Arno C. Gaebelein (1861-1945) was a German-American pastor and Bible teacher. He was an early dispensationalist writer and the editor of the Our Hope magazine. He was also a close associate of C. I. Scofield, as the two of them would regularly speak at the Niagara Bible conferences. Gaebelein was also one of the associate editors of the Scofield Reference Bible. Both men were early proponents of what today is called Free Grace Theology, although it was not as developed then to the extent that it is today. But notice, even then, at the turn of the 20th century, what Gaebelein said in regards to those who preach a self-surrender for salvation. He said it is another gospel–that is, a different gospel! Though Gaebelein did not use the term “Lordship Salvation”—which became popular decades later—his critique of a works-based response to the Gospel directly aligns with the modern debate. For more information, reference his commentary on Matthew 13:44-52 about the parable of the treasure hidden in the field and the parable of the pearl of great price. Gaebelein’s comments are as follows (he even laments in a footnote how little the simple Gospel is known). Here is Dr. Gaebelein’s rebuke of what today has come to be known as Lordship Salvation:
“Gospel sermons, so-called, are preached, in which the sinner is exhorted to give up, to sell all, in order to become a Christian, to surrender the world and himself and then to find the pearl of great value [cf. Matthew 13:44-46]. But is this the Gospel? We answer, No! The sinner has no sacrifice to bring. All his trying to surrender himself or giving up the world can never secure for him eternal life or the grace of God. ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ was spoken by a self-righteous Pharisee, the young ruler, and the Lord answers him, who came to him with the law and as under the law, accordingly, and tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor and follow him. But this is not the gospel, but the law, which says, ‘Do and live.’ To preach the Gospel to sinners and tell them to do, to give up and to receive, is fundamentally wrong. The Gospel of grace does not ask of the sinner to sell all he has to receive the grace of God and eternal life, but the Gospel of grace offers to every sinner eternal life as God's gift, a free gift, in Christ Jesus. The Word of God, it is true, speaks of buying; but what kind of buying is it? ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price’ (Is. lv. [55]: 1, 2). It is buying without money and without price.
The giving up, the surrender, follows when a person is saved and has received the grace of God, but never before. We see that to teach, the man who finds the treasure is the sinner, and the sinner is to sell all to obtain the possession of Christ, or the merchantman is the sinner who obtains a pearl, eternal life, by giving up all, is wrong teaching,* The Lord never meant in these parables to describe the seeking and the finding of the sinner.”
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Gaebelein's footnote reads as follows: “*How strange that even the simple Gospel is so little known, and there is more and more the preaching of a Gospel, which is another [see Gal. 1:6-9]. A nauseating mixture of law and grace.”
Reference:
Arno C. Gaebelein, The Gospel of Matthew (New York: Our Hope Publication Office, 1910), Vol. I, pp. 296-297, italics his, brackets added.
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