Issues on character pt 3

Character – What does the Bible say?
What is character? Character is the traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing – moral or ethical qualities of honesty, courage, integrity, reputation etc……..

What does the Bible say? Here are a few scriptures on character….
1. Romans 5:3 – 5 “More than that we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character hop, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The sufferings produce a step by step transformation that makes believers more like Christ.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:33 – 34a “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, “for bad company corrupts good character. ‘Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning.” Keeping company with those who deny the resurrection can corrupt good Christians. Don’t let your relationships with unbelievers lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.

3. Hebrews 6:17 “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.” There are 2 unchangeable things:
• Promise/purpose
• Oath
The character of God is holy and he does not lie. His promise is sure, and doubly sure when combined with his oath. This encourages one to hold fast to the hope of God’s promises.

4. Hebrews 1:3 “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Not only is Jesus the exact representation of God, but he is God himself – the very God who spoke in Old Testament times. He is eternal; he worked with the Father in creating the world (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16) He is the full revelation of God. You can have no clearer view of God than by looking at Christ. Jesus Christ is the complete expression of God in a human body. The book of Hebrews links God’s saving power with his creative power. In other words, the power that brought the universe into being and that keeps it operating is the very power that cleanses our sins. No sin is too big for the Ruler of the universe to handle. He can and will forgive us when we come to him through his Son.

5. Ruth 3:11b “All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.”
6. Proverbs 31:10 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
Lets be a people with noble character.

More on character…..1. It is developed by difficult circumstances
2. Degraded by sin
3. Tainted by jealousy and immorality
4. God tested the Hebrews character in the wilderness
5. God judges by character, not by appearances