The current invention includes coating compositions having a lignin, methods for coating substrates using the coating compositions, and substrates coated with the coating compositions. In some embodiments of the invention, a coating composition having a mixture of a) a lignin, b) a solvent, and c) a crosslinker, wherein the lignin has a neutral or negative charge. The current invention also includes a coating composition having a mixture of a) a lignin, b) a polymeric epoxy crosslinker having glycidyl (meth)acrylate, and c) a solvent. Additionally, the current invention includes a coating composition having a mixture of a) a lignin, b) a solvent, and c) a phenolic crosslinker.