Defining Character: Habitual Deeds and Victory Over Sin

Character is not determined by the occasional performance of good or bad deeds, but is formed through the repetition of acts that develop into lasting habits6LtMs, Lt 24, 1890, par. 3+1. True character building is a lifelong process of training the mind and subduing the natural heart to follow divine principles rather than fitful impulses7LtMs, Ms 20, 1891, par. 11+1.

The Nature of True Character

• Consistency Over Impulse: Character is not the result of an accident or an occasional action, but is the daily accumulation of thoughts and deedsAUCR January 5, 1914, par. 2. It is the training and education of the mind through repetition that forms our habits, and these habits ultimately constitute the character8LtMs, Ms 32, 1893, par. 10+1.

• The Power of Little Things: Our character is often determined by how we handle the small, seemingly unimportant things in lifeCOL 356.1+1. Underrating these "little things" creates peril in our character building, as they provide the actual discipline of life10LtMs, Lt 25a, 1895, par. 30+1.

• Reflecting the Divine Pattern: A righteous character is developed as we behold the life of Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to mold our experience after the divine similitude6BC 1109.1+1. The law of God serves as the great standard and transcript of His character, which we are to imitateYI February 19, 1903, par. 3+1.

The Work of a Lifetime

Building a character for eternity requires diligent effort and a constant struggle for conquest over selfMH 452.1. It involves placing "solid timbers" into the structure of our lives—such as integrity, temperance, and kindness—while removing the "rubbish" of selfish motivesYI February 19, 1903, par. 3+1. Every day, we are either placing a "good or a bad brick" into this structure, deciding our destiny for eternal life or eternal ruinCT 61.2+1.

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much" Luke 16:10.

"Why by their fruits you shall know them" Matthew 7:20.

It takes time for a person to establish a character. It is not the occasional doing of either good or bad deeds that constitutes character or forms habits. You should look well to your spirit and course of action, for they are not altogether right. You ha...— 6LtMs, Lt 24, 1890, par. 3 (1889)

Neither occasional good deeds nor occasional bad deeds constitute character, or form habit, but it is training and educating the mind to the feelings of the same kind by repetition. What is done once by impulse one will more readily do a second time. I have been shown that the Lor...— 8LtMs, Ms 32, 1893, par. 10

Acts repeated form habits, and habit constitutes character. My young brother, for Christ’s sake, make a decided effort to cooperate with God. Do not make...— 13LtMs, Lt 46, 1898, par. 24

Acts make habits, and habits constitute character. There is no fear of overlooking great things, but there is peril in overlooking and undervaluing li...— 10LtMs, Lt 25a, 1895, par. 30

Full victory over sin is achieved through a total surrender to Christ, where His perfect righteousness is credited to the believer, and the heart is brought into complete harmony with the divine willST December 12, 1892, par. 7+1. While character building is indeed a progressive, lifelong work of developing habits, "full victory" in a moment of conversion means the soul has fully yielded its will to God and accepted the merits of Christ's blood to cleanse every stain of sin2SM 32.3+2.

The Experience of the Thief on the Cross

• A Genuine Conversion: The thief’s experience was a genuine conversion where, in the closing moments of his life, he accepted the light of truth with intelligent faith3SP 157.2. Although he did not have years to develop habits, his surrender was so complete that he recognized Christ’s divinity while Jesus was in His deepest humiliationPrT January 21, 1886, par. 10.

• The Merits of Christ: The thief did not enter Paradise based on his own formed habits, but because he cast his helpless, dying soul upon a dying Saviour, whose perfect righteousness was placed to his account16MR 234.3+2.

• Immediate Acceptance: In that moment of total faith, the "pearl of great price" became his, and the Savior's power to save sinners was fully exercised in his behalfCOL 115.1+1. Even in his suffering humanity, Jesus had the divine right to promise him salvation because the thief had experienced the cleansing efficacy of the blood of ChristHLv 501.4+2.

