A Study
By Robert L. Cheek Jr.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
This evening I want to pick up in our series on The ABC’s of Christian Character. We are using the letters of the alphabet as an outline in dealing with the Bible’s description of “Christian” character. The character traits we have considered thus far are:
Attentiveness, Blamelessness, Contriteness, Diligence, Expectation, Faith, Giving, Humility, Integrity, Joy, Kindness, Love, Ministering, Nourishment, Obedience, Peace and Questioning. Let’s continue with the letter R.
R. Rejoicing is a Christian Character Trait
The word rejoice means, “To make joyful; to gladden; to animate with lively pleasurable sensations; to exhilarate.” Sounds like a York Peppermint Patty commercial, doesn’t it? But that’s what the word means!
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Above any other people on Earth, the Bible teaches that Christians have the privilege and the reason to rejoice. I can imagine what would happen if a large cruise ship suddenly sprang a leak while traveling to the other side of some ocean. The passengers would begin to panic and they would want to run to the safety of a life raft. But what if some of the passengers of that boat that was taking on more and more water, suddenly saw another ship heading directly towards them? I think those people would begin to rejoice and to hope and to shout because they would know that they were going to be saved from the sinking ship.
Mankind is the sinking ship that all men are born onto. Jesus Christ is the rescue ship. You and I have already been transported to the rescue ship and we are waiting to see how many more can make it before the ship of mankind sinks. Being on the rescue ship gives us reason to rejoice that we have been saved!
Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
I wonder how many of us have rejoiced at all the mighty works we have seen since we have been saved? It is our privilege to do so.
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Paul reminded the church at Philippi to rejoice! I am reminding you tonight that you have reason to rejoice. Don’t let the devil and the charismatics rob you of the blessing of rejoicing at the goodness of God. Just because we don’t fall out on the floor does not mean we can’t rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
The songwriter wrote, “Rejoice, Rejoice O’ Christian. Life up your voice and sing.”
Rejoicing is a Christian character trait.
S. Sincerity is a Christian Character Trait
Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
The word sincerity means, “Honesty of mind or intention; freedom from simulation or hypocrisy. Freedom from hypocrisy, disguise or false pretense; as the sincerity of a declaration or of love.”
God desires His children to be honest and sincere. In short, God wants His children to BE REAL. The world is full of fakes. God’s children should be honest and real in their relationship with God and in their relationships with others.
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
A good way to keep yourself sincere is to always remember that you are in the sight of God. God sees your life.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Samuel saw a towering figure in Saul, but Saul was not sincere. He did not serve God from the heart. He only served God when it was a benefit to himself to do so. God wasn’t looking at his stature, but at the state of his heart.
The world emphasizes fantasy, make-believe, dissatisfaction with how we look, dress, live, etc. Christians have to be careful to maintain a sincerity in their hearts.
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Honesty and sincerity go hand-in-hand. It’s hard to have one without the other.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Here, Paul told Titus to be sincere in the matter of doctrine. That means his beliefs are to not only line up with the Word of God, but he must sincerely believe the doctrines the Bible teaches. It is not enough to do right because we know it pleases God. We should also do right because we want to please God. That is serving God in sincerity. That is godly character.
T. Teachability is a Christian Character Trait
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Christianity has always been associated with teaching since the very beginning.
Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
When the church was first formed, Christians met in homes. They certainly could not take over the temple in Jerusalem. Oh, they could meet there, but they could not remain there. It eventually became a dangerous place. Since there were no Christian buildings to meet in, they met in homes. There is nothing wrong with that at all. But praise God when He allows us to have a place where we can all come and meet together.
One of the reasons why we do so, is so that the Word of God can be taught to us. Christian character is a teachable character.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Earlier in this series we mentioned Questioning as a Christian character trait. That dealt with proving all things. Once something is proven to be of the Lord, that something should be openly and gladly received.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Colossians 2:7 Rooted
and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
1 Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
In this verse, Paul is a type of Christ and Timothy is a type of the preacher sent to bring into remembrance some things. The church at Corinth was very carnal. We don’t fully know to what extend they received the Word of God. How do we receive the Word of God? Are we teachable? Can the preacher step on our toes without aggravating our flesh? Can God speak without us pulling the shoulder away?
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Christian character involves being teachable in the things of God.
U. Unity is a Christian Character Trait
Psalms 133:1 <<A Song of degrees of David.>> Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
I preach a whole lot on unity. I am adamant about maintaining unity. If someone chooses to try and break that unity, I don’t hesitate to defend it and I don’t really think we can stress it too much. The reason is because God will not bless us if we are not in unity. I mentioned Corinth in my last point. Now there was a disunified church if ever there was one.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
These are Paul’s words, but they are through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, so they are God’s words. Verse ten records the Holy Ghost’s begging God’s children to be in unity.
1 Corinthians 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
1 Corinthians 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
We can have minor differences about certain things and still have unity. But you can’t have division and unity at the same time.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Notice what Peter said. Have one mind, have compassion, love as though we are family, show pity and be courteous! I submit to you that a church that practices these 5 things will never have room for disunity. Notice what Paul told the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
To endeavor means, “An effort; an essay; an attempt; an exertion of physical strength, or the intellectual powers, towards the attainment of an object.”
That’s what we must do. We must make an effort, exert whatever is needed to attain the object of unity. That’s all part of Christian character.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
This text teaches that we are all different. We have different gifts, strengths, weaknesses. But those differences are meant to make us versatile not hostile. Above all, unity must be maintained.
Well, we have looked at 4 more Christian character traits: Rejoicing, Sincerity, Teachability and Unity. Do these words describe your character? If not, you have all the grace in the world to make them so in your life.
Let’s Pray.
