Before and shortly after God saved me in March 2009, most of the websites I followed were primarily concerned with biblical prophecy. Naturally, most of these sites are dispensational and unfortunately have an unbiblical view on the doctrine of salvation (known as soteriology). Of course, these sites have a very unfavorable view (at best) of Calvinism, and they detest the doctrine of lordship salvation.
Now, to be clear, I am a dispensationalist and Calvinist (of the Steven Lawson and John MacArthur type), so being a dispensationalist does not equate to rejecting lordship salvation or Calvinism (for you reformed saints who may think otherwise). In any case, one such website popular among online dispensationalists is Grace Thru Faith run by Jack Kelley. His website is also very popular at the Rapture Ready message board, where I used to be a moderator in my infant days (full disclosure here, save the tomatoes please).
Having not thought much about Kelley’s website for some time since I grew out of these particular circles, I was quickly reminded of it when reading through chapter 10 of Pyromaniac Dan Phillips’ The World-Tilting Gospel. I remembered a few of the articles I had read years ago from Kelley and his destructive teaching of easy-believism. Ultimately, Kelley is of the type who believes saving faith does not result in a changed life. After reading Dan’s book last night, I think it’s pretty clear Jack Kelley might be called a “Gutless Gracer.”
The following are two short articles from Kelley and a follow-up response taken from chapter 10 of The World-Tilting Gospel. I post this article not as an attack on Jack Kelley (or Rapture Ready for that matter), but as a warning to those who follow him that he is not teaching a biblical view of saving faith. Dan’s book jarred my memory of Kelley’s aberrant teachings, and I thought it appropriate to warn those who may follow or come across my blog who also frequent and trust Kelley’s website. If this is you and you have any questions about this topic, please post your comments below or feel free to contact me.
Jack Kelley posts:
Q. Can you please explain lordship salvation and whether you feel it is a valid doctrine? If I understand it correctly and it is valid, it pretty much eliminates any “deathbed conversions.”
A. In effect, Lordship Salvation holds that just believing that Jesus died for your sins isn’t enough. In addition to making Him your Savior, you also have to make Him Lord of your life. This is demonstrated by the degree to which your actions in this world demonstrate an obedience to Biblical instructions on Christian living.
This view contradicts the clear teachings of Jesus on the sole requirement for salvation, belief, and in essence turns Paul’s encouragement to live a victorious Christian life into another list of commandments to be obeyed. And you’re right, under this view deathbed conversions would be impossible.
What If We Die Before Coming Back?
Q. I recently read your article on Hebrews, Part 4, and a question came to my mind. As in the case of the prodigal son, the son came back to the Father, but what if the son had died before he came back to his father? What if a Christian who left his faith died before he returned to his faith? Would he go to heaven or to hell?
A. The whole point of eternal security is that once you’re saved you’re always saved. You don’t give it up and then take it back. The prodigal left his father’s house but he never stopped being his father’s son. Jesus said that he would never lose even one of those that are given to Him. (John 6:39) We’re saved because of what we believe not because of how we behave, so regardless of our behavior, once we’re His we’re always His.
From pages 196-198, 204 of The World Tilting Gospel
Gutless Gracers affirm this truth [sola gratia], but they soon go wrong. Their position then isolates “grace alone” and builds on it as if it were the only truth, while redefining key words harmfully. For instance, advocates insist that it is out-of-place to call sinners to repent of their sins. Non-Christians can’t repent, it is said, and they needn’t repent. Calling sinners to repent is like asking them to earn salvation by a good work. In fact, some proponents say that repentance was a Jewish work, appropriate for Israel alone. Gentiles should not even be called to repentance, ever.
What is needed instead (they say) is the preaching of Jesus as God, telling people to believe that Jesus died for their sins, telling them to pray a prayer to ask God for the gift of eternal life. In fact, when a Gentile is called on to believe in Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), it is not a summons to submit to His lordship and authority. Rather, since “Lord” was used in place of God’s name “Yahweh” in the Greek translation of the OT, this is a call to believe that Jesus is God. When a person comes round to the opinion that Jesus is God, and just asks for eternal life in a prayer, he is saved. Belief in Jesus as God is mandatory. Belief in Him as Lord is optional. Thus, Christ’s person and work are fragmented.
Now that he is saved, Gutless Gracers teach, his life is all grace (as they define “grace”). He is neither impelled nor compelled to obey, to turn from evil works, or to do righteous works. He may do those things, it is preferable – but it isn’t any kind of necessity. Some of them say that, after he asks Jesus to give him eternal life, he could then become a Christian atheist, a Christian Buddhist, a Christian anything. It doesn’t matter (to them). They would assure an atheistic ex-Christian that he is still saved and still going to heaven.
