14 July 2025
Ken F. Miller
This study guide is to be used with my book Understanding the Doctrine of Christ, according to Hebrews 5:12-14 & Hebrews 6:1-20. This guide has been laid out to be used in a classroom environment, using a very good Bible Concordance for scriptural references and either a KJV or NKJV Bible. It can be very easily used with my book which would explain in detail what is brought out here.
In today’s world where everything is changing and evolving so quickly, our morality is often shaken and loses its path. This is why one of our greatest needs is some sort of guiding light that can keep us on track, this light is within the body of Christ but more important it’s becoming a biblical Christian with a Christian character. While church attendance, spiritual gifts, and emotional worship have their place, none of these can substitute for the process of becoming more like Christ in daily character. God is not just interested in what we do for Him, but in who we become in Him.
Christian character development is not automatic. It doesn’t come simply by hearing sermons or attending Bible study. It is a deliberate and ongoing process, deeply rooted in our relationship with Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Our Christian character is a direct reflection of our personal relationship with Jesus.
What Is Christian Character?
Character, at its core, is the sum of a person’s moral qualities. For the believer, Christian character development means being shaped into the likeness of Jesus in our thoughts, actions, attitudes, and responses. It means demonstrating love, truth, integrity, humility, patience, and other Christ-like virtues not just occasionally, but as the core substance of our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a list known as the fruit of the Spirit: (these are the “seeds” that will blossom into our character.)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…”
These qualities represent the essence of Christian character. They are not merely ideals; they are basic traits for all who claim to follow Christ.
The Foundation of Christian Character Development
The starting point for all true Christian character development is salvation. When a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they become a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, being born again does not instantly eliminate old habits, selfish patterns, or carnal tendencies. That is where the process of sanctification comes in. This will be the hardest part of being a Christian, getting rid of our old favorite habits and establishing new ones in their place.
Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit transforming believers into the image of Christ day by day. Romans 8:29 declares that God predestined us “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” This is not about external religion, but internal transformation. Christian character is developed when believers consistently surrender their will to God and allow His Spirit to lead on a daily basis.
Key Practices That Shape Christian Character
1. Daily Time in God’s Word
The Bible is not just a book of doctrine, it is the living Word that corrects, trains, and shapes us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us that Scripture is profitable for “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
When we read the Word regularly, we’re not just gaining knowledge; we are allowing God’s truth to confront our attitudes and behavior. The more time we spend in the Word and apply God’s instructions, the more our character is aligned with His standards.
2. Prayer and Dependence on the Holy Spirit
Christian character development is not only a human effort project, it is a spiritual work empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we pray and seek God, we invite the Spirit to refine us.
David prayed in Psalm 139:23–24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me…” This kind of prayer invites transformation. The Holy Spirit gently convicts, encourages, and empowers us to change.
3. Obedience and Application
Hearing the Word without applying it does nothing for our character. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” True Christian character development involves obeying God’s Word, even when it’s difficult or inconvenient.
Obedience is where transformation becomes visible. It’s easy to say we trust God, but it’s in the hard choices, like forgiving someone who hurt us, telling the truth when it costs us, or remaining humble when praised, that Christlike character is truly developed.
4. Accountability and Fellowship
God never intended for believers to grow alone. Character is sharpened through associating with fellow Christians. Proverbs 27:17 states, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Surrounding yourself with mature, godly believers who can speak into your life, pray for you, and hold you accountable is a vital part of developing Christian character. Church, small groups, and mentorship relationships provide the soil in which integrity and humility can grow.
5. Suffering and Trials
Perhaps the most powerful tool God uses in Christian character development is suffering. Romans 5:3–4 teaches that “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.”
Trials strip away our self-reliance and expose the real condition of our hearts. Through them, we learn perseverance, deepen our faith, and refine our love. No one enjoys suffering, but in God’s hands, it becomes a furnace where impure motives are burned away, and solid character is forged.
The Danger of Neglecting Character
A believer can have talent, spiritual gifts, or a position in ministry, but if character is neglected, failure is inevitable. Many prominent Christians have fallen, not because of lack of gifting, but because of a lack of integrity and accountability.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” It’s not our charisma that speaks loudest; it’s our character. God cares more about who we are becoming than what we are doing. That’s why the pursuit of Christian character development must be intentional, prioritized, and lifelong.
Becoming More Like Christ
Ultimately, Christian character is not about “self-improvement”, it’s about surrender. It’s about dying to self-daily and allowing Christ to live through us. As Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”
The goal is being perfected in Christ for eternal salvation at our death. God is patient with us, but He also expects growth. As we walk with Him daily, reading the Word, praying, obeying, fellowshipping, and enduring trials, we are shaped more into the image of His Son.
Conclusion: Character That Glorifies Christ
In a world where image often matters more than integrity, Christians are called to stand out, not through self-righteousness, but through Christ-centered humility and holiness. The journey of Christian character development is not easy, but it is eternally worthwhile.
When believers commit to growing in godly character, they reflect Jesus to a watching world. Their lives preach louder than their words. Their actions bring credibility to the Gospel. And their witness becomes powerful, authentic, and lasting.
So let us press on, not merely to believe, but to become. Let us be disciples who pursue not only faith but formation, not only confession but character, until our death.