Walking In Integrity

Living the Lifestyle that is Pleasing in God's Sight

Welcome to the kingdom citizens blog!

Jesus, the Paragon of Integrity, is calling us to follow His example.

Many of us profess to love God. But how many of us make it our profession to walk out our lives in integrity before the Lord? It is not enough to make the declaration that Jesus Christ is our King. The King of kings and Lord of lords requires behavior that supports our claim. We can boast all we want to on the goodness of God, yet fall short of true faith in our hearts. Likewise, a belief spoken aloud holds no real substance unless our actions align with what we claim. We can declare belief until we’re blue in the face, but what weight does it carry if our actions contradict our confession?

Our love for God should be evident in our daily adherence to His moral standards. Study what the Lord instructs us to do, working diligently to become a star pupil. A profession shows progression in education, experience, and application. The discipline of glorifying the Lord with our lives should develop out of the reservoir of our deep seeded love for Him, not obligation or religious rigor. When you truly love someone, there is an overflow of emotion that fuels the desire to honor and please them. How much more should we make a lifelong career of walking before the Lord in truth and integrity?

Truth is objective. The Word of God teaches us the truth about who we are created to be in Christ. We are given guidelines that establish order. The Holy Spirit, Who is our counselor, comforter, and compass — is the voice of reason and the battery pack that empowers us to walk out a life of integrity before God. This teaching is intended to identify God’s definition of integrity and what it looks like to practice our love for Him out loud in a genuine way.

Jesus, the Paragon of Integrity, is calling us to follow His example, shaping us into people whose character reflects His own.

Descriptions of Integrity

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, integrity ¹ is defined three ways:

1. Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values (incorruptibility)

2. An unimpaired condition (soundness)

3. The quality or state of being complete or undivided (completeness)

These modern definitions definitely pay homage to biblical values. Incorruptibility, soundness, and completeness are all major themes that direct our attention to Jesus Christ — the One we should all do our best to model our lives after. He became the perfect human because no one else could be. Jesus showed us the face of God and how we are to reflect His glory as His redeemed sons and daughters (John 14:9).

Even within these carnal definitions, we can see that integrity is more than doing the right thing for the right reason, even when you think no one is watching. Integrity is a mindset and heart posture that manifests throughout our behaviors. It is a lifestyle that reflects an internal harmony between what one believes and the actions they exhibit day to day. This God-centered way of life is clearly witnessed in how Jesus Christ lived His life – always honoring His Heavenly Father (John 5:19-20). Completeness, understood as being undivided in our faith and way of life, is the byproduct of embracing incorruptibility (free from moral degradation) and soundness of mind (the state of mental, emotional, and spiritual clarity, calm, and stability).

Do we have a firm adherence to biblical truth? We may question God at times, and every so often our faith may even waver, but our resolve must return to incorruptibility. But in order to be immovable in Christ, we must have soundness of mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 states that we have been given love, power, and a sound mind – all of which fear should not trump.

As Christians, we at times get called out on what we believe, especially if our actions don’t match what we profess. A man or woman of God actively combats these assaults with a lifestyle of integrity. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (BSB) puts it this way:

“15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.”

By regarding Jesus as special and Holy, we glorify Him as the Supreme Authority with absolute ownership rights as our Lord. Distinguishing Jesus in this way as the Ruler seated on the throne of our hearts, establishes within us a belief and behaviors that lead to a clear conscience before God and man. For us to truly submit our will to the Sovereignty of Jesus, is to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts. This means that He is not just moving in as a permanent resident but is certainly going to start moving around some furniture. Before we know it, our bad habits are replaced with the good behavior that witnesses louder than any verbal declaration we could make.

In the same way Christ walked before God in integrity, we must follow suit. This means exhibiting love, honesty, authenticity, consistency, and moral courage. Jesus commands us to love God with our entire being and our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Honesty and authenticity keep us from deception, presenting a version of ourselves that is not genuine. Consistency in practicing what we preach keeps us in line with God’s standards while insulating our integrity in the public eye. Then there’s moral courage, the righteous conviction to stand for what’s right, even in the face of ridicule and affliction.

