TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:17-32.
INTRODUCTION: As the
excellence of gold is its purity and the excellence of art is its beauty, so the excellence of man is his character.
Persons of character are noted for their honesty, ethics, and charity.
Descriptions such as “man of principle” and “woman of integrity” are
affirmations of character. A lack of
character is moral deficiency and persons lacking character tend to behave
dishonestly, unethically, and uncharitably. Godly character can be defined as
the ability to discern God’s right way from the wrong and to voluntarily surrender one’s own will to do
what is right in God’s sight and, with the promised supernatural help, to
resist the wrong even under pressure and temptation. Godly character is
consistently doing the right thing at the time in the right way for the right
reason.
A. CHARACTER GAUGE. A
person’s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions,
desires, and actions. It is good to remember that character is gauged by
general tendencies, not on the basis of a few isolated actions. We must look at the whole life. For
example, King David was a man of good character (1 Samuel 13:14) although he
sinned on occasion (2 Samuel 11). And although King Ahab may have acted nobly
once (1 kings 22:35), he was still a man of overall bad character (1 kings
16:33). Several people in the Bible are described as having noble character;
Ruth (Ruth 3:11), Hanani (Nehemiah 7:2), David (Psalm 78:72), and Job (Job
2:3). These individuals’ lives were distinguished
by persistent moral virtue
B.
CHOICES. Character
is influenced and developed by our choices. Daniel resolved not to defile
himself in Babylon (Daniel 1:8), and that godly choice was an important step in
formulating an unquestionable integrity in the young man’s life. Character in
turn, influences our choices. “The integrity of the upright guides them”
(Proverbs 11:3a). Character will help us weather the storms of life and keep us
from sin (Proverbs 10:9a).It is the Lord’s purpose to develop
character within us. “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the
Lord tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3). Godly character is the result of the
Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification. Character
in the believer is a consistent manifestation of Jesus in his life. It is
the purity of the heart that God gives which results in purity of action. God
sometimes uses trials to strengthen character. “We also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). The lord is pleased when his
children grow in character. “You test the heart and are pleased with integrity”
(1 chronicles 29:17; see also Psalm 15:1-2). 1 Corinthians 15:33.
We can develop character by
controlling our thoughts (Philippians 4:8), practicing Christian virtues (2
peter 1: 5-6), guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18-20), and
keeping good company (1 Cor. 15:33). Men and women of character will set a good
example for others to follow, and their godly reputation will be evident to all
(Titus 2:7-8).
Memory
Verse: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians
2:10)
Resources: N.T.
Wright: After you Believe; Why Christian Character Matters.
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