Pastor's Pen column asks if we're acting like Christians, being God's Children – Big Rapids Pioneer

In this week’s Pastor’s Pen column, Ron Witbeck (shown) asks the question if we’re acting like Christians, being God’s children and owning our sins.
Being a responsible Christian is humbly modeling Christ-like values and principles that are found in our Bibles. One important part of being humble is accepting that Jesus paid the price for all of our sins. Guilt can sometimes hamper us from receiving His grace. 
Christians should avoid being prideful, this can prevent us from receiving God’s saving grace which is freely offered to us when confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Pride may lead us in thinking that we are above sinning, however Apostle Paul tells us:
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Christians should avoid being judgmental, Jesus gives us instructions about judging, saying do not judge:
Christians should practice forgiveness, Jesus gave us "The Lord’s Prayer" to instruct and guide us: 
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Jesus also spoke of forgiveness in Matthew 6:14-15 and Mark 11:25-26 which tells us in order to receive forgiveness we need to forgive. It’s in the act of forgiveness that we are set free from those burdens. We may sometimes find it hard to forgive ourselves. Failing to forgive ourselves can lead to the devil stealing our peace. Don’t listen to those lies of the devil, which can lead us into self condemnation. Jesus came to set us free.
"Are we acting like Christians, God’s children" confession makes us available for cleansing.
Jesus’ death is not about us earning or deserving, it’s about believing and receiving, then living as God’s children.
— Ron Witbeck is a retired pastor in West Michigan.
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