There
is a popular heresy circulating in churches today called “Lordship Salvation,”
which teaches in essence that a lost sinner MUST be willing to turn away from
committing sin as a prerequisite to being saved. The problem is that this
teaching is NOT Biblical. Romans 4:5 exposes Lordship Salvation as a lie, “But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness.” Biblically, a sinner's faith is
COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to
the sinner by faith. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (2nd Corinthians 5:21;
Romans 10:3,4) and NOT by our own self-righteousness in any way (Titus 3:5;
Ephesians 2:8,9).
Jack Chick is the producer of the video, Light Of The World. Although I admire Mr. Chick's art work, and the stance he takes against the evils of Catholicism, witchcraft and false bibles; Jack Chick is wrong on repentance. At the end of every Chick Tract, as well as at the end of the Light Of The World video, Jack Chick teaches that a sinner must BE WILLING TO TURN FROM SIN to be saved. The Bible never defines “repentance” as turning from sin concerning salvation; but rather, simply “a change of mind.” Pastor Harry Ironside properly defines repentance as...
"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word."
SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3
This definition is vastly different than Jack Chick's requirement for one to be willing to turn away from sin to be saved. Granted, genuine Biblical repentance brings forth a changed life (2nd Corinthians 5:17); but this change is the FRUIT of true repentance, and NOT a part of saving faith. Jack Chick places the cart before the horse in expecting sinners to surrender their life to Christ at the time of salvation. It is not merely a matter of semantics. Satan is subtle and knows that the strongest lie is one that comes closest to the truth. Lordship Salvationists, such as Ray Comfort and John MacArthur, all correctly profess that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus; yet, they subtly ADD the requirement for sinners to forsake their sins in order to qualify for salvation. This totally defeats the purpose of Christ paying for our sins and offering us HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS...
“For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
All that God requires for salvation is that a person acknowledge their guilt of sin (Romans 3:19) and BELIEVE on Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. One's faith is counted for (or equivalent to) righteousness, i.e., the righteousness which is freely provided to us by Jesus' blood sacrifice (1st Peter 1:18,19). It is difficult for me to comprehend why any professed Christian would even imply that one must give up their sins to be saved. Such teaching places the burden of salvation upon mankind; instead of solely upon the righteousness which is in Christ. Forsaking one's sins is a part of growing in the Christian life. Babes in Christ don't generally decide to live a consecrated life for God until they've been discipled, mentored and had time for the Word of God to work in their heart.
The Light Of The World video is for the most part doctrinally correct; but if one is wrong on repentance, then he is wrong on salvation. Either a person must be willing to turn away from sin to be saved, or not. It can't be both ways. Someone is wrong. I'll side with the Bible, which teaches that a man's FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." —John 3:16
