Thankful Thursday

I’m currently making my way through 5 books and enjoying them all. I’m never happier than when I have several books on the go. I’m thankful for books and for the ability to read and understand.

I’m thankful for the promise of blooms on the May Day tree. The May Day tree in blossom is something I look forward to every year. It’s like Christmas, only I don’t have to do the work to make the celebration happen.

I’m thankful for the expectation of many good gifts in the months to come: a producing garden, a lush lawn, summer’s outdoor activities, maybe a trip or two, and a new (first) grandchild.

I’m thankful that “he who began a good work in [me] will bring it to completion…” (something I think the nonlordship salvation advocates overlook, by the way). I’m thankful for God’s sanctifying work, even though it it’s a process that isn’t always (or even ever) easy. I’m thankful that God teaches and disciplines his own. 

Throughout this year I’m planning to post a few thoughts of thanksgiving each Thursday along with Kim at the Upward Call and others.

Round the Sphere Again: Books

Redemptive History
In Nancy Guthrie’s Discovering Jesus in the Old Testatment, the reader is led through the Old Testament, day by day for a whole year, in order to “see the beauty of Christ in fresh new ways.” 

Only in recent years,” says Guthrie, “have I begun to understand that the Bible is one story of God’s accomplishing redemption through Christ. Honestly, writing this book was my way of re-orienting the way I have found instruction and hope in the Old Testament. I worked my way through the Old Testament asking how each passage pictured Christ’s person or work or pointed to a need that only he would meet.”

Here are 10 sample pages (pdf).

I’m most excited about this: Nancy Guthrie is also working on 5 books introducing redemptive history to women’s Bible study, starting with The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis that comes out at the end of July.

You can hear her discuss this planned series of studies in today’s The Connected Kingdom podcast.

Two Words That Change Everything
David Kjos has a mini-review of May’s featured book from Cruciform Press, “But God…” The Two Words at the Heart of the Gospel by Casey Lute. 

Theological Term of the Week

non-lordship salvation
The doctrinal position that what is necessary for salvation is faith (defined primarily as being convinced of the facts of the gospel) and an appeal to Jesus for salvation at some point of time in one’s life, and that repentance (defined as turning from sin) is not necessary for salvation; also called easy-believism or free grace theology.

• Scripture used by proponents of non-lordship salvation as evidence for their position: 

  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31 ESV).

  And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…. (Romans 4:5 ESV)

• I can’t find a statement of non-lorship salvation in any historic church document, but here’s an argument for it found in Easy-Believism Defended by Pastor Steven L. Anderson:

  In order for verses like John 3:16, John 5:24, Acts 16:31, Romans 4:5, Romans 10:13-14, and others which declare that anyone who believes on Jesus Christ (i.e. puts their faith in him for salvation) shall be saved to be true, God must save a person who is unwilling to turn from sin but believes on Jesus Christ.  If not then God is a liar.

• From A 15-Year Perspective on the Lordship Controversy by John MacArthur: 

  The doctrine of grace … is profoundly affected by no-lordship teaching. Defenders of the no-lordship gospel often refer to their unique teachings as “Grace Theology” and their movement as “the Grace Movement.” They are convinced that only their system preserves the gospel’s message of grace. That is precisely why they insist every opposing opinion is a kind of works-salvation.

  But they are working with an unbiblical notion of “grace.” Grace is not a liberal clemency or a passive indulgence that simply tolerates and coexists with sin. Divine grace doesn’t guarantee heaven in the afterlife while merely overlooking the evils of this life. Authentic grace is the undeserved favor of God toward sinners, delivering them from the power as well as the penalty of sin (Romans 6:14). Grace is dynamic, “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:1)

Learn more:

1. Monergism.com: What Is Easy Believism?
2. Sam Waldron: Easy Believism
3. GotQuestions.org: What is easy believism?
4. Theologue.org: Lordship Salvation Controversy (Recommended especially for the comparison chart at the end.)
5. John MacArthur: A 15-Year Perspective on the Lordship Controversy

Related terms:

• faith alone
• lordship salvation
• repentance
• Sandemanianism
• saving faith

Filed under Defective Theology.

Do you have a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.