What does the Bible say about developing christian character?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• Psalms 119:105

  Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path.

• Romans 5:4

  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope:

• Romans 6:23

  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• 1 John 5:1-21

  [1] Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the father also loves the child who is born of him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous. [4] For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. [5] Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [6] This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [7] For there are three who testify: [8] the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one. [9] If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God's testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. [10] He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. [11] The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life. [13] These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. [14] This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. [15] And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. [16] If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this. [17] All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. [18] We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn't touch him. [19] We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. [20] We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. [21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

• Ruth 1:1-22

  [1] It happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. [2] The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and continued there. [3] Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. [4] They took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they lived there about ten years. [5] Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband. [6] Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread. [7] She went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. [8] Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house: Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me. [9] Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept. [10] They said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people. [11] Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? [12] Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons; [13] would you therefore wait until they were grown? would you therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Yahweh is gone forth against me. [14] They lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her. [15] She said, Behold, your sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her god: return you after your sister-in-law. [16] Ruth said, "Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; [17] where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me." [18] When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her. [19] So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. It happened, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and [the women] said, Is this Naomi? [20] She said to them, "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty; why do you call me Naomi, seeing Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" [22] So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

• Acts 4:13

  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.

• 1 John 2:1-29

  [1] My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. [2] And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. [3] This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. [4] One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him. [5] But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most assuredly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: [6] he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked. [7] Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. [8] Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. [9] He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now. [10] He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. [11] But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. [12] I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. [13] I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father. [14] I have written to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one. [15] Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's. [17] The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever. [18] Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the end times. [19] They went out from us, but they didn't belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us. [20] You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know the truth. [21] I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. [22] Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. [23] Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn't have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. [24] Therefore, as for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father. [25] This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life. [26] These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray. [27] As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don't need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. [28] Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. [29] If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.

• Philippians 4:8

  Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.

• Galatians 5:22-23

  [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

• Revelation 1:1

  This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,

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