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Attributes of God Revealed in Believers' Lives and Character

The character of God is reflected in the lives and conduct of those who believe, manifesting in various attributes such as faithfulness, holiness, boldness, and devotedness. These characteristics are not merely human efforts but are understood as expressions of God's Spirit working within individuals [10].

Faithfulness is a key attribute, described as a characteristic of saints [1]. This faithfulness is exhibited in numerous ways, including service to God, declaring God's word, caring for dedicated things, helping others, bearing witness, reproving others, handling situations of trust, performing work, keeping secrets, and conveying messages. This attribute should extend to all aspects of life, even the smallest matters, and persist until death [1].

Holiness is another divine attribute commanded for believers, with God's own character serving as the standard [7]. Christ desires holiness for his followers, effects it in them, and provides an example of it [7]. The gospel is considered the path to holiness, which is deemed necessary for God's worship, and without it, no one will see God [7]. Believers are elected and called to holiness, and are newly created in it [7]. The concept of "godliness" is central to this, with 1 Timothy 3:16 stating, "great is the secret of piety—God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!" [2]. Another translation renders this as, "Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory" [3].

Boldness, specifically "holy boldness," is also presented as a characteristic of saints [5]. Christ exemplified this attribute [5]. It is understood to arise through faith in Christ and is produced by trust in God, the fear of God, and faithfulness to God [5]. Believers are encouraged to express their trust in God with boldness and to have boldness in prayer [5]. Ministers are also exhorted to exhibit boldness in their faithfulness to people and in preaching [5].

Devotedness to God is another attribute characterizing saints, with Christ serving as an example [6]. This devotedness is grounded in God's mercies, goodness, call, and the death of Christ, as well as in creation and redemption [6]. It should encompass one's spirit, body, members, and substance, and be unreserved, abounding, and persevering [6].

The "character of saints" is further described as being attentive to Christ's voice, blameless and harmless, contrite, devout, fearing God, following Christ, godly, guileless, humble, hungering after righteousness, just, led by the Spirit, liberal, loving, lowly, and meek [8]. The fear of God, or godly fear, is an attribute where God is both the object and author [9]. It is described as a hatred of evil and wisdom, serving as a treasure and a fountain of life for saints [9]. This fear is sanctifying, filial, and reverential, commanded in scripture, and motivated by God's holiness, greatness, goodness, and forgiveness [9].

The concept of believers having God living in them is a special privilege, fostering fellowship with the Father and the Son [14]. This indwelling of God's Spirit expresses God's life within the believer, contributing to a new nature and transforming work that is part of salvation [10]. Believers are those who credit Christ's divine mission, believe in him as the Messiah, acknowledge his death for sins, his resurrection, ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, and that he intercedes for them and will judge the world [12]. Such individuals are said to "keep the sayings of the Lord Jesus," holding his word in mind and memory [11]. The righteousness of God is revealed "from faith to faith," and "the righteous shall live by faith" [4]. Those who believe in the Son of God are said to have "the witness in himself," experiencing a deep awareness of their need for a Savior and what Christ has done for their soul [13].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Faithfulness — A characteristic of saints -- Eph 1:1; Col 1:2; 1Ti 6:2; Re 17:14. Exhibited in The service of God. -- Mt 24:45. Declaring the word of God. -- Jer 23:28; 2Co 2:17; 4:2. The care of dedicated things. -- 2Ch 31:12. Helping the brethren. -- 3Jo 1:5. Bearing witness. -- Pr 14:5. Reproving others. -- Pr 27:6; Ps 141:5. Situations of trust. -- 2Ki 12:15; Ne 13:13; Ac 6:1-3. Doing work. -- 2Ch 34:12. Keeping secrets. -- Pr 11:13. Conveying messages. -- Pr 13:17; 25:13. All things. -- 1Ti 3:11. The smallest matters. -- Lu 16:10-12. Should be to death -- Re 2:1”
  2. I Timothy “I Timothy 3:16 (YLT) — and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety--God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!”
  3. 1 Timothy “Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory. -- 1 Timothy 3:16”
  4. Romans “For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” -- Romans 1:17”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devotedness to God — A characteristic of saints -- Job 23:12. Christ, an example of -- Joh 4:34; 17:4. Grounded upon The mercies of God. -- Ro 12:1. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The call of God. -- 1Th 2:12. The death of Christ. -- 2Co 5:15. Our creation. -- Ps 86:9. Our preservation. -- Isa 46:4. Our redemption. -- 1Co 6:19,20. Should be With our spirit. -- 1Co 6:20; 1Pe 4:6. With our bodies. -- Ro 12:1; 1Co 6:20. With our members. -- Ro 6:12,13; 1Pe 4:2. With our substance. -- Ex 22:29; Pr 3:9. Unreserved. -- Mt 6:24; Lu 14:33. Abounding. -- 1Th 4:1. Persever”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Character of Saints — Attentive to Christ's voice -- Joh 10:3,4. Blameless and harmless -- Php 2:15. Bold -- Pr 28:1; Ro 13:3. Contrite -- Isa 57:15; 66:2. Devout -- Ac 8:2; 22:12. Faithful -- Re 17:14. Fearing God -- Mt 3:16; Ac 10:2. Following Christ -- Joh 10:4,27. Godly -- Ps 4:3; 2Pe 2:9. Guileless -- Joh 1:47. Holy -- De 7:6; 14:2; Col 3:12. Humble -- Ps 34:2; 1Pe 5:5. Hungering after righteousness -- Mt 5:6. Just -- Ge 6:9; Hab 2:4; Lu 2:25. Led by the Spirit -- Ro 8:14. Liberal -- Isa 32:8; 2Co 9:13. Loving -- Col 1:4; 1Th 4:9. Lowly -- Pr 16:19. Meek -- Isa ”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
  10. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  11. John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 8:51: In these verses we have, I. The doctrine of the immortality of believers laid down, Joh 8:51. It is ushered in with the usual solemn preface, Verily, verily, I say unto you, which commands both attention and assent, and this is what he says, If a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death. Here we have, 1. The character of a believer: he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus, ton logon ton emon - my word; that word of mine which I have delivered to you; this we must not only receive, but keep; not only have, but hold. We must keep it in mind and memory,”
  12. Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 5:14: And believers were the more added to the Lord - Believers: 1. Those who credited the Divine mission of Christ. 2. That he was the Messiah. 3. That he died for their sins. 4. That he rose again. 5. That he ascended into heaven. 6. That he sent down the gift of the Holy Spirit. 7. That he ever appeared in the presence of God for them. 8. That it was he who gives repentance and remission of sins. And, 9. He by whom the world is to be judged. These were simple articles, of the truth of which they had the fullest evidence.”
  13. 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 5:10: In those words we may observe, I. The privilege and stability of the real Christian: He that believeth on the Son of God, hath been prevailed with unfeignedly to cleave to him for salvation, hath the witness in himself, Jo1 5:10. He hath not only the outward evidence that others have, but he hath in his own heart a testimony for Jesus Christ. He can allege what Christ and the truth of Christ have done for his soul and what he has seen and found in him. As, 1. He has deeply seen his sin, and guilt, and misery, and his abundant need of such a Saviour. 2. He has seen”
  14. 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:15: 4:15 Those who believe in Christ have God living in them, and they live in God. The Father and the Son experience this fellowship (John 10:38; 14:10; 17:21). Experiencing God in this way is a special privilege for believers (see John 14:20; 15:5; 17:21-24).”
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