What is Lordship Salvation?

(By Pastor Mark Fontecchio)

Question: What is Lordship Salvation?

Answer: First, let us be clear that Lordship Salvation is not a debate about whether or not Jesus Christ is Lord. This is an obvious truth from Scripture (Phil. 2:11). Further, let it be noted that 1 Peter 3:15 teaches, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” Believers are commanded to recognize the Lordship of Christ in their lives. Literally, they are to set Him apart as Lord in their hearts. The very fact that Peter issued this as a command demonstrates that this is not automatic for the Christian.

None of the above statements concern the real issue at hand. Lordship Salvation centers itself on the content of the Gospel of Christ. The gospel is amazingly simple. It is the message that Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, died on the Cross and rose again to pay one’s personal penalty for sin, and the One who gives eternal life to all who trust Him and Him alone for it. There are 160 verses in the New Testament that teach salvation is found solely by faith in this message.

Lordship salvation teaches a different gospel. It teaches that in order to receive salvation a lost person must not only trust in Christ as their Savior, but they must also surrender every aspect of their life over to the Lordship of Christ. This position is contrary to the historic gospel message that is found in the Word of God, and blurs the distinction between justification and sanctification. Submitting to the Lordship of Christ is accomplished not at the moment of salvation, but as believers learn to walk by faith in Christ.