Are You a Good Person? Let’s Talk About It
Alright, let’s have a real conversation. Are you a good person? Most of us like to think we are. We might say things like, “I try to do the right thing,” or “I’m generally kind to others.” But if we’re being honest, by what standard do we decide if we’re truly good? Maybe we compare ourselves to those who seem worse: “I mean, I’m not like Hitler!” Well, that’s definitely a low bar, I am very happy to hear you are not guilty of genocide! But let’s dig a little deeper.
The Ten Commandments as a Mirror
Let’s consider the Ten Commandments for a moment. Think of them like a mirror that reveals what’s going on inside us. Imagine standing in front of this mirror and asking some real questions.
Have you ever told a lie? I know I have. And if we’re being truthful, we’ve all lied at some point, even if it was just a small “white lie.” What do you call someone who lies? a liar.
Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you no matter the value? Even if it is small, like not returning something borrowed or maybe some office supplies. That would make you a thief.
Jesus takes it a step further. He says if you’ve ever looked at someone with lust, then you’ve already committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever felt that way about someone who wasn’t your spouse? Well, then, welcome to the club, everyone has stumbled there.
And here’s the kicker: Jesus also taught that harboring hatred for someone is like committing murder in our hearts (Matthew 5:21-22). So, how many times have we been angry at someone, maybe called them names, or wished them harm? It’s uncomfortable to admit, but this means that, deep down, we’re capable of far more darkness than we like to think.
What Does This Mean for Us?
So, where does this leave us? By our own admission, if we look at even half of the Ten Commandments, we see we’re not as innocent as we’d like to think. We’re guilty of lying, stealing, lusting, and harboring anger. And if we committed just these few sins once a day, that would add up to thousands over our lifetime. That’s a lot of brokenness stacked up against us.
The Bible says that each of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God one day (Romans 14:12). Jesus himself said, “I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:23). If God were to judge us based on his perfect standards, do we think we could just waltz into heaven? Probably not. It’s a sobering thought.
But Isn’t God Loving?
You might be wondering, “But isn’t God loving? Won’t he just forgive me?” That’s a good question. Think of it like this: imagine a judge who lets criminals go without any consequences. If someone stole, cheated, or even hurt another person, and the judge just said, “It’s okay, you’re forgiven,” we’d call that judge unjust, right? We’d be outraged, especially if we were the ones who got hurt.
God is perfectly loving, but he is also perfectly just. He can’t ignore wrongdoing or he wouldn’t be a good judge if he did. His justice requires that sin is dealt with, but his love provided a way for that to happen without us being destroyed by the weight of our own guilt.
The Good News—There’s Hope!
Here’s where the amazing news comes in. God knew we could never meet his perfect standard on our own, and he loves us too much to leave us hopeless. So, he did something incredible. He sent his own son, Jesus, to live the perfect life we couldn’t live and to take on the punishment we deserved. Think of it like this: imagine you’re standing in a courtroom, guilty of countless crimes, and just before the judge declares your sentence, someone steps in and says, “I’ll take the penalty so that they can walk free.” That’s what Jesus did for us.
John 3:16 puts it beautifully: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross to take our punishment, and then rose from the dead, defeating sin and death once and for all. And because of what he did, we can be forgiven, not because we’re good, but because God is good.
A New Life Awaits
What does all this mean for you and me? It means that if we put our trust in Jesus, acknowledge our brokenness, repent (which just means turning away from our old ways), and believe in him then we are forgiven. God promises that when we trust in Jesus, we are no longer enemies of God, but his beloved children. We are brought into his family, no longer defined by our mistakes but by his grace. We become new creations, with a fresh start.
God doesn’t just leave us as we are, he transforms us from the inside out. We’re no longer defined by our failures or our rebellion. Instead, we’re given new desires and a new heart that wants to love and serve God and others. We’re adopted into his family and given the hope of eternal life, a life forever with God, where all the brokenness of this world is finally made right. In this place, as Revelation says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
How Do We Respond?
