Recently, President Trump gave a press conference addressing the war in Ukraine. He said that a thousand people a day were dying in the war, and he wanted to put a stop to it. He said that if he could save seven thousand people a week, he “might make it into heaven.” He added that many people think he won’t make it, but if he could bring peace to Ukraine, it might put him over the top. 

That “many people think he won’t make it” alluded to his past life. Trump has the reputation of having formerly been a playboy. Many people have testified that he has not been a model of morality.

Trump often uses humor in his press conferences. It is difficult to determine when he is serious, and his comments at the press conference were made tongue-in-cheek. But his point was clear. He admitted to being a terrible sinner but hopes that if he can keep hundreds of thousands of people from dying, that might erase all his prior faults. Those present at the conference laughed. 

But I think Trump was at least partly serious. Based on former statements he’s made, I think he would say he’s a Christian. He has said that the Bible is his favorite book. I am sure he would say that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died, then rose from the dead. He knows he has sinned and clearly believes in an afterlife.  

Based on his comments at the press conference, what can we say about the gospel Trump presented on that occasion? Many evangelicals praise Trump. They believe his policies generally support Biblical principles. He sometimes speaks of the importance of his faith. 

What would a Lordship Salvation proponent say about his beliefs? I really don’t know. Lordship Salvation says that true believers continue in good works. Looking at Trump’s life, one might say he fails the test. He states certain orthodox beliefs, but even his allies say he is arrogant. He loves worldly possessions and is probably greedy. Being faithful to his marital vows has not been one of his strong points. 

But what about the point he made at the press conference? He is credited with stopping wars in certain parts of the world. Now he is doing everything he can to save women and children from death in Ukraine. If we were to examine his works to determine whether he is eternally saved, how would we weigh these various factors? Personally, I would say saving all those lives is weightier than cheating on his wives. 

Grace theology, of course, looks at this differently. Trump is an example of every person who has ever lived. Our works are irrelevant when it comes to where we will spend eternity. If a person believes in Jesus for eternal life, he receives it. Good works don’t “put us over the top.”  

A Lordship Salvation teacher would probably hear Trump’s statement and chew on it. Perhaps many would argue that Trump’s display of love for others, such as stopping the killing, means he will likely be in the kingdom. Such good works demonstrate his genuine faith. Folks who think this way would agree with Trump’s statement. 

A grace person, however, hears Trump’s words and cringes. They hope he was joking. If Trump were not greedy and arrogant, if he had always been faithful to his wives, if he stopped every war in every corner of the war—none of that would matter. If he never believes in Jesus for eternal life, he won’t be in the kingdom. Trump’s words about “putting him over the top” are a denial of the Biblical gospel of grace. 

I don’t know what Trump believes about the gift of eternal life. I am almost positive he was trying to elicit a laugh at the press conference. He succeeded. Sadly, the proponents of Lordship Salvation don’t understand that their view of the gospel is also a joke.