Just Trusting Jesus as Your Savior is Rejecting Him (Looking at the Message of the Apostles in Acts)

As unbelievable as it sounds, the preachers who love to talk about free grace and chiefly use the Apostle Paul’s words for that end, don’t regard Paul’s own Gospel preaching. They don’t note the obvious reality that Paul and the other faithful people in the Bible did not regard the free grace of God as unconditional grace nor did they teach the things which those who call themselves free grace preachers teach . These preachers also do not regard the Apostle Paul’s own example. They will say “All you have to do is trust Jesus as your Savior”- yet Paul and the other faithful people in the Bible neither lived nor taught accordingly with that foolishness. They believed that faith must work in line with the Lord’s authority. Like James and the other writers of the New Testament, Paul did not believe in “justification by faith alone.” Adding “alone” to justification by faith is a sneaky addition to God’s Word.

Acts 9:1-6: “And Saul (aka Paul), yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

Paul understood immediately here that he had to submit to Jesus’authority and walk accordingly in order to be in His grace. This wasn’t trying to atone for his sin nor paying some other price to earn his salvation. This was about getting in line with the true God whom he had gone astray from and cooperating with the very purpose of the redemption which Jesus purchased by His blood on the cross. Many who preach in Jesus’ name give the impression that Paul could have just accepted Him as his savior and went right back to persecuting Christians. And really, is there a difference in principle between that and continuing in other sins? No.

The free grace preachers love to quote 1 Timothy 1:15- yet it teaches the very opposite of what they teach while rebuking them for not heeding Paul’s own example concerning how to be a true recipient of God’s grace.

1 Timothy 1:14-15: “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Chief here is “protos” in the Greek text. You should know the word prototype. Paul is not telling Timothy that he is presently living in sin. Paul rather regarded himself as the prototype of who needed God’s grace in Christ as well as the prototype of one not receiving that grace in vain. Paul was not in a different category of sinner than other people. The grace which he obtained in Christ Jesus was not a different type of grace than what the common person who repents and enters the narrow way to life in Christ obtains. The claims of those who say Paul remained a sinner after his conversion to Christ are lies.

Others give the impression that Paul’s faithful life afterward was really just a by-product of a real conversion rather than the result of striving or agonizing by faith to live such a life. These preachers are Calvinists or at least influenced by Calvinism. They also teach a form of unconditional security and are no better than the free grace preachers who say “just trust Jesus as your Savior.”

The Apostles of Christ didn’t tell people “you just need to trust Jesus as your Savior.” They also did not tell believers in Him “you can never end up lost.” They rather preached Jesus’death on the cross as the atonement price which He paid for sinners whereby people can forsake their sins and come under His Lordship in order to obtain His grace in that context. They upheld the true God’s authority in their message. That message offers a proper and valid solution to the two cosmic problems guilty mankind has with Him.

One) The problem of a debt of sin which no one has the power to pay off or to make sufficient atonement for.

Two) The problem of enmity with God’s law (and by extension, His throne). This in itself makes one a child of the devil and a fitting resident of hell. Adam and Eve found out the hard way that those who will not be subject to what the Lord commands cannot have fellowship with Him. A real, valid salvation in Christ must solve both of these problems. Jesus’ atonement and High Priesthood in heaven now are necessary ingredients for this. Man forsaking sin and diligently obeying Jesus’ Word by faith in hope of the mercy offered in Him is also necessary.

Back now to the Book of Acts.

Acts 2:32-40: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

Peter preached Jesus as the resurrected Messiah whom all are bound to worship and to follow in His holy ways. The people understood that being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins means submitting to His authority as the children of Israel were bound to obey Moses in following him through the Red Sea out of Egypt. Jesus will crush the enemies of His Lordship under His feet. That is absolutely clear. Peter told the people to save themselves, not because they were expected to atone for their sins or just try to be better people, but because we are expected to repent and come under Jesus’ authority in order to be saved from God’s wrath on this guilty, evil world. Christian baptism is intended to be a testimony of submission to Jesus’ supreme authority as well as an initial expression thereof (though it’s usually not performed in that context- infant baptisms couldn’t possibly be done in that context). The people who received the Gospel when they heard Peter understood they were obligated to become obedient disciples of Jesus and just accepting Him as their Savior would yet leave them in their sins. This is seen by the following verses.