Understanding Character and Occasional Deeds

• The Trend of the Soul: Character is estimated by the inward adorning and the habitual bent of the mind rather than by an occasional good or bad act2T 175.1+1. However, this does not provide an excuse for sin, as the work of sanctification requires a constant, daily dying to self and a persevering effort to cultivate right habitsPCP 58.2+1.

• Holiness of Heart: Those who truly walk with God will not boast of their own perfection; instead, the closer they come to Jesus, the more they will discern their own defects and rely entirely on His graceLS80 211.3+1. Full victory means that the conscience is purged from dead works and the soul is molded after the divine likeness through the Holy Spirit Hebrews 9:142SM 32.3+1.

The Harmony of Grace and Effort

• Condition of Acceptance: While we cannot be saved by our works, it is impossible to be saved without them, as true faith binds the heart in willing consecration and serviceFW 25.2+1. God saves us under the law of growth, where we add grace to grace, and He multiplies the results 2 Peter 1:5-8PCP 58.2.

• Preparation for Heaven: To be fit for the society of heaven, a moral transformation must take place so that we are in harmony with the principles of God’s kingdomRH July 21, 1891, par. 14+1. This state of perfection is a complete harmony of our will with the will of our CreatorST May 25, 1882, par. 8.

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" Philippians 2:12-13.

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day" Proverbs 4:18.

That is a very insightful way to look at it! To understand the balance between a "perfect character" and the "lifelong process" of growth, we must distinguish between our own efforts and the perfection provided by Christ 😇.

Christian Perfection of the Soul

• While we cannot claim perfection of the flesh, we may have Christian perfection of the soul through the sacrifice made in our behalf2SM 32.3.
• When we surrender ourselves wholly to God and believe, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin and our conscience is freed from condemnation Hebrews 9:142SM 32.3.
• We are not to be anxious about what God thinks of us, but about what God thinks of Christ, our Substitute, in whom we are accepted2SM 32.3+1.
• This means that "full victory" is first and foremost a total surrender of the will to God, allowing His perfection to be placed to our accountST December 12, 1892, par. 7+1.

The Direction of the Soul vs. Sinless Perfection

• Character is indeed determined by the habitual bent of the mind rather than by an occasional good or bad deed6LtMs, Lt 24, 1890, par. 3+1.
• However, we are cautioned that our lack of spirituality can be caused by choosing to please ourselves in "the smallest sin" instead of seeking to honor GodST May 25, 1882, par. 8.
• Genuine sanctification is not a state of being where we can no longer fall, but a daily dying to self and a constant conflict with inclination to do the will of God4T 299.2.
• The closer we come to Jesus and contemplate His purity, the more we will discern our own defects and the less we will be disposed to claim holiness for ourselvesLS80 211.3+1.

Knowledge and the Path of the Just

• God leads us step by step, and the path of the just is like a shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day Proverbs 4:1812LtMs, Lt 85, 1897, par. 9.
• We are judged based on the light and privileges we have received, and we are responsible for rendering an account of how we use that light2T 175.1.
• If a person walks in the light they have, as the thief on the cross did at the "eleventh hour," they are accepted by Christ because their heart is in harmony with His will3SP 157.2+1.
• In the thief's case, his intelligent faith in the dying Saviour was sufficient for his salvation because it was a genuine conversion under peculiar circumstances3SP 157.2+1.

The Work of a Lifetime

• Character building is the work of a lifetime, and every day we are either placing a good or a bad "brick" in the structure of our livesCT 61.2+2.
• Even though we are accepted through Christ's merits, we are still called to put forth persevering efforts to cultivate right habits and add grace to grace 2 Peter 1:5-8PCP 58.2.
• The Lord will carry on this work of perfection for us if we allow ourselves to be controlled by Him for His name's glory13LtMs, Lt 105, 1898, par. 19.

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" Philippians 2:12-13.

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much" Luke 16:10.