In this volume of Living What We Believe, Lee Roy Martin explores the significance of the Church of God Declaration of Faith statements four and five: “4. We believe that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins. 5. We believe that justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.”

Although these statements of faith are defined and explained here, the study goes beyond definitions. The primary goal of this work is to show the importance and relevance of these doctrines for the daily walk of every believer. 

Chapter one points all the way back to creation and examines how the sin of Adam and Eve resulted in a broken relationship between God and humanity. Chapter two describes the process of repentance that restores and strengthens that relationship. Chapter three (“Living in Christ”) explores the powerful works of God’s grace in the forgiveness of sin, the new birth, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The final chapter (“Living by Faith”) encourages believers to trust continually in the blood of Christ and the grace of God. Christians are delivered from sin, infused with eternal life, and empowered to walk by faith.

Laity and ministers alike will be encouraged and blessed by these insightful and down-to-earth studies that teach us how to live what we believe.