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.”
As I understand it, lordship salvation holds that just asking Jesus to be your Savior isn’t enough to save you. You also have to agree to make Him Lord of your life.
This is demonstrated by whether your actions in this world give evidence of your obedience to Biblical instructions on Christian living. Some go so far as to say that if there are no observable changes, then there has been no salvation.
This view contradicts the clear Biblical teachings that the sole requirement for salvation is the belief that Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
I don’t think anyone would disagree that having the Holy Spirit come to dwell in our heart will cause changes in our life. But what changes occur, and when, are between each believer and the Holy Spirit and don’t concern anyone else.
Jesus paid the ultimate price, His life, to make salvation free for the asking (Matt. 7:7-8). But ever since He did, mankind has been coming up with additional conditions, all to the effect of trying to make it more expensive.
Paul said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).