To introduce works and obedience as necessary outgrowths of conversion is to deny grace, Gutless Gracers tell us. To call a convert to confess his sins and ask forgiveness is to deny grace. Holiness is good, but it will just happen. Or not! It’s all good. Grace covers everything. Don’t worry. Be happy…
…Gutless Gracers deny that growth in holiness, obedience to the commands of the Lord Jesus, turning away from sin are necessary fruits of salvation. A man can keep living like hell and still be going to heaven. How can they take what seems like such a mad position? They do it in the name of keeping “works” out of “salvation by grace.” Yet as we’ve already seen, this is a chaotic category-confusion, as nobody is arguing that one must work to be saved. Rather, one will work because he has been saved.
The result of Gutless Gracers’ violent distortion of Scripture is disastrous. I am absolutely convinced it has sent many precious souls to hell, clinging to a false and delusive hope. It has patted them on their unconverted, unbelieving, unrepentant, unregenerate heads, and assured them that a quick prayer or a passing thought purchased their eternal fire insurance.
And it’s a lie. While the Bible most emphatically does teach that we are saved through faith, it never says that we are saved through claiming to have faith. And, here’s the kicker: Biblical faith always produces submission to the lordship of Christ…
…Grace is God’s dynamic, free, flowing gift of Himself that delivers us from the guilt and domain of sin (justification), and enables us to live lives that please Him (progressive sanctification). After we become recipients of justifying grace, we become participants in sanctifying grace. If the latter is not happening, then the former never happened.
“Gutless” is the last thing God’s real grace is.
Recommended Reading:
What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation?
How Evangelism Has Opened My Eyes
airō 
bearkiller777
March 20, 2012
Ya Brother we must be careful whom we listen to to be sure if they are teaching Biblical doctrine. We must compare it to Scripture (Sola Scriptura) and test and discern if it is teaching Biblical Doctrine.
God Bless Bro
Justin Edwards
March 21, 2012
Exactly and amen, brother.
Gary
March 20, 2012
It sounds like Mr. Kelley is saying that the only mandatory commandment of Jesus is “believe”, and all others are optional. That makes no sense.
On what basis can we carry out biblical church discipline, for example, if Jesus’ commands are optional? Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments, and one of His commandments (Matthew 18) to His church is to publicly discipline a brother in unrepentant sin. How can we do this if Jesus’ “non-salvation” commands are optional? Oh, wait; I guess church discipline is optional, too. We see the pitiful fruit of that all over the place in America.
And speaking of fruit, Jesus said we will know false prophets by their fruit. But if anyone who says they believe in Jesus can also behave like a false prophet, how are we to know (according to Mr. Kelley’s statements)?
God created us in Christ Jesus for good works. That sounds like it is our purpose.
Justin Edwards
March 21, 2012
Excellent points, Gary. There could be no concept church discipline in this theology, especially the final steps of discipline. Who would we be to judge one as unrepentant and potentially a false convert?
Ephesians 2:10 is a death blow to easy-believism.
Pastor Jonathan Kammerer
March 20, 2012
Yes, salvation is not simply walking an aisle to claim a fire insurance policy or Jesus would have made that clear. I know of some congregations deceived and headed for hell.
Salvation is a change of heart.
Some say – WORKS + Nothing = SALVATION
Others say Faith + Nothing = SALVATION
Others Faith + Works = SALVATION
By faith I mean Ephesians 2:8+9 “For by Grace you are saved through Faith… not of Works
By Works I mean bearing Fruit- (John 15) … tied into obedience including the LAW.
John 14:23 – 24
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
THE ANSWER THEN is :
Faith + Nothing = SALVATION + Works (FRUIT)
Out of a personal relationship we fall into obedience. The problem is there must be a heart change. Whether in the church or among people, for unity there must be first loving God with all our heart soul and mind and when we don’t … division….all forms of selfishness and lawlessness or even legalism unfulfilled.
Sometimes Fruit is not evident to man as in a death bed confession. Remember the thief on the cross…
I have prayed everyday for the past year or so that I would see others as God sees them. This is a rough road to travel. BUT…
Look at the woman caught in adultery (John 8). Jesus had a different view. He saw a woman in great need. He looked into her heart and changed the point of view of her accusers. He did say GO AND SIN NO MORE!
Do we see each person and look at their heart need? Do we point others to Him? Do we accuse and gossip or do we love in spite of the presence of sin? Our message ought to be of God’s love with His truth and His laws of obedience. Balance – love with law – maintaining God’s standards – truth – not overlooking sin… I guess for me the final word is GRACE!
Justin Edwards
March 21, 2012
I think I agree Pastor, depending on your use of the Law. To what Law are you referring?
