My bible tells me that I'm the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.
I am the righteousness of God—I have right standing with Him—in Jesus Christ (
2 Corinthians 5:21).
My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; I belong to Him (
1 Corinthians 6:19).
Christian Doctrine of Sin:
Universal Sinfulness: Christian theology asserts that all humans, including believers, are inherently sinful. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Justification and Sanctification: Believers are justified (declared righteous) through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Sanctification is the process by which believers are gradually made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
New Creation: In Christ, believers are considered a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), indicating a transformative process that aims to make them more like Christ, who is the ultimate standard of goodness.
Good Works as Evidence:
Fruit of the Spirit: Believers are expected to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Faith and Works: James 2:26 emphasizes that faith without works is dead, suggesting that genuine faith should produce good works as evidence of a believer's transformation.
Moral Perspective
Relative Goodness:
Moral Improvement: Many believers strive to live moral and ethical lives based on the teachings of their faith. This often includes acts of kindness, charity, honesty, and integrity.
Moral Failings: Despite these efforts, believers, like all humans, can and do fail morally. They may struggle with sin and shortcomings, but ideally, they seek repentance and growth.
Comparison with Non-Believers:
Common Moral Standards: Many of the moral principles upheld by believers, such as honesty, compassion, and justice, are also valued by non-believers. Therefore, "goodness" is not exclusive to believers.
Influence of Faith: For many believers, their faith provides a strong motivation and framework for pursuing moral and ethical behavior.
Sociological Perspective
Community and Support:
Positive Influence: Being part of a faith community can provide support, accountability, and encouragement to live morally upright lives.
Social Engagement: Believers often engage in various forms of community service, charity work, and social justice initiatives, reflecting their commitment to living out their faith in practical ways.
Diverse Experiences:
Varied Outcomes: The moral behavior of believers can vary widely depending on personal, cultural, and denominational factors. While some believers may live exemplary lives, others may struggle with ethical challenges.
Conclusion
Whether believers are "good people" is a nuanced question. From a Christian theological perspective, believers are seen as inherently sinful but are being transformed by God's grace. They are called to live out their faith through good works and moral behavior. However, like all humans, believers can still fail and fall short of moral perfection.
In a broader moral and sociological context, many believers strive to be good people and often engage in positive actions motivated by their faith. Yet, goodness is not exclusive to believers, and people of all beliefs can exhibit moral and ethical behavior. Ultimately, the concept of "goodness" involves a complex interplay of personal transformation, ethical conduct, and the influence of faith and community.
Having said this---
Universal Sinfulness:
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Ecclesiastes 7:20: "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins."
Justification and Sanctification:
Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor."
1 Corinthians 6:11: "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
New Creation:
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Faith and Works:
James 2:14-26: "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?... For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
Moral Perspective
Call to Holiness:
1 Peter 1:15-16: "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Doing Good Works:
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Matthew 5:16: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Love and Compassion:
1 John 4:7-8: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Colossians 3:12-14: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
These scripture references provide a foundation for understanding how believers are viewed within Christian theology and how they are called to live morally and ethically. While believers are recognized as sinners in need of God's grace, they are also called to live out their faith through good works, love, and holiness, reflecting their transformation in Christ.
More of a wholistic approach on how to study the Scriptures and be honest with ourselves.
