The Importance of Christian Character

As Christians it is important that we endeavor to develop the kind of character befitting the salt of the earth. The attitude of our spirit is what our character is built upon and if it is united with Christ it will reflect Him.

The character traits we should strive for are laid out in 2 Peter 1:5 which says that we are to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, and temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity with all diligence.

These are Christ-like attributes which all Christians should be striving to achieve because they demonstrate the results of our salvation. Once we are born again we become new creatures in Christ which produces a change in our heart. If the Spirit has produced internal changes it will be evident in our character. This is why 2 Peter 1:10 tells us to make our calling and election sure.

James said, "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith BY my works." (2:18) He doesn't mean that works are a means of salvation but rather that works are the results of it. Regeneration produces a change in our attitude which results in a changed lifestyle. So James is saying that true faith produces good works.

Genuine Christianity is characterized by faith, truth and integrity. It develops over time as we study the Word and apply it to our lives through trials and tribulations as stated in Romans 5:3. "...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character."

The Bible says that all who try to live Godly lives will experience persecution which is necessary to build character. (2Tim.3:12) If we are not trained in this way we will not grow spiritually. Ultimately, true Christianity manifests itself in behavior similar to that of the Savior.

Unbelievers will lie to avoid an uncomfortable situation or keep something that doesn't belong to them believing that no one will ever know. But Christians should always try to do the right thing especially when no one is watching because it demonstrates our faith in God's all-knowing, all-seeing omnipresence.

We are warned by Paul to live blameless lives doing all things as unto the Lord and to work to supply our own needs and also the needs of others who may require our help. We are to walk in all honesty and uprightness, reflecting the character of Christ. The only way to develop true Christian character is to apply the Word to our lives which produces experience and in time these experiences shape our character.

This is extremely important. Our character reveals what is in our heart. Jesus said, "...unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:20)

The character of the scribes and Pharisees revealed self-importance and self-righteousness. When giving to the temple they would blow a trumpet to bring attention to it. They wore long rabbinical robes and insisted on the most honorable seats in the synagogue and social events.

Jesus mentioned a Pharisee who arrogantly stood in the temple and thanked God that he was not like the tax collector who stood close by with a humble heart and said, "Forgive me, a sinner." The tax collector went home justified rather than the Pharisee. Christian character should reflect opposite that of the scribes and Pharisees. We should never brag about our deeds of charity or act in any way superior to anyone. Rather, we are to give place to others and never put ourselves first.

If our character is no different than that of unbelievers, we need to seriously examine ourselves before God because regeneration produces a change. This change comes about by the Word of God. "...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:21)

To be doers of the Word is to apply it to our lives. When we read in the Bible about things which displease God then strive to avoid such things, we are applying the Word of God to our lives. Likewise, when we read about things which please God then try to do those things, we are again applying the Word to our lives.

Jesus said that we are to be good to those who spitefully use us. (Matt. 5:44) The world says, "Don't get mad, get even," which is the natural response of an unregenerate heart. Rather than take on the character of the unbeliever we should apply Jesus' words to our lives.

Say for instance a coworker blatantly took credit for our work and rather than take vengeful action, we ignored the incident as if it didn't matter. Then, before the end of the day we actually did something nice for the one who stole our thunder. According to Jesus, this kind of response will heap a mountain of shame upon them.

It takes a lot of stamina to accept this kind of insult. Christian or not, anyone would be insulted by such an act. Nevertheless, when we hold back our anger, trusting the words of Jesus, we go forward in complete obedience. These are the ways in which we apply the Word to our lives and from these experiences we grow in faith and spirit which builds character.

The mark of a true Christian is the desire to be changed. Regenerated hearts want to be fully indwelt by the Holy Spirit and transformed to the point where they loath their former ways and long earnestly to be like Christ. However, there can be no change without the Word. The Word has power which can tear down strongholds and renew our minds producing character traits unique to the children of God.

There are two character traits that God hates which is pride and hypocrisy. Any Christian would do well to rid themselves of these. Pride was Satan's downfall. The apostle Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from being puffed up with pride. "...Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate." (Prov.8:13)

We are to walk by faith and not by sight. That is to say, we see through the eyes of our regenerated heart and not the eyes of our flesh. When anger, resentment and pride begin to rise, we should fight vehemently against it with all diligence.

Pride and arrogance go hand in hand as pride is a lie from the devil who tries to get us to think more of ourselves than we ought. He tried to ascend to the level of God then he tried to convince man to do the same thing. "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..." (Gen.3:5)

Anyone who has read the words of Jesus Christ knows how He feels about hypocrites. He practically hissed the word at the scribes and Pharisees on several occasions. The indignation He felt towards their hypocrisy emanates throughout the gospels.

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion..." (Matt:23:13-25) Just to name a few.

The scribes and Pharisees placed heavy burdens on the people which they themselves wouldn't bear. They condemned people as wicked sinners and believed themselves to be righteous. Those who criticize or look down on any other person for whatever reason could be guilty of hypocrisy.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Rom.14:4)

We are in the world but we are not of the world and our character should reflect this. We are surrounded by those of the world and none of us knows which of these God may call to repentance. Remember, there was a time when we were dead in trespasses and sin. We were blind but now we see. They are still blind.

We should be kind as our Heavenly Father is also kind. "...for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matt.5:45)

Therefore, we should strive to develop character traits which distinguish us from the world giving all diligence to the Word of God; which has the power to turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh so that we might reflect the true character of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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