Christian Character

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Giving honors to God and our Savior Jesus Christ. To the Deacons of this church and every official, and those who make up this great congregation. To the pastor,and his sons and daughters in the gospel. I am grateful to come here and serve you today as a visiting shepherd. May the words of mouth lead you to living waters, and mediation of my heart send you to green pastures.

Today I would like to influence you as Christians, and those of you who are yet sinners, to acknowledge if you will, if you have the characteristics of a Christian. What they are, and where and how to receive them.

God sent another pastor into my life and told me in a conversation, not to get out of character. This forced me to find out what are the traits, or what is Christian character. These attributes of a Christian help you to realize that you are born again at times when you are not sure and you are looking for reassurance.

The Bible extensively discusses Christian character, highlighting qualities like love, humility, self-control, and forgiveness as essential for believers. These virtues are often presented as evidence of a transformed life and a close relationship with God. The Bible also emphasizes the importance of seeking God's will, obeying His commands, and striving to be more like Christ.

There are qualities of a Christian we should all possess. These are the characteristics that Jesus have.

Love:

Love is often described as the greatest commandment and the foundation of all Christian virtues (1 Corinthians 13). God is the epitome of love.the meaning of love. He is what love is.

The Bible also emphasizes how you can say you love God….

And to love thy Lord God with all thy heart ,soul, and mind…

Humility:

Humility is seen as the opposite of pride and arrogance, and is a key characteristic of a believer who is focused on God's will rather than their own desires (Philippians 2:3-8). These are humble ppl, not puffed up with pride and high minded thinking.

Self-control:

Being able to control one's thoughts, actions, and desires is crucial for resisting temptation and living a life that honors God (Galatians 5:22-23). This doesn't mean thoughts of all kinds will not come. Doesn't mean you don't want to go to wrong places or do the wrong things. But if you are saved and have self control, you will overcome much temptation. You can't say what you want when you feel like it. Amen…we must have self-controlI! Someone may say you are weak, but that's alright, stay in control.

Forgiveness:

Christians are called to forgive others as they have been forgiven by God (Colossians 3:13). There are more people of God on the way to hell for holding grudges and unforgiveness in their hearts than probably any other sin.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Kindness and Gentleness:

These qualities reflect God's own character and are to be extended to others (Galatians 5:22-23). Some people wake up on the wrong side of the bed every day. Mad at everyone and everything. You be scared to talk to them at church….

Righteousness:

Living a life that is morally upright and pleasing to God is a central aspect of Christian character (1 John 3:7). Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

Do you practice what is right at all times, or do you pick it up when the pastor is around?

And listen, when you practice something, that means you have not gotten it yet, but you are trying to get it the best you can through practice. But the Bible says if you practice it, then you are righteous.

Faithfulness:

Being dependable and trustworthy in one's actions and relationships is a sign of a mature Christian (Galatians 5:22-23).

Now , I want you to understand there is a difference between having faith and being faithful. Being faithful is saying my faith in God is going to have me show up on time for Sunday school as well as worship service. My faith in Jesus Christ will not only get my heart desires, but also have me to be righteous faithfully in the things of God inside and outside the house of God ! Lots of christians have faith as a grain of mustard seed but no faithfulness when it comes to doing the will of God.