MacArthur wrote in his Preface to the revised (1994) edition of this book (originally published in 1988), "A major controversy over Christ's lordship erupted on the evangelical scene with the publication of this book five years ago. It was not my intention to ignite such a dispute... My aim was simply to answer several recent authors who were arguing for no-lordship salvation evangelism. These men were charging the rest of the church with heresy, and I felt their accusations needed an answer." (Pg. xiv)