Biblical Answer

A good Christian and someone who's given up can be distinguished in several key ways. One of the main differences is the motivation behind their actions. A good Christian is motivated by a desire to please God and to follow His will, whereas someone who's given up may be motivated by a desire to appear good or to gain approval from others. A good Christian recognizes that any good they do comes from God, and they seek to give thanks and glory to Him for it. In contrast, someone who's given up may take credit for their own good deeds and actions. This is evident in the passage, which states that a Christian "thinks any good he does comes from God" whereas a non-Christian "thinks he does it himself."

Another key difference between a good Christian and someone who's given up is their attitude towards others. A good Christian is characterized by love and kindness, and they seek to serve and bless others. In contrast, someone who's given up may be cold and unloving, and they may not be willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of others. The passage notes that a good Christian "sees fit to give up all sorts of things for special occasions" and that they are "enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble." This suggests that a good Christian is willing to make sacrifices and to forgive themselves and others. In contrast, someone who's given up may be unwilling to make sacrifices and may be unforgiving.

A good Christian and someone who's given up can also be distinguished by their understanding of sin and redemption. A good Christian recognizes that they are sinful and that they need redemption, and they seek to rely on Christ alone for their salvation. In contrast, someone who's given up may not recognize their sinfulness and may not seek redemption through Christ. The passage notes that even if someone's theological system is inconsistent, they may still be a Christian if they profess dependence on Christ alone for redemption. This suggests that a good Christian is willing to acknowledge their sinfulness and to seek redemption through Christ, even if they are not perfect. In contrast, someone who's given up may be unwilling to acknowledge their sinfulness and may not seek redemption through Christ. I believe this is a key difference between the two.