--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the greatest errors in the church…" description: "\"One of the greatest errors in the church today is the artificial distinction we have created between accepting Christ as Savior and confessing Him as L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/vance-havner-1699_accepting_one-of-the-greatest-errors-in-the-church_2060345.jpg" --- # One of the greatest errors in the church today is the… ![“One of the greatest errors in the church today is the artificial distinction we have created between accepting Christ as Savior and confessing Him as Lord. We have made two experiences of it, but the New Testament makes them one.” quote by Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/vance-havner-1699_accepting_one-of-the-greatest-errors-in-the-church_2060345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/vance-havner-1699_accepting_one-of-the-greatest-errors-in-the-church_2060345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/vance-havner-1699_accepting_one-of-the-greatest-errors-in-the-church_2060345.jpg) > “One of the greatest errors in the church today is the artificial distinction we have created between accepting Christ as Savior and confessing Him as Lord. We have made two experiences of it, but the New Testament makes them one.” [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that separating belief in Christ as Savior from acknowledging Him as Lord creates a false division, whereas Scripture presents them as unified aspects of faith. **In simple terms:** Faith in Christ should be both saving and lordship. Key Takeaway Integrate belief and submission in practice. Themes faith theology unity Mood reflective serious Type theological explanatory When to use this quote - personal devotion - church worship - Bible study - spiritual formation Key Concepts Christology soteriology ecclesiology Questions to Reflect On - How does separating these concepts affect daily Christian life? - Can true discipleship exist without both? A Different Perspective Some traditions emphasize one aspect over the other, causing tension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-today/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Savior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savior/) [Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Just a reminder that God hasn't forgotten about you, just kneel down and build that precious relationship with God by talking to him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalyn/just-a-reminder-that-god-hasn-t-forgotten-about-you-just-kneel-down/) [Magdalyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalyn/) > [When God accepts a sinner, He is, in fact, only accepting Christ. He looks into the sinner's eyes, and He sees His own dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/when-god-accepts-a-sinner-he-is-in-fact-only-accepting-christ-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Tens of thousands, perhaps millions, have come into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ, and they have not been saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tens-of-thousands-perhaps-millions-have-come-into-some-kind-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think accepting Christ as your personal savior is the only way to have peace and real happiness in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-think-accepting-christ-as-your-personal-savior-is-the-only-way-to/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [Being a Christian means accepting Christ as your savior, your God. That's why you are called a 'Christian.' If you remove Christ, there's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/being-a-christian-means-accepting-christ-as-your-savior-your-god-that/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [The devil's not fighting churches today, he's joining churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-s-not-fighting-churches-today-he-s-joining-churches/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [For what constitutes a Christian is not; accepting the Christian's creed, but accepting Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a question of personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anderson/for-what-constitutes-a-christian-is-not-accepting-the-christian-s/) [Robert Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anderson/) > ['Accepting the Christ' is merely a shift in self-perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/accepting-the-christ-is-merely-a-shift-in-self-perception/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/how-tragic-that-we-in-this-dark-day-have-had-our-seeking-done-for-us/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [As the grace grows nearer my theology is growing strangely simple, and it begins and ends with Christ as the only Savior of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-benjamin-whipple/as-the-grace-grows-nearer-my-theology-is-growing-strangely-simple-and/) Henry Benjamin Whipple > [Believe in Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, the Son of God, who came to earth and walked the dusty roads of Palestine-the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/believe-in-jesus-christ-our-savior-and-our-redeemer-the-son-of-god/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [When I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my savior, and I asked him to forgive and to come into my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/when-i-put-my-faith-in-jesus-christ-as-my-savior-and-i-asked-him-to/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [I think people need to know that there's great peace and joy in knowing the Lord - the Lord Jesus Christ - as your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-faye-bakker/i-think-people-need-to-know-that-there-s-great-peace-and-joy-in/) [Tammy Faye Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-faye-bakker/) > [“Look, if you don’t believe that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world, that’s fine. That’s fine. No biggie. Go your way. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/look-if-you-don-t-believe-that-jesus-christ-is-the-savior-of-the/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [I believe there are going to be millions of Catholics in Heaven because they trusted in Christ as their savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-believe-there-are-going-to-be-millions-of-catholics-in-heaven/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) ## More by Vance Havner > [Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/plenty-of-church-members-are-shaky-about-what-they-believe-while-not/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [It is one thing to say Jesus is all you want; until He is all you have and you discover He is all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/it-is-one-thing-to-say-jesus-is-all-you-want-until-he-is-all-you-have/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The only way to meet the modern demon-stration of the powers of darkness is by a demonstration of the power of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-only-way-to-meet-the-modern-demon-stration-of-the-powers-of/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [God is on the lookout today for a man who will be quiet enough to get a message from Him, brave enough to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/god-is-on-the-lookout-today-for-a-man-who-will-be-quiet-enough-to-get/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The last word of our Lord to the church was not the Great Commission. The last thing He said to the church was 'Repent.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-last-word-of-our-lord-to-the-church-was-not-the-great-commission/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Salt seasons, purifies, preserves. But somebody ought to remind us that salt also irritates. Real living Christianity rubs this world the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/salt-seasons-purifies-preserves-but-somebody-ought-to-remind-us-that/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [I can conceive of no greater, more romantic and interesting adventure than to undertake to live like Jesus in this complicated day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/i-can-conceive-of-no-greater-more-romantic-and-interesting-adventure/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the New Testament normal it would seem to people to be abnormal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ever-got-back-to-the-new/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [A preacher who is too big for a little crowd would be too little for a big crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/a-preacher-who-is-too-big-for-a-little-crowd-would-be-too-little-for/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Jesus Christ demands more complete allegiance than any dictator who ever lived. The difference is, He has a right to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/jesus-christ-demands-more-complete-allegiance-than-any-dictator-who/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [In other days people chose a church on the basis of their doctrinal convictions. Now, lacking doctrinal convictions, they choose for social reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/in-other-days-people-chose-a-church-on-the-basis-of-their-doctrinal/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-honor-god-by-asking-for-great-things-when-they-are-a-part-of-his/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [To some Christianity is an argument. To many it is a performance. To a few, it is experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/to-some-christianity-is-an-argument-to-many-it-is-a-performance-to-a/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Doing leads more surely to talking than talking to doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/doing-leads-more-surely-to-talking-than-talking-to-doing/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) [Explore all 214 Vance Havner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the greatest errors in the church today is the artificial distinction we have created between accepting Christ as Savior and confessing Him as Lord. 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