What does it mean to live a good Christian life?

All practising believers will have an answer to that question and many different principles of their faith will inform their response. Some answers might include acknowledging Christ as your saviour and forgiving others, while others may stress the importance of loving your neighbour and observing and obeying the Lord's commands. But, even believers' perceptions of what Christian living looks like can be skewed by various influences and augmented by the way that they actually live out their faith.

The following scripture is handy to memorise or have to hand when you are acting as an ambassador for Christ. (So, that'll be all the time, then.) They're also useful when thinking about how to articulate what it means to live as a Christian to others. Lots of people outside our faith have opinions of who Christians are, what they believe and how those beliefs inform their actions, and these views aren't always accurate and can be negative.

Not being able to effectively communicate what it really means to be a follower of Christ can prevent us from connecting to those we're talking to about our faith. You don't have to be new to Christianity to find Bible verses which offer something of a summary of the Christian way of life as helpful. We can all be well versed in certain things but encounter difficulties when explaining it to others whose knowledge isn't on the same level as ours.

A few Bible verses read in isolation are not going to be enough to illustrate or communicate what it means to be a Christian but they will touch on some of the basic and brilliant things that we're called to do as part of our faith.

Ephesians 4:25 - Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Romans 12:17 - Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

Hebrews 13:2 - Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Mark 11:25 - "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.