The Gospel (which means the good news) of Jesus Christ is an invitation. Jesus says, “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). This means turning away from living life our way and instead trusting in Jesus. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about admitting we can’t be and trusting in the one who is. If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
If you choose to follow Jesus, find a church community where you can grow with other believers. Get baptized as a way of showing that the old you is gone, and you are now walking in new life with Jesus.
The Christian life isn’t about what we can do to earn God’s love, it’s all about what Jesus has already done for us. We share this good news because it’s too amazing to keep to ourselves, and because there are many who are still lost, just as we once were. They need to know that there’s a way to be saved, and that way is through Jesus Christ.
This is the story of grace; undeserved, unearned, but freely given by a loving God. It’s an invitation to all of us who are broken, who need a Savior, and who long to be made whole. And that’s a story worth sharing.
The gospel is, without a doubt, the most important message you will ever hear in your life. What you do with this truth determines your eternal destiny. For those who embrace it, it brings freedom and eternal life. But for those who reject it, or even ignore it, it becomes the very thing that condemns them for eternity.
Maybe you’ve heard this all before, and it sounds elementary. But you’d be surprised how many people in the church still struggle to fully grasp or explain this message. If you’re someone who has never truly understood this or if this is all brand new to you, LET’S TALK! For those who are familiar, I ask you to pray that this message of hope reaches the lost. And hang tight, because this blog has so much more coming that will challenge you and deepen your faith. We’re just laying the foundation, and it’s going to be a solid one.
Ok for the most part I knew most of this. Question I have is about knowing God and trying to tell others about him, but also not always being faithful to him. I need some more advice on this please.
This is a great question and it’s a very real and common struggle that many of us face as believers. Knowing God and wanting to tell others about him is an incredible step in your faith journey. But you’re also recognizing that we all fall short and sometimes struggle with remaining faithful to him, which can make sharing our faith feel complicated. Let me offer a few pieces of encouragement and practical advice.
First, remember that none of us are perfect. The Bible is full of examples of people who had deep relationships with God but still struggled in their faith. Take Peter, for example. He was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and yet denied him three times. What matters is not that we’re perfect, but that we keep returning to God in repentance and dependence on his grace.
Secondly, the act of sharing your faith isn’t about presenting yourself as someone who has it all together. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Sharing the gospel is about pointing to Jesus as the one who saves and transforms, even in the midst of our own struggles. Sometimes the most powerful testimonies come from acknowledging our weaknesses and highlighting God’s grace.
So, here’s some practical advice:
Be Honest: When you talk about God with others, don’t feel the need to pretend you have everything figured out. It’s okay to admit that you’re still on the journey. People are drawn to authenticity. They’re more likely to relate to someone who admits their struggles and talks about how God is working in their life despite those struggles.
Rely on Grace: Don’t let your failures keep you from sharing the gospel. The message of Jesus is a message of grace, not perfection. You’re not called to be perfect; you’re called to be faithful in pointing others to the perfect Savior.
Stay in the Word and Prayer: The more you spend time in Scripture and prayer, the more your relationship with God will grow. This will strengthen your faith and your witness. It’s okay to have ups and downs in your spiritual life, what matters is the consistency of your pursuit of God. This is the area I am currently focusing on with the blog, preparing people to get the most out of their time in God’s word and hopefully become more knowledgeable and excited about doing it.
Surround Yourself with Support: Find a community of believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable. Being part of a church or small group can provide the support and encouragement you need to stay faithful, even when things get tough. This is why we join churches. As members in a faith community we encourage and strengthen each other in the journey because, as you have discovered, following Jesus is not an a one player game.
In short, none of us are perfect in our faith, and that’s okay. Our job isn’t to present ourselves as perfect Christians, but to point to a perfect Savior. Keep leaning into God’s grace, and let that grace be the foundation for how you live and share your faith with others. In light of your comment here I may begin doing a series of posts on spiritual formation sooner rather than later. Keep an eye out for those and thank you for reading!