Pastor Jonathan
March 21, 2012
Good question. God’s moral law is the standard which sets the mark to reveal our sinfulness. The Holy Spirit works in our lives as we mature in Christ and reveals to us our sinful nature. I am not a legalist, I would best say a Biblicist. The problem arises when we try to put everything in black and white – I mean the gray areas (moving towards legalism). I have always found as a person seeks God with all his heart soul and mind God’s Spirit leads and convicts and we find Lordship in obedience to God!. We must preach that sin in every form is sin and unacceptable to God. My heart cries as I see congregations moving away from anything that convicts or makes them feel bad, not preaching God’s written word. Where is the Holy Spirit? I have a Pastor friend who says that “if the Holy Spirit were removed from the church today for 90% of the churches it would be business as usual”. I tend to agree… I see the pendulum has moved and because there is a visible lack of evidence of God in “believers” lives (ie no evidence of growth or the indwelling Spirit) the Lordship movement has begun as a response.
Justin Edwards
March 22, 2012
Thanks for clarifying, Pastor. I agree.
Matt
March 20, 2012
And the thief on the cross was a deathbed conversion, correct?
Justin Edwards
March 21, 2012
Yes Matt, and shows the foolishness in the straw man arguments put up by easy-believists. Let’s take a quick examination at that account as found in Luke 23:39-42:
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
What do we see here?
1) Verse 40: Fear of the Lord (the beginning of wisdom); recognition of condemnation under the Law of God
2) Verse 41: Recognition of justice deserved for their crimes committed against God; recognition of the sinless, blameless Lamb of God, the Messiah of Israel who came to save His people from their sins
3) Verse 42: Recognition of the King and the kingdom, a pleading for mercy to the One who alone had the power as Lord to forgive the thief his sins.
The thief of the cross is hardly an argument for the easy-believists (much less a straw man), but a strong apologetic for lordship salvation.
Praise the Lord for His grace in deathbed conversions, even for a thief on a cross!
pam
March 21, 2012
My suggestion for this thought is to read J.C. Ryles’ article called Christ’s Greatest Trophy. It is in his book Holiness.
The dying man saw no power exhibited by Christ to save him. Christ on the cross had no sceptre, no visible kingdom, no might, etc. But the dying man bellieved and looked forward to Christ’s Kingdom. The Spirit was at work. The man acknowledged his ungodliness and the justice of his punishment. He makes no attempt to justify himself. He called Jesus Lord and declared his belief that Jesus was able to give him eternal life. He declared that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve to hang on a cross. Saw Him as his saviour even though the evidence looked otherwise. So the thief showed belief and repentance.
Salvation is of the Lord and the evidence, or fruit of it,is faith. Remember , the other thief died in his sins after hearing all of this.
Salvation is a work of the Spirit on the elect. Remember, the Scriptures say that no one chooses God. If He left everyone to their own devices, we would get what we deserve, eternal damnation. But in His mercy He decided to save some and this thief on the cross was an example of this.
Needless, to say, claiming to be saved without evidence of the fruits of the Spirit is impossible. If the Spirit lives in you, even for an hour, the fact that He does, will produce faith, not a false conversion. The thief was a finished work of the Holy Spirit. He exhibited faith,prayer, humility, brotherly love which are evidences of the reality of his repentance. So not a penitent in name only, but in deed and truth.
Sooo…… hope this helps.
pam
Jess
March 22, 2012
Pam: I read twice where you state that “the Scriptures say that none choose God.” Just wondering if you could give the reference for that, so I can look it up? Thanks!
Justin Edwards
March 22, 2012
Hi Jess, I’m sure Pam won’t mind me answering, but Romans 3:10-12, Psalm 14:1-3, and Psalm 53:1-3. John 6:44 would also answer the question.
truthunites
March 21, 2012
This is quite a good article. Lutherans sometimes seem like they’re susceptible to being “gutless gracers” as well.
p
March 21, 2012
So will you explain your thoughts on rapture ready? I am a fan of the BB. I will admit I first heard of calvinism and LS through them, obviously I came away with an unfavorable opinion of it from there. But I have to say I don’t see easy believism there. But I may have missed it. What about christians who have walked away? I accepted Jesus when I was 5. during my high school years I walked away from God and did many horrible things, by his mercy he brought me back but I was away a long time. If I had died, would I have gone to hell?
