Easy Believism

I was scrolling through YouTube, looking for something to watch, when I came across a video by J. Vernon McGee. I've heard him on the radio (WRVM) many times before with his "Through The Bible" series, but I'd never seen his face before, so I clicked on the video.

The video was entitled "Dr. J. Vernon McGee DESTROYS Lordship Savation heresy!"

"Heresy? Hmm. I believe in Lordship salvation..." So I watched the video. And then I did some research.

According to Wikipedia, Dr. McGee died in 1988 - an ordained Presbyterian pastor. Uh-oh. From what I have read about the Presbyterian church, it is a very left-leaning organization. Here's my proof of that from their own website.

Next, I Googled "Lordship Salvation" and found GotQuestions.org's article on the same. I read it from beginning to end. It only confirmed my lordship salvation belief. That's where I found the title for today's story - Easy Believism. Apparently, it is the opposite side of the lordship salvation discussion.

In their article, Easy Believism is described as "salvation by faith alone to the extent that those who trust in Christ are under no obligation to live transformed lives. Easy believism is not just holding to sola fide (“faith alone”). Rather, easy believism is a rejection of any degree of repentance or change as a necessary aspect of saving faith."

In other words, salvation is by faith alone and there is no reason to live a changed life as a result.

Here are some examples of Easy Believism teachers I have found - Joel Osteen, Bobby Schuller, Chuck Swindoll

Lordship Salvation pastors - John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham, Paul Washer, Billy Graham, David Wilkerson

Here's what the Bible says:

"Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24

And James says this:

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what goodb is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." - James 2:14-17

If there is no change in our hearts, are we then truly saved? I think not, according to the Bible.

"Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10

There must be repentance of our sins before we receive salvation. It says it right there!

"Jesus is Lord!" people say in Easy Believism. Jesus says, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

Here's a fun little exercise. Open your favorite Bible app and do a word search for the word 'repent.' Count all of the verses and see how many you can find (I found 70+ in most translations. 105 in the King James Vesion.

'Repent, Believe and Forever Receive' is what we teach in VBS. Not Repent, Believe, then do whatever you want.

Lordship Salvation - GotQuestions.org