By Rev. Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
Introduction
Character has to do with the moral and ethical features that a person possesses. What does the Bible have to say about Character (Ethics, Goodness, Integrity, Lifestyle, Morality, Uprightness, Values, Virtue)?
Christian character in the life of a believer is an essential aspect of Christian living and ministry. According to Scripture, Christian character includes the pursuit of truth, godliness, righteousness, love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, perseverance, meekness, humility, self-control, compassion, thankfulness, forgiveness, contentment, and unity. God produces Christian character in the lives of believers and develops through faith in Christ, by the power of the Spirit, by the Word of God and the sacraments. Suffering is also an essential part of the process toward the formation of a Christian character.
Examples of character
1. Genesis 39: 6-10
And he left all that he had in the hand of Joseph, and he did not worry about anything except the food that he ate. Now Joseph was well built and handsome. And it happened that after these things his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not worry about what is in the house, and everything he owns he has put in my hand. He has no greater authority in this house than me, and he has not withheld
2. Job 1:1–5
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Then his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east. And his sons used to go and hold a feast at each other’s house on his day,
3. Psalm 15:1–5
O Yahweh, who may reside in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right. He who speaks honestly in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue. He does not harm his friend, nor bring up a disgrace against his neighbor. In his eyes a rejected one is contemptible, but he honors those who respect Yahweh. He takes an oath to his own injury and does not retract it. He does not lend his money at interest, and does not take a bribe against the innocent
4. Psalm 24:3–4
Who may ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who may stand in his holy place? He who is innocent of hands and pure of heart, who does not lift up his soul to falseness, and does not swear deceitfully.
5. Romans 5:3–4
And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces patient endurance, and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope.
6. Titus 1:5–9
On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you. If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of dissipation or rebellious. For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just.
Character will save you and sustain you
Psalms 25:21 (New International Versional)
May integrity and uprighteness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
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