LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS - 7

G – BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LIFE – 7

Nobody would deny that love is the quality that binds all of the virtues together.  Col.3:14   So, after naming moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness, we come to the seventh building block—love. 

1 Pet.1:7   God has given us precious and magnificent promises and He wants us to escape the sin that is in the world so that we may partake of the divine nature and have these promises.  1 Pet.1:4   This is the reason we are to work with diligence in our faith to develop these seven qualities.  1 Pet.1:5

Love began with God.  1 Jhn.4:10   The fact that he sent His son to die for us shows the great love He has for us and the whole world.  Jhn.3:16   As we want to know God, only through love can we accomplish this.  1 Jhn.4:8,16   The love of God surpasses our humanness.  It is more than we can fathom, but with faith, we know the love of God is with us as we love Him.  Eph.3:19;  Rom.8:38,39

Love of human beings many times comes and goes.  God’s love is everlasting.  Jer.31:3   The highest expression of love is God’s love for man whom He created.  The highest expression of man is our love of God and mankind.  God loves His Son and Jesus expressed this in Jhn.17:24.  God delights in His Chosen One.  Isa.42:1   God not only loves His Son but He loves those that love His Son.  Jhn.17:23   The Greek word for love in Jhn.16:27 is an intense love of a Father to a Son, so if we believe in His Son, He loves us with this intensity of love. 

God also has a great love for the world.  1 Tim.2:4   As God looks upon their sin and their disobedience, His love reaches out with a desire that they be saved.  Rom.5:6,8   This isn’t just “them”, it is also “us”—me..  Eph.2:1   Why would God let His Son die for us when we were full of sin?  Because of love.  Eph.2:4   God’s love is not generic.  His love is a very individual love for each person.  Gal.2:20   God loves us so much that He calls us His children.  1 Jhn.3:1

Whatever love man has, it comes from God.  1 Jhn.4:19   As we became Christians, we were born again.  We were born into God’s family and became His child.  We know God; then because we love, we love God as our Father.  1 Jhn.4:7   Christ’s love for us compels or drives us to live for Him.  It causes us to have this strong urge to submit our lives to Him.  2 Cor.5:14   Do we have that kind of love?

Love is the supreme virtue.  1 Cor.13:13   If we have this deep, sincere love, the other virtues will come more easily.  Col.3:14   Love is that bond or glue which binds us, not only to our Lord, but also to our brothers.  We cannot say we love God and then not have this love for our brother.  1 Jhn.4:21  

Love surpasses traits that might seemingly make us important.  Paul uses himself as an example to the Corinthians.  The same applies to us.  We might know languages and even the language of angels.  No love—no importance.  We might have great knowledge and even understand things that others don’t comprehend.  No love—no importance.  We might surpass many in a great, strong faith.  No love—no importance.  We might be able to give great amounts of money to help others.  No love—no importance.  We might even give our life over to death as a martyr.  No love—no importance.  Paul ends this discussion by saying—no profit.  1 Cor.13:3

Many of the Jews held their genealogies as something of great importance and they would argue about these things even after they become Christians.  Paul explained love to them in a way appropriate for us as well.  1 Tim.1:5   Our love for our brothers should not contain some hidden agenda but come from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

Jesus taught forgiveness very strongly.  Matt.6:14,15   So if we have the proper love for our brother, this love will cause us to forgive and forget the slights, insults, and whatever they may have done against us.  Above all, this love will cover these sins.  1 Pet.4:8

Just as all things are given to us by God, so the ability to love comes from God.  We want to know God.  Love is the road to this knowledge.  1 Jhn.4:7   Loving our brother is an important part of loving God.  1 Jhn.4:11,12   So how do we show that we love God and our brother?

We can’t love God and not try to please Him.  1 Jhn.2:3,5   Then how do we show love to our brother?  1 Jhn.3:16   We even show love to our enemies and the unlovely.  Our Lord did.  Rom.12:20   We are told to serve one another in Gal.5:13.  If there is some possibility that we might be causing our brother to stumble, we cease or give up whatever that might be in honor of him.  Rom.14:20   This is to be done in love.

Love is the first virtue mentioned in the list of the fruit of the Spirit.Gal.5:22   With love, the rest of the fruit will grow just as in our 2 Peter scripture. Love sums up the virtues to build a Christian life in Christ.  Christians show their love to the world by the love they have for one another.  In this way the gospel can become appealing to those of the world for everyone wants and needs to be loved.  Jhn.13:35

We can talk about loving God.  We can tell our brothers that we love them.  What we do and the attitudes we show really says what is in our heart.  1 Jhn.3:18   Love must be shown to everyone in everything we do.  1 Cor.16:14

LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS - 6

F – BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE – 6

As we continuously grow in our life in Christ, a biblical example is of a building with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.  Eph.2:20,21   God through His inspired Word has given us everything we need to build our lives.  2 Pet.1:3  

