through His grace and in whose grace rests the Christian’s belief and toward whom we repent from our sins.

Repentance is the feeling and act in which one recognizes and strives to right a wrong or to gain forgiveness from the person, persons, or nation that he or she has consciously or sub–consciously wronged. A marked distinction exists between individuals who simply believe in God, and those who have openly confessed their sins and who have consciously committed to live according to God’s law and practice the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Each one of us has the capacity for good and evil thoughts and for actions that should lead us to repentance. The Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, which has application in the modern age, reveals: “[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23–24 NKJV) (circa CE 60).

In religious contexts, it usually refers to repenting for a sin against God. It always includes an admission of guilt, a change of mind and action, and also includes at least one of the following commitments: a solemn promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong; and/or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong, where possible.

A Christian is one who strives to be blameless and upright, a person who fears God and shuns evil. One might go further to say that he or she should shun even the appearance of evil and evil thoughts (1 Thessalonians 5:22). A Christian is one who maintains his or her integrity, fears the Lord, and seeks wisdom and understanding (Job 2:3; Jeremiah 29:11).

He or she believes that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary; they believe that He suffered under the Roman Senate, who accused Him of transgressing Roman law, and that He was tried and crucified. Christians believe, on the testimony of many contemporary witnesses that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead after three days (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Christians believe that Christ’s disciples saw Him on numerous occasions during the next forty days, before His ascension to His Father in Heaven. He or she believes that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father, where He intercedes on behalf of the saints, and gives us access to God through the Holy Spirit.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ will come again (the second coming) to judge both the living and the dead: “[T]he Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:” (2 Timothy 4:1 NKJV).

Christians display qualities known as the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV) (circa CE 57–58). Christians recognize the values of a world that operates on social, economic, religious, political, and legal imperatives as we strive to maintain a spiritual, moral, and social balance.

A devout Christian can find himself or herself in a challenging situation, as the imperatives of civic or corporate duty may come into conflict with the Christian response. The born again Christian seeks God’s divine knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to enable his or her understanding of God’s purpose for his or her life, and to grow in reverence and holiness before God and in humility before human beings. The true Christian life is one of learning, overcoming, and growing toward a godlike character. Merciful kindness governs the behavior of Christians. Christians believe in God the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

— A Christian is one who lives righteously, fears God and shuns evil.

Unless otherwise expressed, the views expressed in the opinion column are not endorsed by the editors or publishers of ByBlacks.com