Easy Believism? Free Grace vs Lordship Salvation - John MacArthur vs Bob Wilkin

In this video I allow experts on both sides to present their views then I give my thoughts at the end.

For more check out my podcast on Spotify titled "Testing the Spirits"

Tags cheap grace
Steve Lawson
Chuck Swindoll
Reformed Theology
Mike Winger
Paul Washer
Charles Stanley
Charles Ryrie

[Pastor_Grant]

We all seem to agree that salvation is by faith alone, so this appears to be more of a debate about sanctification and what it means to be a true convert. James 2:19 is clear, someone who only says they beleive....James implies that is not enough since even the demons believe and tremble. James goes on to say that faith without works is dead, therefore true saving faith will produce works / fruit as Jesus spoke about in the parable of the Sower. In Scripture I see a couple marks of a true believer. Along with their testimony to believe the gospel there is # 1 going to be some change & growth in the person's life and # 2 a true believer will persevere in the faith and continue to believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

[TheElizabethashby]

WHEN I BELIEVED I WAS SAVED AND THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED ME WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND MY MIND WAS CHANGED

[henrybass]

Many people claim it!
Only the"Born Again"have it!

[SSNBN]

James is writing to Believers only, so his comments have absolutely nothing to do with salvation; once sealed with the Father’s holy Spirit through Christ, that person can never ever be lost. One's faith without works is dead as being a witness to the lost – UNbelievers. Even demons believe in the one God, and fear His mighty Power, but still they don't do any good works. But Jesus didn't die for them, they have nothing but God's Wrath waiting, so our reverence for God after having received this amazing free gift of salvation, and avoiding the Second Death, should motivate us all the more to walk in the Spirit, and study Scripture daily.

[Outrider]

People should read the book “The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel” by Lutheran theologian C.F.W. Walther. It deals well with both sides of this issue

[ronaldjohnson]

How one sees Jesus determines one's salvation. Many faiths see Jesus as many things. Some declare Jesus as a prophet or some may see Jesus as the brother of Lucifer, etc. But in Matthew I believe these verses are important to determine the above topic... Mat 16:15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 
Mat 16:16  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

[Humblestudent]

When we come to God by the grace of God through faith he makes us alive spiritually who were once dead in trespasses and sin. God delivers us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of his son. That's just the beginning our conversion our Ephesians2:8 salvation event. Everyone who has been converted has this salvation event in their past and cannot lose an event. When Jesus returns judgement our resurrection, that's also a salvation event and hasn't happened yet it's in our future our final salvation event. That's why it not only matters if we believe remain faithful to Christ. It also matters how we live our walk our righteousness now in this lifetime. Has nothing to do with keeping Torah laws or working for anything. After our conversion salvation event we abide in the doctrine of Christ...and this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his son. He who has the son has life, he who does not have the son of God does not have life....whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the father and the son....eternal life is in Christ not in ourselves. As long as we abide in the doctrine of Christ we have life in Christ now. When Jesus returns judgement our resurrection, that's when we are resurrected unto life and have life in ourselves like Christ....for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order Christ the firstfruits afterwards those who are Christ at his coming....and as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for him he will appear a second time, apart from sin, for can only see the beginning our conversion salvation event but cannot see the end when Christ returns judgement our final salvation event. Jesus said everyone in his kingdom now will not enter the kingdom of God in the end....the son of man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears to hear let him is an event like your birthday not a possession and eternal life is a possession that we actually receive when we are resurrected unto life when Christ returns....marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all who are in the Graves will hear his voice and come forth those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of

[Sgomes-isor]

I think both views are extreme and the truth is somewhere in the middle. Ill admit i lean towards free grace after reading the gospel according to Jesus.

[JohnSmith-fwjp]

I am not “Free Grace”, but I think James 2:19 is the most misinterpreted verse in the whole Bible (even more so than James 2:24), and this misinterpretation obscures the doctrine of faith. James 2:19 is NOT saying that only believing in the Gospel of Christ is insufficient to be saved; he is just saying that having correct theology does not save a person or constitute proper biblical faith. Before he states “The demons also believe”, he states what it is that the demons believe (It’s not in Jesus or His Gospel!); the demons believe “there is one God”. Notice that James doesn’t even say that the demons believe “in” God; he just states a fact they believe ABOUT God, which I think is his point: True, saving faith is belief/trust IN Jesus, not mere knowledge about Him. This is somewhat speculative, but I think that the people James wrote the letter to thought that salvific faith/believing just amounts to acknowledging facts about the nature of God, thus confusing knowledge for faith. Finally, to say that believing in Jesus is not enough goes against countless biblical promises of salvation to whoever believes in Jesus. Before anyone accuses me of being “Free Grace”, let me just say that I believe that salvation will change the heart and actions of every believer.

[Ryan-]

Jesus said “Take up your Cross and follow me and whoever does not cannot be my disciple”

Jesus said “ To count the cost”
Jesus said “ If you don’t renounce your self you cannot be His disciple”

-Luke 14:25-33

Jesus said the narrow path that leads to life is hard and not many find it. If it were just believe and continue your life of non submission to Gods word, than what is so hard about that?

1John states that “if we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”

A true Christian makes a practice of walking in the light and keeping with repentance. He practices righteousness and does not shun the Lords commandments..

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (1 John 3

We are saved by grace through faith not by works (eph 2)

But what is grace? Grace is doing something in your life, grace is changing you, it is active and it is conforming us to the image of Christ through sanctification.

Remember, The apostle John said Gods commandments are not burdensome to the child of God.

If 2 Corinthians 5:17 is true, then our lives should be changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we be a new creation without the gospel having any effect on our lives?

Our nature has been changed and our new disposition is to follow Christ. though we fail, though we are so weak and feeble, though we sin, we push on and aim for the reward set before us.

Jesus must be Lord and Savior. Not to earn salvation, but His grace will prove our salvation as we continue on the narrow path. Trusting Him to bring us safely in to His kingdom.

[ErnieHarry]

John MacArthur sounds like a man who is trusting in Jesus and himself for his salvation.

[RonaldFrolich]

Bob is out to lunch. His argument is full of holes. Lots of them along with his assumptions.

[kencondron]

mc arthur never read acts 16:31, so the bible never says believe wow

[frankc-kq]

Arminianism 😂
Heresy back then and today