Character

The character of God

God is the Father of believers

Ephesians 1:2 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

No one has ever been cured of immorality by reading books on the control of sex—never has been, never will.

God’s Way Not Ours, 68

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

See also Ga 1:1; Col 1:12; 1 Th 1:3; 1 Th 3:13

God is good

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

See also Ex 33:19; La 3:25; Mt 19:17; 2 Pe 1:3

God is holy

1 Samuel 2:2 ESV

“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

See also Le 11:44–45; Is 6:3; Is 43:15; Eze 39:7; 1 Pe 1:15; Re 4:8

God is faithful

Psalm 36:5 ESV

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

See also Dt 7:9; 1 Ki 8:56; Ps 89:2; Ps 146:6; La 3:23; 1 Th 5:23–24

God is just and righteous

Romans 3:25–26 ESV

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

See also 2 Ch 12:6; Ps 33:5; Is 30:18; Zep 3:5; Ac 17:31; Re 16:5–6

God is loving

Psalm 145:17 ESV

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

See also Jn 3:16; Ro 5:8; Eph 2:4; Tt 3:4–5; Heb 12:6; 1 Jn 4:7–10

God is merciful and compassionate

Ps 86:15; Lk 1:50

See also Ne 9:31; Is 63:7; La 3:22; Jon 4:2; Lk 18:10–14; 2 Co 1:3; Jas 5:11

The character of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ possesses the exact likeness of God

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

See also 2 Co 4:4; Col 1:15

Jesus Christ is faithful

Hebrews 3:6 ESV

but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

See also 2 Th 3:3; Heb 2:17; Re 1:5; Re 3:14

Jesus Christ is holy

Mark 1:24 ESV

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

See also Lk 1:35; Jn 6:69; Heb 4:15; Re 3:7

Jesus Christ is loving

2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

See also Jn 15:9; Ro 8:35–39; 1 Jn 3:16

The character of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is holy

Romans 1:4 ESV

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

See also Ro 15:16; 1 Co 6:19; Tt 3:5

The Holy Spirit is powerful

Luke 4:14 ESV

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

See also Mic 3:8; Ac 1:8; Ro 15:13; Ro 15:19; 2 Ti 1:7

The Holy Spirit is eternal

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, the Counsellor

John 14:16–17 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

See also Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:7

Character as a moral strength

Romans 5:3–4 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

See also Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4; Pr 31:10; Ac 17:11; 1 Co 15:33

The character of believers

Believers should be compassionate

Colossians 3:12 ESV

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

See also Ps 112:4; 1 Pe 3:8

Believers should be humble

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

See also Is 29:19; Php 2:3; Col 3:12; 1 Pe 3:8

Believers should be joyful

Philippians 4:4 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

See also Ro 12:12; Ro 15:13; 1 Th 5:16

Believers should be loving

1 John 4:7 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

See also Ga 5:22; Col 3:14; 1 Th 4:9

Believers should be content

Philippians 4:11 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

See also 1 Ti 6:6–8; Heb 13:5

Believers should be holy

Dt 7:6; 1 Pe 1:15–16

See also Ro 12:1–2; Col 3:12; Heb 12:14

Believers are to be poor in spirit

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Believers are to be meek

Matthew 5:5 ESV

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Believers are to be merciful

Matthew 5:7 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

See also Lk 6:36; Ro 12:8; Jas 3:17

Believers are to be pure in heart

Matthew 5:8 ESV

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

See also 2 Co 11:2–3; Php 1:10; 1 Ti 5:22; 2 Ti 2:22