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Biblical Examples and God's Sovereignty in Character Formation

The concept of character formation in biblical thought is deeply intertwined with God's sovereignty, as humanity is created in God's image and called to reflect His nature. From the outset, the Bible states that God created humanity "in our image, after our likeness," granting them dominion over creation [7, 8, 9]. This likeness implies a capacity for moral and spiritual resemblance to God, setting the stage for character development.

God's character serves as the ultimate standard for holiness and righteous behavior [2, 15]. For instance, Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 command believers to "be holy, for I am holy" [2]. Christ himself is presented as the perfect example of holiness (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:21-22) and the standard to which believers are conformed (Romans 8:29; 1 John 2:6) [2]. The gospel is identified as the "way of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8), and holiness is deemed necessary to see God (Hebrews 12:14) [2].

The sovereignty of God in character formation is evident in several ways. God actively desires and effects holiness in His people (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:25-27) [2]. Believers are described as "elected to" and "called to" holiness (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Timothy 1:9) and "new created in" holiness (Ephesians 4:24) [2]. This divine initiative underscores that character transformation is not solely a human endeavor but a work of God.

Beyond holiness, other virtues are also presented as divinely influenced. Boldness, for example, is a characteristic of saints (Proverbs 28:1) that is produced by trust in God (Isaiah 50:7), the fear of God (Acts 4:19, 5:29), and faithfulness to God (1 Timothy 3:13) [1]. Christ exemplified holy boldness (John 7:26), and believers are encouraged to express trust in God with boldness (Hebrews 13:6) and to pray for it (Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:19-20) [1]. Ministers are specifically exhorted to exhibit boldness in preaching (Acts 4:31) [1].

The creation narrative itself highlights God's power, wisdom, and understanding as the attributes through which He creates and sustains all things [13]. The creation of animals, for instance, exhibits God's power and is made for His praise and glory [6]. Even creatures like Leviathan, whose nature and habits are described in Job 41, serve to illustrate God's power and severity [3]. This demonstrates that God's character is not merely an abstract concept but is actively displayed throughout His creation and in His interactions with it [12, 14].

Christ's role as Creator and Sustainer is central to understanding character formation. He is described as the "image of God" (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3) and the Creator through whom all things were made (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2) [4]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Colossians 1:15 emphasizes Christ as the "exact likeness and perfect Representative" of God, who is both the Creator and Sustainer of the natural world and the source and stay of the "new moral creation" [10]. This perspective suggests that just as Christ is the agent of physical creation, he is also the agent of spiritual re-creation and character formation in believers. The Tyndale House Commentary on Colossians 1:15 further notes that eikōn ("image, representation") is used to refer to humans being made in God's image, connecting Christ's identity as the image of God to humanity's original design [11].

Children, too, are seen as a gift from God (Genesis 33:5; Psalm 127:3) and are capable of glorifying Him (Psalm 8:2; 148:12-13) [5]. They are to be brought to Christ, instructed in God's ways, and judiciously trained, with exhortations to obey and fear God and honor their parents [5]. This emphasis on the instruction and training of children within a divine framework further illustrates the sovereign hand of God in shaping character across generations.

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. 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. ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Leviathan — Created by God -- Ps 104:26. Nature and habits of -- Job 41:1-34. God's power, exhibited in destroying -- Ps 74:14. Illustrative of Powerful and cruel kings. -- Isa 27:1. Power and severity of God. -- Job 41:10.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: B — Created by God -- Ge 1:24,25; 2:19. Creation of, exhibits God's power -- Jer 27:5. Made for the praise and glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Differ in flesh from birds and fishes -- 1Co 15:39. Herb of the field given to, for food -- Ge 1:30. Power over, given to man -- Ge 1:26,28; Ps 8:7. Instinctively fear man -- Ge 9:2. Received their names from Adam -- Ge 2:19,20. Given to man for food after the flood -- Ge 9:3. Not to be eaten alive or with blood -- Ge 9:4; De 12:16,23. That died naturally or were torn, not to be eaten -- Ex 22:31; Le 17:15; 22:8. Supply clothing to”
  7. Genesis “God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” -- Genesis 1:26”
  8. Genesis “God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. -- Genesis 1:27”
  9. Genesis “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness. -- Genesis 5:1”
  10. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:15: They who have experienced in themselves "redemption" (Col 1:14), know Christ in the glorious character here described, as above the highest angels to whom the false teachers (Col 2:18) taught worship was to be paid. Paul describes Him: (1) in relation to God and creation (Col 1:15-17); (2) in relation to the Church (Col 1:18-20). As the former regards Him as the Creator (Col 1:15-16) and the Sustainer (Col 1:17) of the natural world; so the latter, as the source and stay of the new moral creation. image--exact likeness and perfect Representative.”
  11. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 1:15: 1:15-20 Paul presents Jesus as the supreme creator (1:15-17) and redeemer (1:18-20). The series of short statements, the exalted conceptions of Christ, and the parallelism in language and thought strongly suggest that these verses quote an early Christian hymn about Jesus that Paul applied to the situation of the Colossian Christians. 1:15 visible image: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, eikōn (“image, representation”) is used to refer to human beings having been made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27) and also to the wisdom figure in Jewish writin”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 145:8: 145:8-9 God consistently demonstrates his character toward all his creation (see 136:25).”
  13. Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 10:12: 10:12-16 This stanza contains several strong affirmations of God’s nature. 10:12 Jeremiah affirmed that the Lord’s power, wisdom, and understanding are the attributes with which he creates and sustains creation.”
  14. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 33:4: 33:4-7 God’s word displays his character and his power.”
  15. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 23:7: 23:7 God’s character is the motive for righteous behavior (see 22:22-24, 27).”
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