At the time of the appearance of Christ the nation of Israel was in shambles.
Israel as a nation had rejected the leadership of God the father in the OT
1 Sam 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
And they began to fall politically as a nation from this point.
Later, as described in 2 Chronicles, they were brought into Gentile bondage through God’s servant (Jer 27:6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.).
But there were those who looked for redemption –
Luke 2:25, Luke 2:36 – 38; Luke 23:51; Luke 24:21
It was to these folk, and those like them that Messiah would say:
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
WHAT DID REDEMPTION MEAN TO THE LITTLE FLOCK?
WHAT KIND OF SALVATION WERE THEY LOOKING FOR?
AND HOW WERE THEY TO OBTAIN IT?
THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED IF WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THAT KINGDOM.
WHAT DID REDEMPTION MEAN TO THE LITTLE FLOCK?
WHAT KIND OF SALVATION WERE THEY LOOKING FOR?
It meant that God would dwell with them.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Mat 1:23)
It meant that the Kingdom would be restored again to Israel.
Isa 9:6 – 7; Luke 1:68 – 80
HOW WERE THEY TO OBTAIN THIS SALVATION?
Let’s look at some of the current or contemporary choices:
By reading the Pauline epistles… No.. they did not exist.
By looking forward to the finished cross work of Christ in his death, burial and resurrection…. No.. because…
It was not known, understood or revealed – Luke 18:34
What then were they to do? They were to listen to John Baptist and his message:
Mark 1:1-6 = repent and be water baptized
Mark 16:16 = water baptism & belief (in Messiah’s coming)
Luke 7:29,30 = Christ teaches the baptism of John Baptist
Acts 1:6 & 2:38 = Still looking for the kingdom & water baptism still required
The Law of Moses was still required.. Mat 23:2 – Moses seat / Mat 19:17
One more thing they had to do… wait for the king to return
Acts 3:19 = sins blotted out at the King’s return
This is what believing Israel was to do, the little flock would believe John Baptist and his message.
Unbelieving Israel continued on the course they plotted in the OT
They rejected God the father in the Old Testament – 1 Sam 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
They rejected God the son in his earthly ministry – John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
And now in Acts 7 they reject the Holy Spirit – Acts 7:55 & ff.
It is both interesting and instructive that: Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
For it is from Paul, whose name was changed from Saul, that we learn…
Rom 6:14 … for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2 Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
1 Cor 15:3 … that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The doctrines of Lordship salvation are based upon God’s plans and purposes for the nation of Israel.
The doctrine exists because of a failure to “rightly divide the word of truth” and to acknowledge the apostle Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles in the dispensation of the grace of God.
Lordship salvation teaches 3 basic points all of which are defeated by Pauline epistemology. These 3 points are:
You must have works to be saved – Christ did not pay enough!!
On the contrary: Christ paid for all sin for all men for all time 2000 years ago – 2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
You must have works to stay saved – GRACE IS TOO EASY!!
ON THE CONTRARY: Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
2 Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The RIGHTEOUSNESS that God REQUIRES is the RIGHTEOUSNESS he SUPPLIES!!
You must have works to prove you are saved – Sealing & Sanctification are the same.
ON THE CONTRARY: Sealing & Sanctification are not the same.
My walk impacts my rewards not my destiny. – 1 Cor 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
2 Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Lordship salvation will not stand the test of 2Timothy 2:15.
It is dangerous because it is scriptural but not dispensational.
Today it has to be considered as “another gospel” and as such it will not save anyone.
If you are trusting that you can do anything to merit, earn, buy or help with your salvation then you are trusting in a “gospel” that is powerless to save you.
The good news for today is that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He paid for your sins and mine in full 2000 years ago, in his death, burial and resurrection.