Chapter 2:Virtue

Chapter Introduction In the beginning, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God and all was good. Then sin entered into the world and all was not good. But God put a plan into action that would reunite God and man, in order God and man could once again walk and talk together. This plan involved Christ being born of a virgin, enduring temptations, trials, and tribulations, overcoming these and as an innocent sacrifice on the cross paying the price for sin.

Even though Christ paid the price for sin through the shedding of his blood, mankind has a responsibility to submit to God and obey from the heart that form of doctrine in order to apply Jesus’ blood so each person individually can be cleansed from their sins. This plan requires an alien sinner to have faith in Jesus Christ. This faith must be a faith that leads us to have a desire to serve God and to please him. In the last chapter we studied on this series of topics, we saw this faith had to cause us to be baptized into Jesus Christ. God, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, laid out the gospel plan of salvation. The plan of salvation involves clear steps that lead us to become followers of Christ.

But God did not stop there. He knew mankind was prone to temptation and sin. So God gave a plan for Christians to follow so they would never fall, but would be guaranteed to grow. All we have to do is to follow that plan and we have a written guarantee from God we will make it to heaven

2 Peter 1:3-11 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

God gives us a guarantee if we add these things to our lives we will have a home in heaven. We will overcome all adversities. It becomes important for us to study each of these characteristics so we will better understand what they are and how to add them to our lives.

Add to your faith--VIRTUE
Arête: properly denotes whatever procures preeminent estimation for a person or thing; hence, "intrinsic eminence, moral goodness, virtue," The original and general sense seems to be blended with the impression made on others. In simple English, for one to possess virtue, it must be a natural characteristic people notice as one lives their lives. These are your core beliefs and characteristics that shape your decisions and your entire life. Therefore these virtues must be readily noticeable and natural.

In other words, when one is working on adding virtue, this means they examine their life and concentrate on taking sin and sinful habits out of their lives and replacing it with good things and Godly habits. It is both logical and natural this would be the first step in growing in Christ. It does not matter how much you know about God’s word or what his will for you is, you will have a basic understanding about some of the things you should or should not be doing and if you examine your life honestly you will know some of the basic things you need to change. For example if someone is involved in alcohol or drugs, they know this is wrong. If they are stealing, committing adultery, or mistreating others, every culture teaches these things are wrong and if they want to be pleasing to God, they will take these things from their life and replace them with behavior that is pleasing to the Creator of the Universe. Additionally by getting in the pattern of honestly examining their life, a Christian is setting up habits if continued in will keep their Christian life on a firm foundation.

Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

Christians are to have their minds centered on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. It is not enough to just remove sin from our lives, we must replace those sins with good things, things God wants us to do. As we study and learn from whatever source, these things God wants us to do, we are to begin doing them.

When we learn from the preacher something is right, we need to add it to our lives. When we learn from our studying something is good, we need to begin doing it. When we learn from watching someone’s example that something is pleasing to God, we need to do it. If something is virtuous, it should be in our lives, we need to be living it.

Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"

We are commanded to make believers of alien sinners, baptizing them in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost. Afterwards each new Christian is to be taught to obey EVERY COMMANDMENT given by God. Adding Virtue to our lives is a never ended task because as we study and learn more about the commands of God, those things he wants us to do, as we add them to our lives, we learn more from living the Christian life as well as more about living the Christian life.
(OBEDIENCE TO GOD)

Romans 13:1-6 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."

The governments derive their powers from God therefore we obey the laws of the land as part of our submission to God. Christians are to submit to and obey the laws of the land not only because we want to avoid the punishment, but also because we want to be pleasing to God. When we break the law, we are in rebellion against God.
(OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS OF THE LAND)

HEBREWS 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Christians are to consider one another and encourage each other grow unto love and good works. This is one reason we should desire to attend the assembly of the saints, to strengthen one another. If our brethren become weak, we should be concerned about them and want to strengthen them. But how can we encourage our brethren, how can we even know if they are going through a difficult time, if we do not spend time with them?
(CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER) (SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER)

Romans 13:7-8 "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

We see another aspect of Christianity that is not taught on or stressed as much as is needed. If we are under submission to God, we will pay all our debts. When we cheat a brother in Christ by not paying them promptly, we are robbing God. When we do not pay our rent or house payment, we are robbing God. If we cheat on our taxes, we are cheating God. If we owe any man anything and do not pay them, we are robbing God.
(LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS)

1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."

We as Christians are expected to become like Christ and if we are doing this, we should becoming more and more like each other. If we are growing unto the mind of Christ, we should be thinking more like other Christians, not necessarily in our individual thoughts, but at least in our basic characteristics. We are to love as brethren and have compassion one for another. We are to be courteous to one another, to treat one another with respect. If we are treating our fellow Christians with respect, we would never render evil towards them, let alone rail against them. We as Christians are not to treat others with evil, even if they are evil to us. We are to do this because of who we are, children of God, not because of how others may act.
(HAVE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS)

Acts 2:41-47 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

The example we have laid down for us is Christians are to continue stedfastly in: Spending time with fellow Christians; Attending the worship services; Living a life guided by what we have been taught; Sharing the blessings we get from God with others. We as Christians are being taught by the example here in Acts about how the early Christians acted and behaved. We should act in the same fashion.
(SHARING WHAT WE HAVE WITH OTHERS)

EPHESIANS 4:22-25 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."

As Christians we are to put away our old way of living, our old man when we have been baptized. In addition to putting away the old man of sin, we are to put on the new spiritual man. We are to be renewed in our minds and to live holy lives. In putting aside the old man and putting on the new man, this means we put away lying and begin speaking the truth with our neighbors, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We do this because when we are members one of another and we are lying to ourselves and to God, when we lie to others.
(TO SPEAK AND LIVE HONESTLY)

MATTHEW 5:33-37 "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

Christians are to let their lives be shaped by Christ. This is accomplished partially by adding virtue to our faith and when combining virtue with knowledge, we study to show ourselves approved unto God. As part of this Christian growth process, we see not only are we not to lie, but we are not to take any oath at all. We are not to swear by a higher power, or by heaven, or by the earth. When we say yes we are to mean yes. When we say no we are to mean no. Any more than this comes of evil. What this means is if when you say something and someone asks you to take an oath, it implies your word is not good enough.
(SPEAK THE SIMPLE TRUTH)

Chapter Summary

1. Virtue is taking sinful habits out of our lives and replacing it with and Godly habits.
2. One Virtuous Characteristic we need is to speak the simple truth.
3. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to speak and live honestly.
4. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to share what we have with others.
5. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to have compassion for others.
6. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to live within our means.
7. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to consider one another.
8. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to spend time with each other.
9. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need to be under obedience to the law of the lands.
10. Another Virtuous Characteristic we need is to be under obedience to God.