Godly Character - Why We Need To Grow in Godly Character

First: we should desire to grow in godly character because God requires it of us (commands it!)

Colossians 3:5–10 NIV

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

State:

These attributes....anger-malice-filthy language....these display our character

WE are called to change this character. (Commanded)

WE do that by crucifying the flesh and its tendencies toward these kinds of behaviors

How is this done?

Confession (bringing it to the cross, into the light..not hidding)

Sharing with others ( confess your sins one to another)

Perseverance.....

This is a process

Don’t be discouraged because many of these things may still be a challenge for you.

Scripture also says about our call to Godly Charcater

1 Peter 1:15–16 NIV

15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Holy means:

Having the characteristics of moral purity

State:

Jesus firmly teaches us that holyness is important

Matthew 5:13–16 (NIV)

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Saltiness means: One commentary says this

Matthew 2. Paradigmatic Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)

Of the numerous things to which salt could refer in antiquity, its use as a preservative in food was probably its most basic function. Jesus thus calls his disciples to arrest corruption and prevent moral decay in their world

State:

We will talk about what this means in a minute.

Jesus continues by telling us what our purpose in the earth is.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

God said to be holy because he is holy

Holy means: Having the characteristics of moral purity

It is your character that will display what moral purity you have or don’t have.

Second: if we don’t desire to grow in godliness we insult the Spirit of grace.

Hebrews 10:26–29 NLT

26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.

State: The writer goes on to say in verse 31....

Hebrews 10:31 NIV

31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

State: There are a couple things going on here:

Most commentaries refer to the intentional “sinning” mentioned here as:

the Jews returning to Judiasm and forsaking their Christianity

Or, a gentile coming to know Christ for who and what he really is and accepting that.....and then returning to their previous life.

This is a total rejection of what they once believed.

Concerning the willfull sins of active Christians- What does God do?

Hebrews 12:4–6 NIV

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

God will: discipline, rebuke, and chasten

Chasten means:

to correct by punishment or suffering

Examples where God disciplined, rebuked, chastened

David: The Lord exposed his sin of adultery and murder

1 Chronicles 21:9–13 NLT

9 Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer. This was the message: 10 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’ ” 11 So Gad came to David and said, “These are the choices the Lord has given you. 12 You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague as the angel of the Lord brings devastation throughout the land of Israel. Decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.” 13 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

70,000 people died

David went into deep repentance

By the Lord’s command he built an altar at threshing floor of Auraunah where the plague stopped

This would become the place where the temple would be built

Corinthian Church’s partaking communion in an unworthy manner

The way in which the Corinthians ate unworthily was,

that they treated the Lord's table as though it were their own;

making no distinction between the Lord's supper and an ordinary meal;

coming together only to satisfy their hunger, and not to reflect on the body and blood of Christ;

Refusing to commune with their poorer bretheren

There was a consequence for this:

1 Corinthians 11:30–32 NIV

30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

Ananais and Sapphira

Acts 5:3–5 NIV

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

State: God is SERIOUS about holiness

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NIV

9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

One commentator says.......

I & II Corinthians C. The Root Problem: Misunderstanding the Gospel (6:9–11)

He did not speak of people who occasionally fell into these sins, but of those who made these sins the patterns of their lives

I & II Corinthians C. The Root Problem: Misunderstanding the Gospel (6:9–11)

He implied that professed believers in Corinth who lived such lifestyles should take care that they were truly in the faith, knowing that if they did not repent they would perish

State:

God will put many indicators (as seen in the biblical example) in our life to let us know that how we are living as professed Christians is not holy and does not reflect him, but actually insults the gospel of Christ.

How to follow Christ and not embarass God

Paul was referring to a man who was in the church and was sleeping with his Father’s wife

1 Corinthians 5:5 NIV

5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

or you can simply

Confess your bad character and willful sins and bring it to the cross in repentance

B. The promises resulting from godly character

First: Godly character makes us fruitful in this lifetime.

Jesus makes it clear that the Father wants us to be to be fruitful, and that fruitfulness glorifies the Father (John 15:1-8).

John 15:1–8 NIV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Jesus says that fruitfulness comes from the Father’s pruning efforts in our lives

(v. 1-2), from our abiding or remaining in Christ (vv. 5 and 7), and from prayer.

Peter tells us there is another way we become fruitful, and that is by growth in godly character.

2 Peter 1:5–8 NIV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The ESV says: “ineffective and unfruitful!”

So how can character possibly determine fruitfulness?

E.g. When I was offended in my first church, I wanted to quit – and my heart left the church, though I hadn’t left physically.

If the Lord hadn’t helped me grow in the godly character traits of forgiveness and perseverance, I wouldn’t have reaped the fruit I did over the 22 years at Southland, because my heart would have left again and again.

It would have left each time I was offended by others!

Second: Godly character affects the outcome of our prayers

James begins by saying that we often don’t have what we need, because we don’t ask

James 4:2–3 NIV

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

But notice, that he also says, that we often don’t have because we ask with wrong or selfish motives; that we can spend what we simply for ourselves!