Acts 2:41-42: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

It has already been shown from Acts chapter 9 how Paul submitted to Jesus’ Lordship and that he knew he had to do things afterwards to walk in line therewith. Look at these examples also from later in Acts 9 of people who received Jesus as He ought to be received.

Acts 9:32-35: “And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.”

And then, after another great work which was done through Peter, we read in Acts 9:42: “And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.”

And to think that many popular preachers blatantly deny Lordship salvation in Christ.

It is even more concerning though that those are just the tip of the iceberg. The ones who oppose Lordship salvation in more subtle ways (through subtle sin and twisting what it means to obey Jesus) are actually much more dangerous.

2 Peter 2:1-3: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Acts 11:19-24: “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spoke unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

Potentially effective evangelism for the kingdom of God involves navigating many obstacles and is often very laborious. It is not as simple as memorizing a quick presentation and getting people to listen to it nor could it be successful because of an alleged quick transaction. The people who go around giving out change or dollar bills saying “you just need to trust Jesus as your Savior by receiving His free gift of salvation like you just received this dollar bill out of my hand” do not rebuke sin like they ought to nor do they really strike at anyone’s enmity towards the true God. Real evangelism is important- but this easy-believe-ism, lawless, unconditional security stuff is way worse than no evangelism at all and it makes Biblical evangelism way harder for those who seek to do it faithfully. People who preach this cheap, unconditional slop and/or think they can wrap things up for people for all eternity by getting them to repeat a sinner’s prayer will mock people who seek to do evangelism right by talking about the multitudes they have witnessed to and all the people they claim to have “led to Christ.” Yet Judas led a multitude to Jesus. It is not hard to lead people to Jesus when you are denying His Lordship and betraying Him. These evangelists’ “big numbers” are actually proof that they are betraying Him by enabling people in their sin and giving them a false hope of heaven- unless they can point to corresponding acts fitting for repentance (and they surely can’t- they don’t even tell people these are necessary). These evangelists are also dealing deceitfully with the people they preach to. They give those who cooperate with their deceit a false hope in Christ. It is a crime against heaven. They are truly anti-John the Baptists who ensure that those who heed them will not be saved.

Acts 13:37-39: “But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

It is seen here again how the Apostle Paul preached forgiveness through Jesus Christ in the context of submission to Him as the Risen Lord. The sacrifices in the Law of Moses in themselves could not take away sin. They pointed to the sacrifice which Jesus would make on the cross.

Continuing in Acts 13:40-43: “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”

Religious proselytes here= Gentile converts to Judaism who are now turning to Jesus Christ alongside other Jews. Paul told these new believers in Jesus to continue in the grace of God. This is utterly pointless instruction if they are unconditionally secure anyways. Not even believing a false gospel afterwards could take anyone out of God’s grace if all you have to do to be saved is just trust Jesus as your Savior. He requires a walk by faith in submission to Him which causes one to live worthy of His kingdom. This inevitably involves much tribulation and is something which even those who truly believe in Him can fall away from. This will be further proven in the following verses.

Acts 14:8-23: “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Those who tell people to trust Jesus as their Savior would never tell anyone that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. They also won’t tell anyone to turn from their literal or figurative idols unto the living God like the Apostles. And even if they were to do so, they’d be contradicting their “just trust Jesus as your Savior message.” They are utterly opposed to the real Jesus and they are among His greatest enemies who should expect to be among those who suffer the most when His wrath is displayed on His enemies.

Those who really repent of their sins and receive a new birth in Christ need to walk by faith in cooperation with His grace. His grace is not a license to sin; it rather empowers those who cooperate therewith to walk in the right ways of the Lord. Born-again Christians still need to cooperate with that grace until the end. Even after a genuine conversion and new birth in Christ, Paul feared being a castaway who would be rejected in the end for not disciplining himself to be faithful.

