Building Character

COMPASSION

Part 2

Building Character

• Constitution of one’s real self• Who you are• Conformed to image of Christ, Col 3:10• Christian’s character is expressed by

his or her faith, 2 Peter 1:5-7• Building character: Shaping our hearts

Col 3:12-17 (Rom 12:2)• Determined action (“put on”), Col 3:12

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Compassion

• (oiktirmos) “To have pity, a feeling of distress through the ills of others” (Vine)

• “bowels of mercy” (KJV)

• Mercy grows out of compassion – “the outward manifestation of pity”,

Matt 5:7

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Compassion

• God’s elect have received compassion, Col 3:12; Rom 9:15– Do the same, 1 Jno 4:19, 10-11– Or we condemn ourselves,

Luke 6:38

• Trait of holiness, Col 3:12– God’s compassion, Rom 5:8– Be holy as He is, 1 Pet 1:15-16

CHARACTER

OF

CARING

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Compassion

• We all need to be more evangelistic, Lk 15:1-7

• Sacrifices to try to save others, 1 Cor 9:22, 19– Foregoes liberties– Labors to save others

• Produces a commitment to teach, Acts 20:18-20– Peter and Paul, Ac 8:20;

24:25

CHARACTER

OF

EVANGELISM

Matt 9:35-38Acts 15:36

Acts 16:9-10 5

Compassion

• Removes the limits from our willingness to forgive, Matt 18:21-35 (Gen 50:15-21)

• Such forgiveness is harder than it may appear, Luke 6: 27-28, 35-36– Being compassionate in the

face of abuse is a great test of faith (character), Luke 23:34

– What sin does to those who sin against us, Acts 7:59-60

CHARACTER

OF

FORGIVENESS

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Compassion

•We can learn compassion, Isaiah 1:16-17

•If you are willing… (Isa 1:19)– Brotherly love, 1 Jno 3:16-17– Help needy, Lk 10:33-34 – Comfort the mourner, Lk 7:13– Remember the distressed,

Heb 13:1-3 (10:34)

•Sees itself in others and acts, Matt 7:12 (Psa 35:11-14)

CHARACTER

OF

HELPING

THE LESS

FORTUNATE

Mark 1:40-42

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Compassion

•Pity toward the distress of others even when they refuse to show the same pity to you, Psa 35:15-16

•Build hearts of compassion•Compassion is the character of

godliness…the character of God’s holy ones

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