This episode addresses a common misunderstanding of the gospel that is not immediately evident based on the classic diagnostic question often used by evangelists: “if you were to die today and God asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say?” Many of course reveal a faulty grasp of true righteousness, saying something like “I’m basically a good person.” Some actually provide a theologically correct answer, articulating that they are depending solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ. That answer however reveals correct propositional knowledge of the gospel but is not necessarily indicative of COMMITMENT or TRUST in the gospel. When people provide the correct answer to the above diagnostic question, I usually follow up with a question designed to distinguish mere “propositional faith” from true saving faith: “Are you living for Christ?” I’ve encountered many who concede they’re not “living for Christ,” after correctly stating the Biblical grounds of righteousness. Sadly confusion over Biblical faith, characterized by repentance and commitment to Christ (“living for Christ”) and mere “propositional faith,” assent to the truths of the gospel, is widespread among professing Christians. The latter only have the “faith” of demons (James 2:19), and the evangelist should try to correct this common misunderstanding of the gospel by pointing to the Biblical evidence of saving faith where believers “no longer live for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:2)