Peter, offers another illustration of how a lack of character (righteousness or holiness), can negatively affect our prayers.

He says …1 Peter 3:7 (NIV) Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

How we treat others (character) matters: it affects the outcome of our prayers!

James says righteousness (character, holiness) affects the effectiveness of our prayers!

James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Third: Godly character keeps us from falling away from the faith

2 Peter 1:5-10 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9  But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10  Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall ….

If you are growing in godly character, you will make your calling and election sure.

That’s a striking statement, because many believers think that you say a prayer of faith and that’s about it – just go on living like you wish.

Apparently, that’s not the truth!

We’re commanded to grow in the fruit of the Spirit and in godly character

And, according to the Bible, that can keep us from falling! How so?

First, if our faith doesn’t result in changed behavior, then James says that our faith is actually DEAD!

James 2:17 (NIV) In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Paul says the same …Acts 26:20 (NIV) I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.If you are truly born again, three things will happen:

You will grow more and more in good works; and less and less in bad works

You will hate your sin and be broken over it – it will bother you

You will desire godly character even if you don’t have it yet. And you’ll be motivated to get it

Godly character can actually keep us FROM falling away in the first place!

For example, some have fallen away from the faith when trouble came to their lives.

People have fallen away from Jesus, His local church and their faith, just because He didn’t do for them what they wanted Him to do – they gave up;

they didn’t have perseverance or patience or knowledge/understanding of how God works (2 Pet 1:5-7) or love for God.

Had they grown in such godly character (holiness, righteousness, love, fruit of the Spirit) traits, they wouldn’t have fallen away – that’s Peter’s point in 2 Peter 1:10!

2 Peter 1:10 NIV

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,

Character really matters!

Fourth: Godly character qualifies us for ministry

The divine sequence for the calling of a man or woman to ministry goes something like this:

God chooses someone to ministry long before he or she is even conceivedGod eventually calls the one he chose

God then equips that person with the necessary spiritual gifts to fulfill this unique callingGod sends the one He has chosen, called and equipped

But somewhere between, or throughout the time between choosing and sending, something else happens – God remakes the character of the one He has chosen

The choosing, calling, equipping and sending are God’s work alone.

However, the remaking of our character involves and has much to do with us!

When God chose Moses, He first had to send him into the wilderness to develop his character – he wasn’t patient; he was easily angered; he took matters into his own hands; he lorded it over people; etc.

The remaking of Moses, resulted in a very long and successful ministry

The more you grow in godly character, the more fruitful you will become (2 Pet 1:8)!

Paul listed some of the key character traits (fruit of the Spirit) that he considered a ‘must’ in order to qualify for ministry as an overseer.

1 Timothy 3:2-12 (NIV) Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3  not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money ... 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be people worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

Of course, even after we’re sent, God still wants to grow in godly character!

Character formation and growth is a lifelong process!

If we don’t continue to grow in godly character, we may be disqualified for ministry along the way

Many pastors have been disqualified from ministry, along the way, because of a lack of character – pursued dishonest gain (fraud), or lorded over the people, or became sexually promiscuous, or lazy, etc.

E.g. In 2017 the HS told me I needed to work on self-control.

He reminded me that Moses, towards the end of a stellar ministry, lost self-control

After nearly 40 years of dealing with so much resistance and rebellion from his fellow Israelites, when the Lord told him to speak to the rock, he was so angry at the people, that he lost self-control and instead lashed out and hit the rock – dishonoring the Lord!

Numbers 20:7–13 NIV

7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” 9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” 13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

Apparently, he not only lashed out at the rock, he also said some rash things that really displeased the Lord as well!

Psalm 106:32-33 (NIV) By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them; 33 for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips.

The result was that though he was permitted to see the Promised Land from a mountain top, he didn’t experience the privilege of leading Israel in!

The Holy Spirit warned me – you better grow in self-control, so that in the heat of the moment you don’t disqualify yourself!

Israel’s priest Eli also was disqualified from further ministry, because he tolerated the brazen wickedness, sexual immorality and blasphemy of his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who served as priests under their father.

Here’s what God said to Samuel concerning Eli,

1 Samuel 3:13 (ESV) And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.

Fifth: Godly character helps us win the war against the devil

So many pastors and churches pursue the power of God

It is a good thing to have God’s power – we all need it.

But often what we need is right at our disposal – like character!

How can character possibly help us in the fight against the devil?

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul said that we have spiritual armor to protect us against the attacks of the enemy

One of the pieces of armor required is the breastplate of righteousness

Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

What is the breastplate of righteousness Paul is talking about? Right living. Character. Fruit of the Spirit. Godliness!

See how James furnishes us with an example.

He asks ...James 4:1-2 (NIV) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.

Covetousness caused them to quarrel and fight

When people lack in character or holiness, they will divorce each other, or lie and gossip about one another, or cheat another, and so on.