1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

“Castaway” in 1 Corinthians 9:27 is adokimos in the Greek text (adokimos means not approved; unfitting- the obvious implication is rejection).

If a true believer in Christ can never fall away, then nothing they come to do or to believe could cause them to fall away. There would be no need to tell them that they could never fall away. If it were true, it wouldn’t happen even if they believed it could. Many preachers work extremely hard to convince people that it is impossible for them to end up lost. I think it’s obvious that a big reason they do this is to silence their own guilty conscience and convince themselves that all is well with their soul when that is not so.

The “just trust Jesus as your Savior” people who deride Lordship salvation also love to quote Acts 16:31 to try to claim that believing in Jesus is the easiest and simplest thing ever. Yet Acts 16:31 proves that the concept of Lordship salvation is indeed true.

Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

This was said in response to the question in the previous verse from the Philippian jailer: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Deceitful evangelists will take this and say “look, it’s so simple and easy.” They conveniently gloss over that phrase “the Lord” and overlook the obvious that believing in Jesus as the Lord involves repentance from sin, righteous restitution, receiving instruction from the Bible in subjection to Jesus’ Lordship (obviously), and taking up one’s cross daily to be under discipline in that context. They also don’t mention that the Philippian jailer had a lot more explained to him after the initial response to his question.

Acts 1632-34: “And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”

The Philippian jailer evidently became a disciple of Jesus and commanded his household in the ways of the Lord.

Colossians 1:17-18: “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Now on to Acts 19:8-20: “And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

Saying “just trust Jesus as your Savior” opposes the need for real repentance and righteous acts of restitution like those spoken of here- as does the Ritualism of the liturgical churches (look it up) and the Monergism (look it up) taught in the Reformed/Calvinist churches.

Acts 20:16-25: “For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks (Gentiles), repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”

Note in the preceding passage that the Gospel of the grace of God is equated with the Gospel of the kingdom of God. It also proves that the same Gospel is offered to Jews and Gentiles. Those who are not faithfully preaching Jesus’ Lordship, along with the demands which are inherent in that, are not preaching His true grace and are betraying His kingdom. They are rather preaching a counterfeit grace.

These final three passages from Acts are places in the Bible which the “just trust Jesus as your Savior” preachers also don’t want you to know about. They prove that the conclusions which these preachers parrot to the world from passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, and other statements in Paul’s epistles, are wrong conclusions which twist and misrepresent Paul’s actual intentions.

Acts 24:24-25 (note that Felix is the Roman Governor; Paul testified before him after he was wrongly arrested): “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

The “just trust Jesus as your Savior” people have no more regard for the things Paul reasoned with Felix about than Felix himself did.

Acts 26:19-21 (Paul is now testifying before King Agrippa here): “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for (or, fitting for) repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.”

Now people are risking being caught and maybe killed (but more likely kicked out and slandered) for echoing what Paul preached in Christian churches as well as in Jewish synagogues. Quoting the preceding verses in many churches, and applying them to the hypocrisy and manifold sins evident in the congregation, will get a person in big trouble- if they don’t immediately back off somehow (such as by lying and telling the evildoers “you’re lucky Jesus is still your Savior.”) And many preachers do that (i.e. back off in such a manner after they have given a fitting rebuke).

Acts 28:30-31: “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

Let the “just trust Jesus as your Savior” preachers weep over what liars they have been and let everyone take heed.

Those who say to Jesus “Lord, Lord” which He will reject will not be rejected for thinking they needed to call Him Lord. They will be rejected for not actually living in accordance with what they called Him and rather living in sin/iniquity/lawlessness/unrighteousness.

Luke 13:23-27: “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”

Read the last two chapters of the Bible to see these things hammered home repeatedly as the Bible closes.

Revelation 21:7-8: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful (.i.e. cowardly in relation to doing right in God’s eyes), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:22-27: “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”