pam
March 22, 2012
p, true born from above believers, cannot walk away. When we are born from above we are indwelt by the Spirit. He is the seal of our redemption. He does not come and go. People profess to be believers but that does not mean they are. The evidence is faith. It is the fruit of a changed heart. Faith is believing that the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, those that He and the Father determined to save from before the foundation of the world. He died on the cross and suffered the wrath of God, which we that believe should have suffered, and rose from the dead(the only one who has and that is our hope) Then, He seals us with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that He has saved us. We still sin and when we do, 1John , says we have an advocate with the Father. Should we sin because of that? As the Apostle Paul said, absolutely not!!! Why would you want to??All come into the world spiritually dead in their sins and transgressions and deserve hell. But God in His mercy decided to save some. He chose who they would be, not according to what they would do but according to His mercy. Salvation is of the Lord. The Scriptures say that none choose God. So if none choose then Jesus would have died for nothing. But precious blood would not be spilled to be of no avail. He saved them completely, not theoretically. God was not in heaven wringing His hands, hoping that someone would choose. You think you choose but you only chose because God chose you first. Whew!!
As far as the scenerio that you have proposed, only God knows but the good news is, you DIDN’T! Those of us who believe, can look back and see that we all deserved hell but for the Grace and Mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Check out the salvationbygrace website with Pastor Jim McClarty. He is a really good teacher. Click on listen and go to the Book of John. It is so awesome.
Hope this helps……..
pam
Justin Edwards
March 22, 2012
p, Pam’s comment is packed full of truth and I also recommend to you Pastor Jim. Thanks, Pam!
pam
March 22, 2012
And thank you, Justin! God bless you and all you do.
pam
Justin Edwards
March 22, 2012
p, my thoughts on RR is that it is a good site if one desires to keep up with the happenings of the world as they relate to biblical prophecy, but they are very confused about the doctrine of salvation and the sovereignty of God – and for that reason I would not recommend the site to anyone because it causes confusion and is dangerous. I trust many are my brothers and sisters, but there is a lot of hatred there for “lordship salvation” and biblical Calvinism. This is mostly because they do not understand the doctrines and, unfortunately, use their ignorance to form straw men and other fallacious arguments. Their mischaracterizations is what led me to part ways after a long dialogue to work through them. Moreover, they do not see the inconsistency of repudiating LS while at the same time accepting its adherents as brothers and sisters. To them, LS is another gospel, and if that is the case, those who adhere to the doctrine are anathema (damned). In their ignorance, however, they are rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I trust (as Spurgeon might say) their hearts are a good deal better than their heads.
Easy-believism comes in different molds, but suffice it to say redefining repentance as a “change of mind about who God is”, relegating salvation to a prayer and asking Jesus into your heart (and if you did that once and you “truly meant it” then you are forever saved), making distinctions between believers and disciples as if their is a second-tier Christianity, and teaching that justification does not always necessitate sanctification – these are all basic teachings of easy-believism. I think you will find my series on LS very beneficial to you.
I cannot comment on your experience, but mine was similar in that I was “saved and baptized” when I was 8 years old. I grew up in Christian school, went to church, and memorized plenty of Scripture. Through high school, college, and my late twenties, I loved the world and was involved in all kind of wickedness. Looking back, there was no way I was saved. When God saved me 3 years ago, it was clear He made me a new creation and I began to hunger and thirst for Him, and He began to mold me and conform me to Christ. It is black and white who I was and who I am now. I do believe if I had died then I would be in hell today. But praise God for His amazing grace!
The important thing is how is your life is now. What changed about you when you believe God brought you back? Has He continued to work in you since then?
Pastor Jonathan
March 21, 2012
p – concerning your salvation I see only that God looks at your heart and knows you and your decision. That is the simple answer.
If you are of Calvinist persuasion and you walk away and die the common answer is you never really were a christian and have perished.
If you are of the Wesleyian persuasion you would have lost your salvation and have perished.
No man can know your heart – only God! soo taking into election and predestination and free will I believe the only answer is to preach repentance and holiness allowing for God’s Grace in our lives.
I pray every day that God would take my very life before I would dishonor His Name in any way!
p
March 22, 2012
Well Justin thanks for the reply. I did read through the LS series and I liked it. I have much more studying and praying to do. I have many questions and maybe I could just e-mail you I don’t want to take this thread in another direction of the post.
Justin Edwards
March 22, 2012
No worries, p – please feel free to email me anytime. If you haven’t had a chance in the meantime, check out one of my favorite sermons from Steven Lawson: http://media.resolved.org/2007/S07_Steve_Lawson_-_It_Will_Cost_You_Everything.mp3
Janice
March 29, 2012
Justin,
I was intrigued by the fact that you were a mod on the RR board.
I used to frequent the RR board but haven’t in over a year. I found them to be very dogmatic in their views, no other would be tolerated. If a person presented a different view to what they believed then that person was “shouted down” and demeaned in what I considered an unchristian like manner. They finally “drove” me away when I questioned a stance and was personally contacted by one of the mods who basically said maybe the board wasn’t a place I should be visiting.