In retrospect 2 Pet.1:5 began our building blocks with moral excellence which is a love of right and the conscious desire to follow right.  A realization of this desire brings the necessity of knowledge from the Word of God that teaches us what would please God and glorify Him.  1 Cor.10:31  

2 Pet.1:6  continues these building blocks.  The next one is self-control, one which is very difficult to build.  When we give in to “self”, we become instruments of the devil.  Rom.6:12,13   This cannot be achieved alone.  We need the help of God through the Spirit.  Gal.5:16,17

Perseverance/patience is the next building block.  The purpose of this as a building block is very obvious.  To “keep on keeping on” patient endurance is an absolute.  Heb.6:12; Heb.12:1

How strongly we need to strive for godliness which is honoring God with what is due Him and also honoring our fellowman with what is due him.  As we honor God, we have to make the first move.  God doesn’t move.  Jam.4:8; Jer.29:13  It reminds us of the song, “He Was There All the Time”.

The sixth building block taken from 2 Pet.1:7 is brotherly kindness.  Kindness is an attitude that is shown outwardly.  Kindness and love overlap each other.  Sometimes it is difficult to separate the two for if you love, you will be kind. 

So what is the attitude of kindness.  A person that is kind will be friendly.  How many times do visitors come and note the friendliness of a congregation or they may notice the opposite which is not good.  A kind person makes another feel wanted.  Too often clicks are noticeable in a church and some feel excluded.  However, sometimes this is not intended.  The “excluded” person excludes themselves and expects everyone to come to them.  This is not kindness of their part but selfishness.

A kind person is generous.  1 Jhn.3:17; Jam.2:2-4   If we see a need—and we should make ourselves aware of the needs of our brothers—we should do what is within our ability to fulfill that need.  Maybe we need to get others to help us.  God has blessed us with so much.  We need to bless others.

A person that is kind is going to have a gentle nature.  What a difference this makes in a family and/or a congregation.  It just takes one without a gentle nature to ruin the atmosphere of either.  Gal.5:15; Phil.2:3,14; 2 Tim.2:24   A gentle nature does not have to be weak.  A gentle person still stands for the Truth.  He is not an elephant in a china closet. 

Thoughtfulness is part of kindness.  “How does this make the other person feel?”  Perhaps our communication has broken down and our words are not connecting with the way they are thinking.  Many times our thoughts and desires must be set aside as we think of the other person first.  Eph.5:21  

Being considerate is very close to thoughtfulness.  We have not “walked a mile in their shoes.”  If we are considerate, we will be forbearing and forgiving for we know we also have faults and need the same from them.  Eph.4:32   Being considerate or kind should be a reciprocal attitude (Matt.7:12) although we must show this attitude on our part even if it is not returned for we want to please God and glorify Him and not man.

With the above attitudes it is apparent that loving actions would follow.  If we are truly kind, we will find things to do to help others.  Home is a place full of opportunities to show kindness.  Tit.2:5   In all places and to everyone a Christian will show kindness in every way possible.  1 Thess.5:15   People need help in sickness and sorrow, in pain and in need, in transportation to church and shops.  Telephone calls and cards are a type of kind encouragement.  Help with church projects and teaching.  The list could go on and on.

Our scripture (2 Pet.1:7) did not mention just kindness but brotherly kindness.  It is true that Christians are to have a kind sprit to all we meet; however this Scripture seems to apply mainly to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Who are our brothers?  Christ answers this question.  Matt.12:50   Many of Paul’s letters begin or end or both with the mention of “brothers” in Christ.  Eph.6:23; Col.4:7; Phil.2:25   In some cases masters and slaves were brothers in Christ.  1 Tim.6:2   Peter mentions the brotherhood of believers.  We are to show respect.  1 Pet.2:17

Jesus was our perfect example as He walked on earth.  He went about doing many kind things for people.  God is such a God of kindness.  Rom.11:22   Even Job with all of his loss was able to speak of the kindness of God.  Job 10:12   David praised the unfailing kindness of God.  Ps.18:50   The Lord exercises kindness in which He delights.  Jer.9:24

Solomon introduces some opposites worth considering.  Prov.11:17   Some versions use the word, “merciful”.  NIV uses the kind man.  God knows our heart and takes note of our attitudes and actions that follow.  Kindness is profitable to the giver and to the receiver.  Prov.12:25

LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS - 5

E – BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE – 5

Godliness is our next building block of life in Christ.  2 Pet.1:6   Being godly incorporates the first and second commandment of importance.  Lk.10:27   A godly life extends in two directions.  It honors God and gives Him what is due to Him and it honors our fellow-man and gives him what is due to him, as well.

