Character Flaws

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4: 7 - 11 NKJV

I found myself listening to a radio preacher the other day and his message made me stop and think.  This old southern drawl preacher was talking of the character of Christ Himself and how it is that we today should strive for this also.  For to not do so may be considered a christian character flaw.  Now, anyone who has perused these pages of mine knows my feelings of Christ Jesus today and how He is indeed present in all who acknowlwedge Him.  How, then, could it be considered a character flaw if we have already have that very character of Christ within us?  I can see how others could be misled by this preachers message.  Not that I am wise in the ways of the truth of Jesus in me, for it took me quite some time to come to this realization.  However, I find it interesting that despite there being scriptural reference to conform this truth, that there remains very little if any teaching on it in the institutional churches of today.  That being said, when someone hears of the "Character" of Christ Jesus, what should come to mind?  Well, for starters one would assume that the character of Jesus would include mercy, kindness and forgiveness.  For these are the very attributes which Christ Himself displayed to others around Him.  However, I think that we can narrow down the characteristics of Christ into one word, which we find in 1 John 4.  That word...is Love.  As John tells us, as God loved us, so we ought to love one another.  Is this not the key characteristic of our heavenly Father?  Was it not His love for us that when we were yet sinners that Christ Jesus died for us {Romans 5:8}.  Not only myself, but my Fathers love was also shown to others around me, that all might be saved {John 3: 16 - 17}.  I would argue, in fact, that it is indeed love which is the basis of all our heavenly Father does.  We see it throughout scripture as His love was shown to Abraham, Issac, Noah and David.

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of aGod! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3: 1 -2 NKJV

Indeed, our heavenly Father has continually showered His own love upon His children.  By this we know His true character.  However, how is it that we are showing any character flaws if we do not strive to be more like Jesus?  I feel that those of us who have accepted Jesus have already inherited His character.  For we know that Christ Himself is present in all who have acknowledged Him.  Knowing this, how can we not also have the character of Christ in us?  All that we see, experience and do we now do as Christ who is in us.  I see this not as a character flaw, but as an inheritance.  For as we ourselves have inherited certain characteristics from our earthly parents, so have we also inherited those characteristics of Christ who is in us.  I feel it is impossible for Christ Jesus to be in us without our inheriting that which makes Him who He is.  Therefore, if that true nature of our heavenly Father is love, then that indeed is what we have within us.  Now, we can choose ourselves whether or not to exhibit these characteristics, but they're still there.  As children of God, we have inherited those unique characteristics of our heavenly Father.  That is no character flaw mister preacher.

~Scott~