Does God accept me based on my performance?

No. Scripture teaches justification by grace through faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:21–26; Galatians 2:16). Our acceptance rests on Christ’s finished work, not our weekly performance.

Imputation is God crediting our sin to Christ and Christ’s righteousness to us (2 Corinthians 5:21). It’s a legal declaration: we are counted righteous in God’s sight because of Jesus.

How do legalism and prosperity-lite distort the gospel?

They move the ground of acceptance from Christ’s work to ours—either law-keeping or productivity and outcomes—undermining assurance and fueling pride or despair.

How can I reset assurance this week?

Run a daily assurance audit: Confess misplaced trust in your record (1 John 1:9), declare Romans 8:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:21, and obey from gratitude as fruit (Ephesians 2:10).

Justified or Performing? Faith Alone vs. the Do-More Gospel

Name: Justified or Performing? Faith Alone vs. the Do-More Gospel
Uploaded: 2025-10-13
Duration: 35 min
Channel: Dave Jenkins

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 1 min read

Justified or Performing? Faith Alone vs. the Do-More Gospel

Show: Contending for the Word | Series: Reformation Month 2025 | Speaker: Dave Jenkins

Show Summary

Many believers live on a hidden scoreboard, imagining God’s acceptance rises and falls with their performance.
This episode recenters assurance on sola fide — faith alone. We expose common counterfeits
(legalism, prosperity-lite, therapeutic moralism), unpack the truth of imputation (Christ our righteousness),
and offer a simple “assurance audit” that helps you rest in Christ’s finished work and walk in grateful obedience as fruit, not as a fee.

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For more from Contending for the Word visit our page here at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.
Share this episode with someone weary of performance-based religion.

Dave Jenkins

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

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