A wise architect designs an intentional structure with a designated purpose and maintenance plan.

RECONCILED TO INTEGRITY

Let’s consider structural integrity. The ability a structure has to properly withstand the strain of common and uncommon environmental forces without failing, fracturing, or warping is carefully examined, determined, and tested when the blueprints are drawn up. Structural integrity understands and accounts for an intended load and use. A wise architect designs an intentional structure with a designated purpose and maintenance plan. As the masterful Architect and Creator, the Lord our God created us with divine structural integrity in mind. 

When describing a godly man or woman, a person's integrity or lack thereof reveals how close or far they are from God’s original blueprint. Divine structural integrity shines a light on how much we resemble Jesus Christ in our daily walk. How well do we hold up under pressure? Like the exertion of power that nature produces against a weathered structure, we must consider this world’s resistance against us. Is our resilience in times of perseverance properly prepared to maintain our structural integrity? Or are we in danger of total collapse the next time the wind blows too harshly? 

Righteousness and reliability are important cornerstones of integrity. Our carnal righteousness is but filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), but when we are transformed into the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21), then we can reliably represent the Lord with some gusto!

This all sounds good but what even is “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” and what is the blueprint God has laid out for us to follow? This is what we’re here to explore today. First, let me address the righteousness of God, which is the only thing that makes this whole conversation possible. Then we will directly address God’s blueprint for how we should represent Him thoroughly. 

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (BSB) provides the framework for us being the righteousness of God: 

²⁰ Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

²¹ God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

God is calling each one of us to do something necessary and special. The Apostle Paul is begging us to “be reconciled to God”. To be reconciled to God means that through Christ’s sacrificial death and triumphant life, God draws His enemies into intimate fellowship with Himself. We can only choose Christ because He first chose us, which completes a mutual exchange of our sins for His redemption and righteousness. The Greek word for “reconciled”, katallassó (kat-al-las'-so), means to bring two estranged parties into harmony ². 

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 presents a profound and beautiful truth that theologians refer to as imputation. Imputation is a transaction. When we put our faith in Him, Jesus credits (imputes) our sin to Himself while depositing His own perfection and righteousness into our spiritual bank accounts. This glorious transaction is why God the Father no longer keeps a record of our sins once we sincerely repent. Scriptures like Psalms 103:12, Isaiah 43:25, Romans 8:1, and 1 John 1:7 are so powerful because they reflect God’s mercy and grace in casting away our transgressions by blotting them out completely with the blood of Jesus ³. 

Jesus became sin and died for our sins so that we may not die in our sins. Rather, we are reconciled to Him in receiving eternal life instead. This is the equivalent exchange that literally makes us the righteousness of God. With this necessary transformation, we can now go out into the world as ambassadors for Christ, spreading the Gospel, and presenting the door for others to receive the same gift of abundant life.

Stay Tuned in...

In part 2 of this Walking in Integrity series we'll be evaluating scripture that provide for us a description of the godly and how we should practice walking in integrity, even while in the wilderness. Thank you and stay tuned in for the next blog. You won't want to miss this one. God bless!

Scripture of Emphasis:

Proverbs 1:23 (NIV)

 ^“Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.”

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Citations: 

¹ Merriam-Webster. “Integrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Accessed May 28, 2026. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity.

²Bible Hub. “Strong’s Greek: 2644. Katallassó.” Accessed May 29, 2026. https://biblehub.com/greek/2644.htm.

³ Scriptures about “imputation”

• Psalms 103:12 (BSB)

  • "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

• Isaiah 43:25 (BSB)

  • "I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more"

• Romans 8:1 (BSB)

  • "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

• 1 John 1:7 (BSB)

  • "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

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Thank You and God Bless!

Thank you for reading this blog. Your support and contribution is treasured here. Please continue to share this content so that God may work through us to be a benefit to others. I invite you to leave a comment and stay tuned in for the next blog. I pray that this blesses you and honor’s God. Let’s continue growing together as Kingdom Citizens in Christ. Show love, be kind, and trust in God. Thank you and God bless.

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