowledge of Scripture, and the knowledge of Scripture comes with spiritual maturity, which in turn follows salvation. Lordship is important, but it cannot be a condition for salvation; that is adding to the gospel.” (Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 343).

 

But that wasn't the question in the OP. It would be difficult to deny that Enns is of Reformed persuasion and he denies Lordship salvation.

You do, of course, have a good point. There are too many definitions of Lordship. Using Enns definition, I agree with him, but using my own I do not. I don’t view the term to mean achieving that maturity of faith or an application of the knowledge of Scripture - these are important but they are outgrowths of Lordship (perhaps discipleship). I understand Lordship to be included in belief.

Enns does provide a definition before commenting , but as I don’ t know your definition I can’t tell if it is a matter of definition or understanding. How do you define Lordship salvation?

 

Thanks for answering me here. While I am familiar with Lutzer I have not read much of his works and haven’t gotten that impression of him. It is amazing that some preachers seem to indicate that God’s wonderful plan culminates in material gain in this life time - particularly when so much of the comfort and encouragement in the New Testament was written to an audience that was to be persecuted and many die for the faith. It would have been difficult for them to “count it joy” if they expecting earthly success and wealth. I don't know Lutzer's stance on Calvinism (that's why I used Enns as an example).