In our modern day when the 1 Cor. 15:2 gospel is opposed and Christian counterfeits are reigning supreme as spokesmen and teachers, one of the popular evangelism questions (made that way by Ray Comfort) is, Are you a good person?
Along with the Romans Road gospel presentation and the Four Spiritual Laws, the are you a good person question was never used during Christian evangelism in first century Christianity, as shown by the book of Acts! (In fact, neither were the Romans Road or the Four Spiritual Laws!) That alone should show that question is not the gold standard when sowing the gospel seed in evangelism!
Furthermore, the are you a good person question even has some professing Christians thinking they are not a good person! That is horribly disastrous to the holy image of Christianity and is similar to the once saved always saved distortion of the Apostle Paul as the worst of sinners. The word of God is clear that the person who possesses eternal life (a Christian) is likened unto a good tree (Mt. 7:17,18), a good fish (Mt. 13:47-50) and a good person (Mt. 22:9,10)! If one isn’t a good tree, a good fish and a good person, as described by Jesus, the only other spiritual choice is to be identified as a bad tree, a bad fish and a bad person (or hell bound person)! NOTE: That is Jesus’ teachings not mine. I’m only clarifying what the true God and eternal life taught. That means if a Christian was asked, Are you a good person, he should answer, without hesitation, in the affirmative. The real Christian is a holy person (Rom.6:19; Rev. 20:6; etc.), who is unashamedly following the Lord Jesus (Jn. 10:27) here and now. He is obeying Jesus (Heb. 5:9).
Another flawed aspect of the Are you a good person evangelism is the usage of the 10 Commandments to reveal one is sinful! Using it does have some merit, but it is still flawed and far from the best way to reveal a person needs salvation. Why? Among other reasons drunkenness (a major problem in our day) is not condemned in the 10 Commandments! Furthermore, we are not under the Saturday Sabbath command, as Israel was, when they were given to Moses.
Use 1 Cor. 6:9,10 For
Are You a Good Person
A much better way to show a non Christian that he is not a good person is to simply show him 1 Cor. 6:9,10. I have personally opened my Bible and shown many people that passage to help them quickly realize their true spiritual state before God. Such people cited there are unrighteous and in their current spiritual condition will not inherit the kingdom of God. Here it is:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9,10, NASB)
After that revealing passage is read, with the non Christian/s reading along, then the soul winner can give them the one and only remedy for their horrible condition, as cited in 1 Cor. 6:11:
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Mt. 5:28,29 and
Are You a Good Person
Mt. 5:28,29 is also a good verse to show the lustful, that he is an adulterer in the eyes of the Lord and that form of adultery will drag him to hell too. Hence, it is impossible to be lustful and be a Christian simultaneously!
In our Catholic compromising day, it may be good to mention that Blessed Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not cited in verse 11 (or in any Scripture) as being the means for salvation or even along with the Lord Jesus! We don’t first go to Mary to get to Jesus. Also, all 100% of our trust is to be in the Lord Jesus as we follow and obey him. That leaves 0% trust in being a church member or anything or anyone else.
Dear reader, in light of 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and Mt. 5:28,29 are you a good person NOW? If not, you remain devoid of eternal life, as you travel down the broad road to hell. You are in the greatest danger that exists and the only way to escape is by repentance towards God and faith in Christ Jesus (Acts 20:21).
