But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith
in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His
grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His
righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time,
so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Paul of Tarsus 1st Century CE (Romans 3.21-26)
Past movements mythologized Christianity, reducing it to a social charity. Unfortunately, some have responded to these movements by omitting Christian charity. Despite these unhistorical and reactionary paradigms, the life of Christ continues to exemplify correct theology and practice (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). We are to emulate the attitude of Christ, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2.6-8). Jesus embraced the weak and vulnerable (Matthew 5, Luke 6) and will commend or condemn humanity based on their treatment of the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned as if they were Himself (Matt 25.40, 45 cf. Matt 5.43-48).
The sixteenth-century evangelist George Whitefield sums up the basis of the Christian life, “All truths, unless productive of holiness and love, are of no avail.” Above all, we are to put on love (Colossians 3:14). The apostle Paul said If I “know all mysteries and all knowledge; and have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). Christ revealed absolute love (1 John 4.7-19, 1 Corinthians 13): He left the presence of worshipping angels, submitted to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:39-42), and placed others above His welfare by redeeming the corrupted world (Romans 8.22-23) that hated Him.