The Nature of Character...

nature of character

Scriptural teaching emphasizes that the only thing we ultimately take with us into God’s kingdom is our character. This idea means that earthly possessions, social status, and even religious habits do not pass with us into eternity. What endures is the inner person—our dispositions, values, motives, habits of thought, and patterns of love. Character is the sum of the choices we make and the person we become through those choices. In the believer’s vision, salvation brings us into God’s presence, but character determines our capacity to appreciate, participate in, and reflect His love. Thus, character is not merely an abstract moral concept; it is the very shape of our soul as it relates to God.

The truth that “character is not transferable” highlights a profound spiritual reality: no human being can hand off holiness, maturity, or virtue to another person. We can bless, influence, teach, inspire, and intercede for one another, but we cannot substitute our own inner life for someone else’s. Character grows through personal experience with God—through our choices, struggles, repentance, perseverance, and cooperation with divine grace. This makes character deeply individual and intimately tied to one’s own will. Just as no one can breathe for you or believe for you, no one can develop your character for you. This preserves the integrity of human freedom and underscores the seriousness of our daily decisions.

Yet true believers are told to “form characters after the likeness of Christ.” At first glance, this may seem contradictory—if character cannot transfer, how can we take Christ’s character as our model? The answer lies in the distinction between imitation and impartation. Christ does not give us His character the way one person might give another a possession. Instead, He gives us His Spirit, who works within us to shape our character. We are invited to participate in that shaping through our thoughts, choices, attitudes, and obedience. Christ provides the pattern of perfect humanity, and the Spirit provides the transforming power, but we must provide the willing heart. Christlikeness is not a transfer but a transformation—a cooperative work between divine grace and human response.

Because character cannot be transferred, each believer must personally engage in spiritual growth. No pastor, parent, or friend can instill their faithfulness into our souls. However, because Christ calls us to His likeness, we are never left alone to attempt transformation by sheer willpower. Spiritual growth is both individual and communal: we learn from the example of Christ and from the witness of others, but we internalize what we learn through personal decision and divine empowerment. This protects the uniqueness of each believer’s journey while also anchoring us in a shared pattern of Christlike love.

When we say that character is what we take into the kingdom, we recognize that eternity builds on who we have become in this life. Our earthly choices matter because they shape our ability to love, to forgive, to trust God, and to live in harmony with others—qualities that define life in God’s presence. Character is, in essence, the soul’s readiness for communion with God. This is why Christ invites us to be transformed into His likeness: not to earn salvation, but to become the kind of people who can fully enjoy and reflect the life of the kingdom.

This idea is not meant to diminish God’s grace but to highlight the spiritual reality that heaven is not merely a destination—it is a condition of the soul. Certain inward qualities are eternal; the imprint of Christ formed within us. Read Ezekiel 14:14. There is no borrowing, no copying. Each of us must secure our own supply of oil. Cooperating with the grace God gives is our willingness to renew of our minds. That grace is God’s declaration to put His Spirit within us to cause us to walk in His statues. This is impartation through a living relationship with Jesus. Divine in origin and cooperative in practice. This is our personal and communal response to God. And our cooperation is signaled in iron sharpening iron – influencing one another, not becoming one another. No other can answer your calling – it’s personal.

But let us exhort each other…provoke each other unto love, to good works. It’s a beautiful balance when we help each other grow. The balance is the body’s support, the Spirit’s power, and our willingness. Momentary behaviors are abandoned; eternal aspects are acquired. Character is the treasure we are laying up in heaven.

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 ⛰ Go Deeper

This reflection is part of a larger Bible-based study on faith and transformation.

👉 Read more at OnlineBibleCourse.com.

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