Growing with Respect to Character

Some people change for the better; some change for the worse, and others never change. As a young man, Jacob was selfish and conniving, but he grew into the head of a family that became the twelve tribes of Israel. As the older patriarch, he found it necessary to denounce the actions of his sons, Simeon and Levi, for their severe treatment of Hamor and Shechem (Gen. 39:5-7). Those two brothers used deceit with those men, making a covenant with them, part of which required circumcision, and then killed them while they were in a weakened condition (Gen. 34:13-28).

Deceit was used again to convince Jacob that Joseph was mauled by a wild animal. They tore Joseph’s tunic and dipped it in goat’s blood so that their father would draw that conclusion (Gen. 37:31-35). They were motivated by jealousy, and years later Joseph would test them to see if they were the same envious brothers they had once been; he discovered that they had changed (Gen. 44:1-34).

It is marvelous to observe the Word of God work in an individual and see him become better for it. Even Manasseh, the most wicked king in the history of Judah, at last repented of his multitude of sins, but he could not undo all the damage that he had done, and his son followed in his former ways of wickedness (2 Chron. 33). Even greater is to observe the brash, bold persecutor of Christians, Saul of Tarsus, become transformed into the beloved apostle Paul. Who would be better qualified to speak of this maturing process (Rom. 8:29; 12:1-2)?

Some have begun their public life in a humble manner but then taken a decided turn for the worse. King Saul, early on, wisely and kindly refused to punish his detractors (1 Sam. 10:27; 11:12-13). Could it be that this is the same man who pursued David without cause and even put to death the priests of the Lord? Unfortunately, his reign as king steadily deteriorated until he became totally alienated from God (1 Sam. 28:6). Likewise, Amaziah, when he first became king, heeded the prophet and severed ties with the Israelite troops (2 Chron. 25:1-9). Then, after he conquered Edom, he adopted their gods and worshiped them (2 Chron. 25:14-15). How foolish to begin by listening to the Lord and then utterly deny Him!

The final category includes those who never change, which is fine for those who are perfect to begin with, but others have a responsibility to grow and mature in Christ (1 Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12)—in other words, to develop the proper character. Those who have no intention of ever changing have only an eternity of torment to anticipate. Dictionaries provide several definitions of the word character. Below are a few from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1969 edition).

3. The combined moral or ethical structure of a person or group. 4. Moral or ethical strength; integrity; fortitude…. 10. A description of a person’s attributes, traits, or abilities (226).

The Bible teaches that Christians have a responsibility to grow spiritually, so that eventually they draw nearer to the perfect character exhibited by Jesus. In other words, the aim of Christians is to become ethical as it involves their conduct. They should also be people of integrity, standing for what is right and Biblically true.

The Call to Excellent Character

Although referenced earlier, the verses listed below state clearly the responsibility laid upon Christians to mature.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1-2, emph. added).

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29, emph. added).

We may not think that we are conformed to the world all that much when we become Christians, but what are our views toward fornication, adultery, homosexuality, drinking, drug use, gambling, and immodest clothing? True, we may not agree with the world on everything, but we need to arrive at the position of disagreeing with them on anything that contradicts the Word of God.

Not only must we overhaul these outward expressions of worldly thinking, we must go after the characteristics of our temperament that need modification, also. How are we to be transformed from what we were to what we want to be? Paul answers that it involves the renewing of the mind. The following comments help explain this concept:

A Christian’s mind is to be renewed, which means “to be made new, readjusted, changed.” The “renewing” indicates present continuous action on the mind. This continuous renewing of the mind is a major part of the process of sanctification. Before a child of God can truly make the outward changes of the body (actions), there must first be the inward change of the mind (thoughts), for our outward actions start from within (Pro. 6:18; Matt. 15:18-20).

