Justification by Works

In contrast to the testimony of Paul, the predominant "testimony" in the church today is that "Jesus Christ changed my life."  While acknowledging that there are many truths of the Christian faith to which a believer can bear witness, including the deliverance from trials, temptations, sin and despair, and the deliverance unto hope, meaning, and purpose, these are not the gospel, and this is not our "testimony."

When the "changed life" becomes the focus of a "conversion" testimony, it is not only a practice unknown to Scripture, it is in fact, counter productive in pointing men and women to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.  It implies that salvation is allowing Jesus to change one's life, with the consequence of observing a change.  Ultimately, such "testimonies teache, by implication, the doctrines of Lordship salvation and justification by works, wherein justification is a process by which our lives are transformed.  This is, by definition, the doctrine of Justification by works.  In view of this, the modern "testimony" has become a cancer on the church.  It not only deviates from the example given by Scripture, in truth, it is become an impediment to salvation, and a coruption of the gospel message.