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Reflecting on Motivations to Align with God's Character

Alignment with God's character is a central theme in biblical teaching, motivated by various aspects of God's nature and actions, and expressed through the pursuit of holiness and righteousness. This alignment is not merely an outward conformity but an inward transformation that shapes one's entire life [10].

One primary motivation for aligning with God's character is the recognition of God as the ultimate model for holiness and conduct [13]. The instruction to "be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16) establishes God's character as the standard [8]. This call to imitate God is explicitly stated in Ephesians 5:1, where individuals are exhorted to "be imitators of God, as beloved children" [11]. This imitation extends to various virtues, including love, humility, meekness, and self-denial, all exemplified by Christ himself [6]. Christ's life serves as a perfect example of holiness and obedience, demonstrating how one can align with divine character [6, 8].

The mercies and goodness of God also serve as powerful motivations [4]. Romans 12:1 appeals to God's mercies as the basis for presenting one's body as a living sacrifice, which is described as spiritual worship. This act of devotion should be unreserved, involving one's spirit, body, members, and substance [4]. The goodness of God, as seen in His call, creation, preservation, and redemption, further compels individuals to devotedness [4]. The death of Christ, in particular, is highlighted as a foundational reason for this devotion, as it implies a life lived for Him who died and rose again [4].

The pursuit of a clear conscience before God and humanity is another motivation for aligning with God's character [2]. This involves a diligent effort to live righteously and to seek what is pleasing to the Lord [1, 5]. Diligence is required in seeking God, obeying Him, hearkening to His word, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, and guarding against defilement [5]. This active pursuit of God's will is part of adopting God's value system and submitting to His authority [9].

Furthermore, the desire to delight in God motivates alignment with His character [7]. This delight is commanded (Psalm 37:4) and is a characteristic of those reconciled with God (Job 22:21, 26). It is experienced through communion with God, delighting in His law, His goodness, and His comforts [7]. This deep satisfaction found in God encourages a habitual commitment to His truth, allowing it to become an integral part of one's character [12].

The ultimate purpose of this alignment is to bring glory and praise to God [14]. While righteous character cannot be produced solely by human effort, it is cultivated through the Spirit of Christ working within individuals [14]. This process enables individuals to share in God's qualities, not through a merging of souls, but by reflecting His divine nature in their lives [15]. Perseverance in faith, prayer, and well-doing is an evidence of this reconciliation and belonging to Christ, maintained through the power of God and Christ's intercession [3]. This transformation involves a renewing of the mind, moving away from conformity to the world and towards an inward spiritual change that makes the entire life new in its motives and ends [10].

Sources

  1. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:10 (NASB) — trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
  2. Acts “Acts 24:16 (LEB) — ⌞For this reason⌟ also I myself ⌞always⌟ do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
  4. 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”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Delighting In God — Commanded -- Ps 37:4. Reconciliation leads to -- Job 22:21,26. Observing the sabbath leads to -- Isa 58:13,14. Saints' experience in Communion with God. -- Song 2:3. The law of God. -- Ps 1:1; 119:24,35. The goodness of God. -- Ne 9:25. The comforts of God. -- Ps 94:19. Hypocrites Pretend to. -- Isa 58:2. In heart despise. -- Job 27:10; Jer 6:10. Promises to. -- Ps 37:4. Blessedness. -- Ps 112:1.”
  8. 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. ”
  9. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:31: 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God: Adopt God’s value system, pursue his purpose in the world, and submit to his authority.”
  10. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 12:2: And be ye not conformed to this world--Compare Eph 2:2; Gal 1:4, Greek. but be ye transformed--or, "transfigured" (as in Mat 17:2; and Co2 3:18, Greek). by the renewing of your mind--not by a mere outward disconformity to the ungodly world, many of whose actions in themselves may be virtuous and praiseworthy; but by such an inward spiritual transformation as makes the whole life new--new in its motives and ends, even where the actions differ in nothing from those of the world--new, considered as a whole, and in such a sense as to be wholly unattain”
  11. Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:1: Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;" for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themsel”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 26:3: 26:3 For God’s truth to become part of one’s character requires a habitual commitment.”
  13. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:15: Literally, "But (rather) after the pattern of Him who hath called you (whose characteristic is that He is) holy, be (Greek, 'become') ye yourselves also holy." God is our grand model. God's calling is a frequently urged motive in Peter's Epistles. Every one that begets, begets an offspring resembling himself [EPIPHANIUS]. "Let the acts of the offspring indicate similarity to the Father" [AUGUSTINE]. conversation--deportment, course of life: one's way of going about, as distinguished from one's internal nature, to which it must outwardly correspond. ”
  14. Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 1:11: 1:11 Righteous character cannot be produced by human effort; it comes only through the Spirit of Christ working in people’s hearts. • Glory and praise to God is the ultimate purpose for which God’s people live (see Eph 1:6, 12, 14).”
  15. 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 1:4: 1:4 enable you to share his divine nature: Peter probably did not mean that our souls are merged with God but that believers share God’s qualities (cp. Lev 11:44; Matt 5:43-48; Eph 4:24; 5:1).”
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