We develop character every time we make a right choice. John C. Maxwell, America’s expert on leadership and successful executive says, “We create it (character) every time we make choices—to cop out or dig out of a hard situation, to bend truth or stand under weight of it, to take easy money or pay price.” 5 By daily recognizing, developing, and refining moral strength in us, we are co-laborers in building character God desires to see in His children.

We desire people of character in our churches, our cities, our countries, and our world. Most if not all of success stories turned failures in recent years, have been partially due to lack of character. No one can rise above limitations of his character. Billy Graham was asked to comment on how he was able to maintain character in face of so many ministry leaders showing a lack of character.

He responded with, “People have put me on too high a pedestal. We do same with other leaders. I know, however, I am not as good as some people think I am. I have seen men in depths of wickedness and have thought to myself, ‘There I go, except by grace of God.’ I have to depend on God every day to help me live as I should.” We also must depend on grace of God to help us live, as we should. To develop character in your life on a daily basis:

•Make right choices. Remember character is a choice. Invite God in on your choices. You will find it makes a lifetime of difference.

•Recognize your character will preach gospel. Determine to set a good example for those watching your witness.

•Remember bad company corrupts good character. Watch company you keep. Are they a good influence upon your life or a bad one?

•Depend on grace of God. When you make a mistake, repent, and begin again. My pastor, Mike Hayes says, “God is a God of new beginnings. Look at how He provides us an opportunity for a fresh start each new season, New Year, new month, new week, and every fresh morning.”

We have determined that choices create character. If you have been unfortunate to make quite a few wrong choices in life as I have, then this will be good news to you. Pastor Amy Hossler encouraged me saying, “Even a wrong or bad choice repented of can eventually build good character.” Our Father God has promised (if we ask for it) to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Additionally, He promised to work all things to our good.9

It seems our Father God is painstakingly involved in working character in us. However, it is up to us to work together with him so that we may reap harvest of righteousness he longs to give us. Join me as I cooperate with God in creating good character in me with one good choice at a time.

Time does not permit me to speak to debate between Karl Barth and Emil Brunner on human freedom. The issue is primarily this: can man through his reasoning ability offer up anything to garner God’s salvation. In other words, does God supply everything—grace, faith, and salvation or does man meet God somewhere in middle?

Chosen but free

In his book entitled, Chosen But Free (Bethany House Publishers, second edition, 2001), Norman Geisler writes, “Perhaps most difficult thing to understand is that God is in sovereign control of everything we choose, even our salvation. For ‘in him we were also chosen, having been predestinated according to plan of him who works out everything in conformity with purpose of his will…’ (Eph. 1:11). ‘For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to likeness of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified’ (Rom. 8:29-30). According to Paul, ‘he chose us in him before creation of world’ (Eph. 1:4).”

Geisler continues, “Whatever else may be said, God’s sovereignty over human will includes His initiating, pursuing, persuading, and saving grace without which no one would ever will to be saved. For ‘there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God’ (Rom. 3:11). ‘We love him’ only because ‘He first loved us’ (1 John 4:19 NKJV). Indeed, no one comes to Father unless he is drawn by God (John 6:44).”

Geisler continues rest of his book, showing harmony between God’s sovereignty and man’s “free will.” It’s a delicate balance. No wonder Church fathers have wrestled with this concept since days of Augustine in fifth century AD, even to present times. We are made free. Because we are made free, evil is possible. The origin of evil is in misuse of freedom. I cannot blame God when I sin. I cannot even blame devil. The devil may entice me, but he cannot make me sin. Sin originates in my “old nature” born into sin of Adam. If I live out of “old nature,” my freedom to so do begets evil, sin. It is inevitable that we will sin, but it is not inevitable that we must sin. Even though we are depraved and by nature bent toward sin, nonetheless, each sin is freely chosen.

Says Geisler, “With respect to initiating or attaining their own salvation, both Luther and Calvin were right in asserting that fallen humans are not free with regard to ‘things above,’ that is, achieving their own salvation. However, contrary to strong Calvinism, in regard to freedom of accepting God’s gift of salvation Bible is clear: Fallen beings are free. Thus, free choice of fallen human beings is both ‘horizontal’ (social) with respect to things in this world and ‘vertical’ (spiritual). Plainly, then, belief is our responsibility and is rooted in our ability to respond. This view has overwhelming support by virtually all great church fathers up to sixteenth century.”

Bringing it to a closing

Now let me conclude this lesson by noting how to overcome sin. Christian faith teaches that sin cannot be overcome through human ingenuity or effort. The solution to problem lies in what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. The penalty for sin is death, judgment, and hell, but gospel is that God has chosen to pay this penalty himself in sacrificial life and death of his Son, Jesus Christ (cf. John 3:16-17; Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:21-26; 5:6-10; II Cor. 5:18,19; Col. 2:13-15).

For believer to overcome temptation and sin, he must seek God’s filling daily. The bible declares that we are to be filled with Holy Spirit. That’s not an option. It’s mandated. Why? Because we leak. If we choose to live daily out of strength of our human nature, we will become enslaved by natural realm and become subjugated by sin. On other hand, if we ask God to fill us daily with His Holy Spirit, receiving this promise by faith, then we will live in victory over power of sin.

I want to leave you with a summation.

A believer will live out of one of two natures—either flesh or spirit. If he chooses to live out of flesh, his desires may lead to lust, which leads to overt acts of sin. If he continues to live in sin, his sin can lead him to physical death (ICor.5:1; 1John 5:16-18). The believer is responsible for his sin. God does not entice a believer to sin. Satan may entice a believer, but he cannot make a believer sin. If a believer lives out of “new nature,” he will have victory over sin. A believer receives free gift of salvation by help of God. Once he is born again, God is responsible to provide his sanctification, but believer must let God sanctify him. Sanctification goes hand-in-hand with justification in sense that once we are born again we must continue to grow in grace. We continue in grace of God by help of Holy Spirit who sanctifies us and continually cleanses our hearts by “washing of water by word.”

Are you born again? Are you being filled with Holy Spirit daily? If not, repent and ask God to fill you. You see, we are vessels through which God pours Himself. He can fill us much faster than we can leak out. So, keep getting filled. Being filled is not something I earn or work up by my emotions. It is an act of faith, as all things of God are by faith. I ask for Holy Spirit. He honors my request by filling me. I rest. It’s a done deal, and evidence is way I conduct my life by works of love toward my neighbor and my God.

Blessings… Pastor T.