What is it that develops character and Christlikeness?

This week for a Biblical Leadership course at seminary I had to tackle that question, in one single-spaced page with at least three extra-biblical sources. Here is my attempt…

GOD is the One who develops Christlikeness and godly character in His redeemed people. Perhaps that answer may seem a bit too simplistic, yet we must remember that the root and cause of all good in our lives is God. Forming us into the image of His Son is His pleasure. By His enabling, we respond to His initiative, and that obedient response begins the process of character development.

Philippians 3:12: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” In the previous chapter he had reminded the progressing saints, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12). But how is this possible? Are we saved by grace through faith and then left to our own strength in living a life pleasing to God and developing our own character? Not at all! The next verse shows how in the New Covenant God’s commandments are His enablements: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (2:13).

Why is this possible? Because it has forever been God’s goal to bring full sanctification to those He elected before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6) and then justified (Romans 8:28-30). That each believer should be “conformed to the image of His Son” (8:29) is pleasing to the Father and guaranteed by Him. In short, because God is particularly interested in developing our character to be copies of His Son we can know that our current struggles to that end will be worth it. We work together (as we are not passive!), as He assures it, and He enables it.

At this point perhaps it is best to give a basic reminder: the Gospel is for all of life. The Good News that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy. We must constantly live in light of this one key truth, and know that we obey and grow because we are accepted (and not the other way around). That is why Paul can confidently say, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6). But isn’t there more? Sort of, as the Apostle continues, “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (2:7). In this verse we see a hint at some spiritual disciplines that help the believer participate with God in being “built up in Him,” because they have been “rooted” in Him.

As John Owen would state, our union with Christ is firmly established. It is our communion with the Triune God which deepens and grows each day with each moment of obedience and God’s strengthening us by His Gospel. In this we participate with God, responding to His loving embrace.[1] This is perhaps why Paul would admonish his young protégé Timothy, “train yourself for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7b). It takes hard work on our part, in fact the word “implies persevering, painstaking, diligent effort.”[2]

Because Christlikeness is not only beneficial for this life but also for the life to come (as preparation), God uses specific instruments to build our character. There are many to list, such as relationships with other people, spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, fasting, rest, church commitment, private and corporate worship, and many others. In short, God uses everything. A primary one for all people is suffering. James picks up on this theme when discussing Job’s steadfastness in trials and how we have “seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:7-11). As Piper notes, “The word for ‘purpose’ is telos and means ‘goal.’”[3] Thus God has a specific intended end to trials. Piper continues, on Ephesians 2:8-10, “Faith alone unites us to Christ who is our perfect righteousness before God. In this righteous standing, which we have by faith alone, we are given the Holy Spirit to help us endure to the end of growing likeness to Christ. This endurance is patient and imperfect obedience in necessary (since fruit proves the reality of faith and union with Christ), but it is not the ground of our right standing with God. Christ is. Because of this confidence and all it implies for our future, we endure through hard times.”[4]

In the small events of daily life God tests our motives and reveals ways of growth. He brings us three types of “checks,” according to Clinton: integrity checks, obedience checks, and word checks.[5] These reveal our current level of faith and holiness and reveal areas of integrity in following God whole-heartedly. In these God is at work in the inner person. Christlikeness has no definite outward form (as in “looking” the part), but the inward reality is a developing passion and enjoyment of God in the inner person, that superior pleasure brining rise to superior motives, a growing Christlike character.

We can work hard resting in this truth: “now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).