Does Your Functional Faith Match Your Confessional Faith?
For several years, when I was a young pastor, the way to sell books in the Evangelical world was to make a hyphenated term using the word, “Gospel,” and insert it into your title. We saw a superfluous amount of “Gospel-centered” books, but “Gospel-driven” and “Gospel-powered” were thrown into the mix as well. I truly appreciated this emphasis, knowing that Paul delivered the gospel “as of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). But, as with every fad, we began to use the terminology without explanation, assuming that it was already understood. This has led to ambiguity about what is most necessary for our lives as Christians.
The gospel, and its implications for all of life, must be continually clarified in each generation, or else we, and those who come after us, will be given over to spiritual drift. What does it mean to live in light of the good news of Jesus Christ? A short blog post certainly can’t answer that question thoroughly, but it’s a start. So, let’s begin again to explain the old, old story and how it shapes our decisions in everyday living.
In Galatians 2:11–14, Paul tells us that he opposed Peter to his face because his conduct “was not in step with the truth of the gospel” (v. 14). The conduct he is referring to is Peter’s choice to distance himself from Gentile Christians whose fellowship he had been previously enjoying. He did this, we are told, because he “[feared] the circumcision party” (v. 12), who believed Gentiles needed to live like Jews to be saved (v. 14). Peter’s separation from Gentile Christians gave functional approval to the false teaching of the circumcision party, and thus, conveyed a functional denial of the truth of justification by faith alone.
Paul’s assessment of Peter’s actions is instructive. Gospel doctrine should be reflected in gospel living. Our decisions flow out of what we believe in any given moment, and, practically speaking, we are not always believing the gospel. What we believe on paper (i.e., our doctrinal statement) is not always consistent with the decisions we make in everyday life. Our functional faith is not always the same as our confessional faith.¹
For Peter, his confessional faith in justification by faith alone did not match up with his functional faith, which was, on that occasion, believing the lie of works righteousness. What about you? Which facet of the gospel have you been functionally denying? What gospel doctrine have you been out of step with?
What about the doctrine of adoption? In our worry, for instance, we are not in step with the truth that we are sons and daughters of God. Are you sitting in a cloud of anxious meditation wondering how you’re going to pay for all those medical bills and still have enough left for groceries? Remember what Jesus says in Matthew 6:31–32,
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all (emphasis mine).
The one who knows of your needs is your heavenly Father. Through Jesus, you’ve been adopted into the loving care of God’s household, to enjoy all the security of His provision and protection. Infinitely more than evil fathers who give their children good things, God delights to bless you through your prayers (Matthew 7:11). But when we worry, we are out of step with this reality. Today, you may need to repent of your functional unbelief in the gospel and return afresh to this facet of the gospel diamond.
What about our union with Christ? When you give into temptation, thinking that the enticement of the flesh is just too strong to resist, you are out of step with this crucial gospel doctrine. Recall Paul’s words in Romans 6:6–7,
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin (emphasis mine).
By grace through faith in Jesus, you have been spiritually united to Him, which means that sin is no longer inevitable for you. You are no longer bound to your fleshly will. Therefore, no matter how intense the temptation may feel, you can say “no” and turn to God in faith. Is this gospel doctrine one that you need to have unsheathed in your struggle with sin?
What about the promise of the forgiveness of sins? When you wallow in the shame of the sins you’ve committed, you functionally deny this powerful gospel doctrine. Dwelling on your guilt and offense toward the Lord leads to a state of despair that refuses the hope of knowing that, in Christ, God does not hold your sins against you. Remember the words of David in Psalm 103:11–12,
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (emphasis mine).
The gospel says that God held your sins against Jesus instead of you. This means that you should never think of your sins apart from the cross and the empty tomb. Punishing yourself with grief is to act as though Jesus’ work of atonement was not enough—as if there’s work left to be done. Is this consistent with your doctrinal statement, your confessional faith? Of course not. You would never dare teach such a heresy. So then, don’t allow yourself to live this way.
Keeping in step with the gospel has a myriad of everyday applications since there are so many facets to the gospel diamond. We must not allow ourselves or those we influence to lose the heart of Gospel-centricity. Let us be diligent to act and speak in the way Paul did to Peter, knowing that the gospel is doctrine that shapes life.
¹ Tim Chester, You Can Change, p. 75.