A Christian Character
Christian character isn’t just about good behavior—it flows from a transformed heart rooted in faith in Christ and shaped by the Holy Spirit. As we walk with Him, God uses all things to refine us into people who reflect His character.
What does the Bible say?
Christian character is not just outward behavior—it flows from a transformed heart rooted in faith in Christ and shaped by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 11:6). True godliness combines right action with right motives, reflecting a heart that seeks to please and glorify God, not merely to appear righteous (Matthew 5–7; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Colossians 3:23–24).
The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, forming the foundation of authentic Christian character (Romans 5:5; Titus 2:11–12; Galatians 5:22–23).
Christians are called to walk with the Spirit, cooperating with His work and relying on His grace to live godly lives (Galatians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Philippians 2:12–13). We do this as we recognize that He uses life circumstances, including trials and suffering, to refine us, producing endurance, character, and hope, and ultimately shaping us into Christ-likeness (Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 1:6–7). As we trust Him in and through all circumstances, our character grows in ways that reflect Christ to a world that desperately needs Him.
From the Old Testament
Christian character is the product of the Holy Spirit and flows from the heart. It is the Holy Spirit who changes the believer's heart from a state of stone-hearted rebellion and unbelief to warm-hearted faith and love (Ezekiel 36:26).
From the New Testament
Christian character begins with faith in Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is what separates Christian character from mere civility or secular morality. There are many reasons for a person to do an outwardly good or moral act (Matthew 5:46-48; 6; 7:11).
However, it is not solely the outward act that makes behavior godly, but the motive behind the act that matters. In Matthew 23:27–28, Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." True godliness includes both right action and right motive (Matthew 5—7).
To have Christian character is to have a heart aiming to please and glorify God (1 Thessalonians 4:1; Colossians 3:23–24).
The Spirit of God dwelling in the believer's heart produces a love for God and others, as well as a desire to deny sin and self in order to please God (Romans 5:5; Titus 2:11–12).
The Holy Spirit produces the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, long suffering, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). This fruit of the Spirit is what forms the foundation of true Christian character.
Because Christian character is the result of the Spirit's work, we do not boast of it as if it were our own doing (Ephesians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 1:29–31).
Christians are to boast not of our own righteousness, which does not exist, but of the righteousness of Christ, which we have received through faith (1 Corinthians 1:30–31; Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 3:21–22).
We are called to walk in the Spirit and not quench Him (Galatians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Although it is the grace of God that produces good works in us, we are still called to work with and not against the Spirit. First Corinthians 15:10 says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."
Because the Spirit of God lives in the Christian and provides the grace and power that make godly living possible, we are encouraged to make use of this great power (Philippians 2:12–13).
Second Peter 1:5–8 gives a list of things Christians should pursue that reflect godly character: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Implications for Today (A Christian Character)
God uses our life circumstances to exercise grace and faith He has given to us, thereby causing us to grow in Christ-like character. One might say that Christian character is forged in the crucible of experience and affliction. Paul wrote in Romans 5:3–5, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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." Similarly, in 1 Peter 1:6–7, Peter wrote, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." When we go through difficulty or when life is good, God is at work, growing us into His likeness, producing godly character in us that reflects Him to a world that desperately needs Him. May we pay attention and respond to what God is doing. May we not try to hurry up or complain in the circumstances, as if it has no purpose? Instead, may we ask God to help us see what He is doing and learn to trust Him in the process, allowing Him to shape our hearts, refine our faith, and deepen our dependence on Him. May we choose obedience in both hardship and blessing, knowing that every moment is being used by God to form Christ in us. In this way, work with and not against the Spirit knowing that God uses circumstances to refine Christian character.
Christian character flows from a transformed heart rooted in faith in Christ and is shaped by the Holy Spirit, not merely by outward actions.
True godliness combines right motives with right actions.
God uses life circumstances, including trials and challenges, to shape us into Christlikeness.
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