The Imps were forced to survive some tremendous pressure from top rivals Macclesfield, but the Silkmen paid the penalty for missing chance after chance.
Matthew Tipton should have opened the scoring after just two minutes but sent his header straight at Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott.
Macclesfield had another glorious chance after 14 minutes when a poor backheader from Jamie McCombe let in Jonathan Parkin. The striker should have added to his 20 goal tally, but with only the keeper to beat saw his effport blocked by the body of Marriott.
Then an excellent run by John Miles created an opening for Mark Bailey, but the midfielder shot too close to Marriott, and the keeper saved.
Lincoln sneaked in front in the 33rd minute when Simon Yeo broke down the left flank before firing in a cross which rebounded off the shins of team-mate Richard Butcher into the net.
Despite the goal, it was Macclesfield who still looked more dangerous with Danny Swailes being gifted a chance from two yards out, but delayed his shot and Lincoln scrambled the ball away.
Bailey got behind the Lincoln defence in the 58th minute, but from close range found his way blocked by Marriott who saved with his legs.
Parkin then wasted another chance before producing a superb deep cross to give Bailey another opportunity to equalise.
This time, Marriott again saved, and quickly got the ball away, setting up Lincoln's crucial second goal.
Yeo broke down the left, before blasting in a shot which Macclesfield keeper Steve Wilson could only push out. Lincoln substitute Francis Green pounced and forced his shot between two defenders on the line.
Butcher almost got a third for Lincoln two minutes later when his long-range shot was deflected inches wide.
Yeo missed two good chances but with six minutes left, Macclesfield should have pulled a goal back. The powerful Parkin broke through but faced with an open goal, lobbed his shot over the bar to complete a miserable day for the Silkmen.