The only way to renew the mind is to have the Word of God inside it; then we have the proper basis by which to evaluate all things. Our goal is to be conformed to the image of His Son. How marvelous it would be for all who call themselves Christians to have the character and integrity of Jesus. Not only would all be abstaining from the pollutions of the world (such as watching pornographic movies or hiding themselves away in order to consume alcoholic beverages), but we would also display the attitude He had toward truth. We would make it a top priority in our lives to be able “to give an answer to every man” and to be able to ask questions that would draw out the meaning of the Scriptures.

Paul exhorts brethren to set their minds “on things above, and not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). Because we are a new creation in Christ, we must put off all those sins of the flesh—but also “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth, not to mention lying” (Col. 3:8-9). But it is not enough to quit doing these things (compare also Romans 1:28-32 and Galatians 5:19-21); we must put on the clean clothes of righteousness. Below are combined a number of characteristics that, when practiced, will bring about the growth our Lord desires to see in us.

Aspects of the Christian Character

In order to arrive at the 20 aspects of Christian character, the “Christian “graces” (as they are often called) of 2 Peter 1, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and the clothing we are to put on (Col. 3) have all been combined. They shall be discussed in that order.

Faith (2 Peter 1:5; Gal. 5:22). Peter addresses his second epistle to those who have obtained like precious faith as he and others had. Shortly thereafter he commands brethren to add to their faith the other qualities needed. Although the Greek word is the same in Galatians 5:22, the New King James there renders it “faithfulness.” Faith is the foundation upon which we build, but being faithful is also required. Many have started well but then given up (Demas, for example). Ezekiel 18:20 makes it clear, even before we get to the New Testament, that some begin well but then fall away. Paul rejoiced in the fact that he had run the race and finished his course (2 Tim. 4:8).

We must not only have the foundation of faith as we begin the Christian life, but we must maintain it to the end in order to receive the reward (Heb. 11:1-12:3). How sad it was to see the bodies of those delivered from Egypt strewn across the wilderness! Yet even worse are the worn-out souls of preachers, elders, and members who kept the faith for 20, 30, or 40 years—only to give it up for false doctrine, apathy, or immorality at the end. Our faith must continue strong and unabated despite Satan’s best attempts to reclaim us. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10).

Virtue (2 Peter 1:5). This word is found only four times in the New Testament. Various sources have offered definitions of this word.

…it is the excellence of “courage, soul vigor, manliness, and the determination to do right” (Woods in the Gospel Advocate Commentary).

It is the eminence of “virtue, fidelity, power and moral excellence” (Kittel).

It is “courage or fortitude, to enable you to profess the faith before men, in these times of persecution” (Adam Clarke).

…the strength and courage, without which the believer cannot stand up for good works (Matthew Henry).

Any excellence of a person (1) a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtue, moral goodness, moral vigor. (2) any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity (Thayer).

The word…was used in extra-biblical contexts to describe the heroic acts of military men. It was a word that would describe the courage to act in accordance with what one knew to be right… (Eddie Parrish).

Christians need to strive toward moral excellence and possess the courage of their convictions. Faith is not something that merely takes place in a person’s mind; it must always be expressed (James 2:14-26). Boldness accompanied the apostles and brethren from the beginning (Acts 4:23-31).

Knowledge (2 Peter 1:5). Peter stresses the fact that new Christians need knowledge; he had written previously: “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:20). He emphasizes it also at the end of this letter: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18). Accumulating spiritual knowledge is a lifetime proposition. As the late Guy N. Woods once said during the Open Forum at Freed-Hardeman College, “The day that I cease to learn will be the day that I die.” Too many Christians maintain a casual and blasé attitude in this regard; instead, there ought to be a profound commitment to the learning of God’s saving Word (James 1:22).

Self-Control (2 Peter 1:5; Gal. 5:23). The only other time the noun form [1466] of this word group is used is the occasion in which Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come with Felix (Acts 24:25). The adjective form [1468] is included as one of the qualifications of an elder (Titus 1:8), and the verb form [1467] appears twice: “If they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry” (1 Cor. 7:9); “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things…” (1 Cor. 9:25). Self-control is not achieved without effort but with dedicated practice (to be continued).