When that happens, the enemy gains a foothold into a person, a relationship (e.g. marriage), or a church

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV) "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

When the devil gets a foothold, it neutralizes the effectiveness and fruitfulness of individual believes and the church as a whole

All the power of God will not overcome the lack of character and sinfulness in such Christians and in such churches.

Sixth: Godly character reveals Christ to others

God wants to reveal Christ to the world because the devil has blinded the minds of unbelievers

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

There are several ways in which He does this

First: through miracles, signs and wonders

It is true that God reveals Himself to unbelievers through miracles, signs and wonders.

Second: through godly character revealed in suffering

However, Scripture is equally clear, that God ALSO removes the scales of spiritual blindness from unbelievers’ eyes, by means of what they observe when believers suffer.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (NIV) We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

To respond properly to trials and suffering requires supernatural strength and power – the power of the risen Christ!

When unbelievers observe a believer patiently, humbly and joyfully persevering through deep trials and suffering, it opens their eyes to Jesus Christ.

It requires mature, godly character to respond in a way that Christ may be seen in our trials and suffering.

Third: through godly character shown in good deeds

Finally, God also reveals Himself through mature, godly character traits in the lives of believers

This mature, godly character is really the character of Christ!

Galatians 4:19 (NIV) My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you

And Peter exhorts us to grow the character of Christ, so that the unbelievers can observe that and ultimately glorify God for it

1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV) Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Good character results in good deeds, which points to and glorifies our Lord!

Seventh: Godly character is requisite for experiencing the abundant life

Many cherish, as they should, the following promise from Jesus …

John 10:10 (NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

However, many do not realize that there are conditions attached to the abundant life!

For example, to really experience God’s love and joy, we must obey what He tells us to do …

John 15:9-11 (NIV) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Eighth: Godly character is needed to operate effectively in spiritual gifts

The church at Corinth was operating in all the gifts – but they had serious character issues!

So, Paul made it clear that without character, their abilities to operate in the spiritual gifts amounted to nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Much more will be said about this in Levels 2 and 3, when we address spiritual gifts.

Tenth: Godly character determines our heavenly reward

2 Peter 1:11 (NIV) For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Both Peter and Paul said that character will determine our reward in the life to come!

Scripture says that while we are saved by grace, our rewards are based on works.

Matthew 16:27 (NIV) For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Obviously, if we have born little fruit because of poor character (loved the things of this life or through laziness), or if through lack of character the devil has been able to destroy much around us, or if we have disqualified ourselves from ministry, whether a pastor, staff person or volunteer minister, it affects our rewards, because there are few works to reward.

But even the works themselves will be tested by light and fire.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NIV) If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

If the works don’t survive examination by light and fire, they will be burned up – they won’t count!

The believer is still saved, according to v. 15, but has little or nothing to show for it – v. 15

So, what are the light and fire testing for?

Let’s see …1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the MOTIVES of men's hearts.

There it is. God will test our works for what motivated them.

For example, did we do a good work because it would bring us praise from man or because it would ultimately bring us praise from God?

What’s the motivation?

Galatians 1:10 (NIV) Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

This is a BIG issue. Paul addressed it with the Thessalonians too …

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

Notice again that God is testing the heart – the hidden motives.

Did we do a good thing – even ministry! – because we were driven by envy or rivalry?

Philippians 1:14-18 (NIV) It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16  The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18  But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

This is a good example of people who are doing good works, but out of bad motives

Such works will be burned up at the Bema Seat of Christ and we won’t be rewarded for them.

That’s why Paul said,

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV) “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Do you know what Paul means when he says, “I beat my body and make it my slave … so I myself will not be disqualified for the prize?”

He’s saying that he is disciplining himself to grow in character so that he doesn’t lose the prize (reward) for good works, just because the works were motivated or driven by unholy attitudes!

Character holds great promise of future reward, but loss for those without it (2 Cor 5:10; Heb 10:26-29)

CAUTIONS: Personality profiling

At Southland we used personality profiling for many years.It is very helpful in understanding othersBut, if you’re not careful you’ll confuse personality with sin. Remember our personalities ARE broken.Here are two cautions:Caution 1: don’t use personality profiling to excuse bad behavior, selfish desires or poor character in yourself.

Some of what you brush off as how God made you may, in fact, be what was broken in you.It may be sinful, and God wants you to change those pieces.Here’s a test: if your thoughts, attitudes, desires, actions or behaviors harm yourself or others in any way, then it needs to change – period.Caution 2: don’t use personality profiling to excuse unloving behavior

Certain behaviors can’t be categorized as sinful, per se.However, if they irritate others or if it causes them to distance themselves from you, God or the church, you are causing such a person to stumble.That violates the law of love, which Christ laid down for us.You cannot use personality profiling to excuse unloving behavior, even if it isn’t sinful in itself.Paul made this very clear in his teaching about our freedoms in Christ (1 Cor 8:9; 10:29; Gal 5:13).

C. Christ set us free from the control or power of sin, making it possible for us to grow in character