Discipleship 101: Ten basic beliefs and how they affect our lives Christianity isn't just a list of things to believe — these beliefs have practical significance in our lives. When we believe in grace, for example, it makes a difference in how we treat other people. The first article includes a table of contents for this series of 30 articles.

If God’s grace is always larger than our sin, should we go through the work of changing our ways? If our salvation doesn’t depend on our work, should we simply remain the way we were? Is it OK for us to continue to sin? "By no means!" Paul exclaims. We should quit sin, even though our salvation does not depend on our success in quitting sin. Obedience cannot earn us salvation, but it does have a purpose. See Enslaved to righteousness: a study of Romans 6, by Michael Morrison.

Our relationship with God is based on faith, not a list of rules. It is a personal loyalty to God, a loyalty that leads us to obey, but a loyalty that always looks directly to God, not to a list of rules as a gauge of our relationship. We never boast of obedience, nor despair of falling short. See Role of the law in Christian life, by Joseph Tkach.

If God saves us by grace, apart from the good works that we do (Titus 3:5), why should we obey him? If there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and our salvation is not in jeopardy, why should we struggle to obey? Click here for Five good reasons to do what God says