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Christian Character

“…having favor with all the people.” (Acts 2:47)  The earliest church was viewed favorably even by Jewish people in Jerusalem who had not endorsed Jesus as the Messiah.  Later, the leadership of Judaism took direct action against followers of Jesus, but the ordinary people appreciated the way Christians shared so freely amongst themselves, had a happy family atmosphere, and talked about the goodness of God so much.  Their positivity and closeness were enviable.  Those characteristics should be the same today.

“The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul…and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:32 – 33)  The dominant characteristics of the early Christians were their miraculous unity and impossible graciousness.  Jesus had prayed for just such earmarks that would be a proof that He was who He said He was (John 17:20 – 23).  People have never gotten along all that well, and the gracious often are run over by the self-centered.  But, this group pulled it off.  The church today should be the same.

“…remembering…your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope…having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.  For from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth…” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 – 8)  Paul spent only a few weeks in Thessalonica before being driven out by a murderous mob.  Yet, this fledgling congregation exceeded all expectations.  The church today needs to get back to this description.

“…your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations…” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 – 4)  Paul boasted to other congregations concerning the way the Thessalonian Christians were handling life.  Their difficulties were intense, so surely those in less severe situations also can succeed.  The keys were trusting God patiently while selflessly serving.  The modern church can do this, too.

“…hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and into all the saints, that the fellowship of your faith may become effective…” (Philemon 5 – 6)  Paul had received reports about the faith and love of Philemon and his resulting effective evangelism.  So, Paul sent Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave, back to him.  Onesimus, now a Christian, had sufficient confidence in his owner to go back.  Paul had confidence that Philemon would handle it well.  Christians today need this kind of confidence in one another.

“Preach the Word.  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, in all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)  Paul reminded Timothy that spreading the gospel hurts.  People you care about accept the facts slowly.  Competition from the distractions of this world is fierce.  Use a variety of teaching styles until something pierces the barrier.

“…walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1 – 3)  Unity requires that the faithful suffer long with each other, genuinely valuing others above self and being gentle, pleasant, mild, calm, and friendly.  The resulting peace yields connectedness.  The first step is to recognize that others suffer long with me.

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…” (Romans 12:6)  Grace is the collection of godly character traits.  A primary job of the Spirit who dwells in each faithful person is character development.  That Spirit develops each person differently.  Paul’s reminder to the faithful here is to use the miraculously-given traits you have for the good of all because all the faithful are parts of the same body.  These gifts are new-found abilities, not skills obtained before becoming faithful.  Certainly, use the talents you brought into the kingdom with you, but focus on the ones you were given by the Spirit.

“If I with grace partake, why am I denounced for that which I give thanks?” (1 Corinthians 10:30)  In his discussion of meat that previously had been sacrificed to an idol, Paul concluded that the meat was not tainted, but abstain if the other person made a big deal of it.  Otherwise, if you are gracious and give thanks to God, eat without asking too many questions.  A gracious nature wins people over.  Paranoia over potential but unrealized offense limits liberty and creates problems where none existed.  The same is true of other activities.  Be gracious.  If questions arise, you have a great starting point.

“But our boasting is this: the testimony that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God…” (2 Corinthians 1:12)  Paul took pride in that his approach was characterized as straightforward, sincere, and gracious.  Such was the nature of the message and the messenger.  Even the best philosophers were at the least complex, if not also demanding, sometimes condescending and even hypocritical.  Paul’s communication style was successful and bears emulation.

“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition.”  (2 Timothy 2:24 – 25)  Although this advice was directed originally at Timothy, all of the faithful are equally servants of the Lord.  Patience, gentleness, and humility lead neither to division nor compromise but to productive teaching and unity.  But, every servant must be able to teach.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5 – 7)  Trusting God initiates a flood of traits of the divine nature to develop through His power.  If the faithful observe only a trickle or stagnant backwater, our diligence, which is another promised trait, may be lacking.  Focus on the Spirit, not the power of self.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22 – 23)  The Spirit who dwells in the faithful produces these traits.  What if we do not see them?  Focus on the Spirit, not the power of self.  How?  Ask God; read the book; connect with fellow believers.  As a bonus, unleashing the Spirit is much less strenuous than do-it-yourself improvement.

“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:17 – 18)  James began his letter with the promise that God will grant wisdom to those who ask and do not doubt.  From that one promise flows a long list of positive character traits.  Start at the headwaters.

“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.” (Romans 8:29)  The objective of the faithful is to develop the character of Jesus through the Spirit that has been made to dwell in them.  Those who do so are suited to God’s terminal objective: a big family that will last.  Those with unsuitable characters would shortly cause the new heaven to be as messy as the present earth.

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” (Colossians 3:9 – 10)  The objective of the faithful is to refurbish the thought process to be like that of Jesus.  The facts are the same; the faithful evaluate them differently.  The old ways of thinking led us on a downward spiral.  Expectation of newness is required.

“But we all, with unveiled face, behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)  The faithful see themselves as they really are.  Depending on one’s point of view, this can be encouraging or depressing.  Most people retreat to self-deception because their flaws are too painful.  The faithful focus on the parts of themselves that are being transformed by the Spirit into the character of Jesus, being thankful that God does not evaluate us on the parts that are not there yet.

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…” (2 Peter 1:4)  The objective of every living Christian is to have the same nature as God.  Peter described the process in the verses that follow.  The faithful must not excuse poor character traits as inevitable, but diligently seek the power of God to cause change.  The key is to know Jesus’ character and virtue.

“…that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has the faith of Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)  Many translators, without linguistic support, have changed the meaning by ending the sentence with “who has faith in Jesus.”  Do Christians believe the many promises that one can achieve the faith of Jesus through the power of the Spirit?  The faithful are not left as hapless failures, but are empowered to accomplish the humanly impossible.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me.” (Galatians 2:20)  Many translators, without linguistic support, have changed the meaning by switching to “I live by faith in Jesus.”  Paul’s intended this to be a pun.  My spirit is alive (connected to God) because of Jesus’ faith and I live my earthly life in imitation of Jesus’ faith.  The power comes through Jesus who lives in the faithful.

“Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)  The faithful who lived through the horrors of the period surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD were patient and trusted the promises of God that He would not forsake them, just as Jesus maintained His trust.  This is the model and objective for Christians of every situation and era.

“The righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, through the faith of Jesus Christ, to all who believe.”  (Romans 3:22 – 23)  Many translators, without linguistic support, have changed the meaning by switching to “through faith in Jesus Christ.”  Was the righteousness of God revealed by my faith or by Jesus faith?  Was my faith predicted by the Law and the prophets?  But, many deny that Jesus walked by faith.

“…A man is not justified by the works of the Law, if not through the faith of Christ Jesus; even we into Christ Jesus believed, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law…” (Galatians 2:16)  Many translators, without linguistic support, have changed the meaning by switching to “faith in Christ” in two places.  Being made right with justice was due to the unwavering faith of Jesus, not ours.  Do we think our own faith is sufficient to satisfy justice?