Let us look at our relationship to God first for this is the basis from which we also serve our fellow-man.  The word, “piety or pious” is used in connection to God.  As Peter healed the feet of the cripple by the gate Beautiful, he refuted the idea that this miracle was done by his own power but through the power of God.  Acts 3:12   Our relationship to God recognizes Him as the supreme power.  1 Tim.2:5,6  

Our recognition and strong belief in One God is foundation of all else that pertains to godliness.  Isa.45:5,6   Our understanding of God and who He is is imperative in our gain of godliness.  Heb. 11:6   David instructed his son, Solomon, to know God.  He then proceeded to tell him how.  1 Chron.28:9   Jeremiah gives a similar statement.  Jer.29:13 

We must realize that God never changes.  He is forever the same.  Heb.1:12   God is ready to help us in time of need.  Isa.40:28-31   Our trust is focused on God who can do anything but fail.  Lk.1:37, Lk.18:27   God’s power is beyond comprehension.  Jer.32:17

When Paul spoke to those in Athens, he went beyond the “unknown god” and explained the real God to them.  This explanation enriches our knowledge and thinking as well.  Acts 17:23-28 

As we realize we were made by God and God has given us everything we have, what is our response to this loving God, the God of our salvation.  (Acts 4:12)   Since all things come from God (1 Cor.4:7), we become stewards of the things of God.  1 Cor.4:2   A steward means we are caretakers.  We don’t own but just take care.  We belong to the Lord for we have been bought with a very large price.  1 Cor.7:23   As stewards, we must be found faithful for we will give an account to the one who owns us.  Rom.14:12

God is all-knowing, everywhere, eternal, holy, righteous.  God is love, truth, wisdom.  This is the God we want to know, trust, obey, please, and love.  This is the basis of godliness.  This is the God we want to know.  What an awesome God we have!. Words are so inadequate.

Not only is our relationship to our God important to obtain godliness but our relationship to our fellow-man is also important.  Godliness is an inner virtue that is shown outwardly.  Some definitions include righteousness.  A godly person desires to do what is right and pleasing to God.  It cannot be just an outward show but must come from the heart.  It is an overcoming desire that surpasses all other desires.  It is not just a form.  2 Tim.3:5   Godliness is not just an attempt to “look good”.

Godliness manifests the manner of life which is devoted to God.  Paul exhorts us to train or discipline our lives for the purpose of godliness.  1 Tim.4:7,8   Then he explains that it is so much more profitable than bodily discipline.  This seems to be the thrust in today’s culture.  Exercise.  That is good for health but will not be profitable for eternity.  As we remove those things from our lives that are not pleasing to God (Let’s call sin-sin.) we pursue (run after, fight for) godliness.  1 Tim.6:11

So how do we obtain godliness.  We train for it and we pursue it.  1 Tim.6:3  tells us that we go to sound instruction.  In other words we go to the Word of God.  We need the knowledge of the Truth.  Tit.1:1   Through the knowledge of God we have everything we need to develop a life of godliness.  2 Pet.1:3   Self-help books are very inferior to the Word of God; even if they are written by a Christian author.

Sometimes we can gain a better understanding of a word by a study of a word with the opposite meaning.  In this case it would be “ungodly”.  Our first discussion was our relationship with God.  The ungodly would not have a true relationship with God.  If asked the question, “Do you know God?”, they might well want to melt in their shoes.  Sadly enough, there will come a time of even greater proportion.  Lk.23:30   The ungodly don’t know God or if they once did, they refuse to follow Him.  1 Pet.4:18   On the contrary, those who do what is right (godly) can entrust their souls to Almighty God.  1 Pet.4:19

Jude warns of those who are ungodly and secretly enter congregations to disrupt and turn the grace of God into excuses to sin.  Jude 4   God still deals with sin.  It may be put off to give opportunity for sinners to repent but the One God will punish with an everlasting punishment.  2 Pet.2:9; Jude 15

Jesus Christ is our perfect example of godliness as He lived on earth.  He is the mystery of godliness.  1 Tim.3:16   In the next verse we often focus on the contentment; however, godliness is great gain.  1 Tim.6:6   May we worship our majestic God in Truth as we strive to follow and please Him and become full of godliness in our lives.

LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS - 4

D – BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE – 4

After checking eight versions of the N.T., I found several words used to interpret this Greek word.  They were patience, endurance, enduring patience, perseverance, persistence, and steadfastness.  Each one of these presents a different picture in our minds, however, they all apply to our Christian life.  Too often we think of patience as a passive word.  “I’ll just sit by and wait”.  From these other words, we understand a meaning that requires great effort on our part.  If we have a sincere love of God and people, we will be ready to develop enduring patience.  1 Cor.13:4

God has such great patience with us as we go against His will for us so often.  2 Pet.3:9   Do we think God owes us forgiveness and salvation?  We dare not take this lightly but must fear God in honor and awe with thankfulness for His great mercy and patience with us.  Rom.2:4   We are likened to a ball of clay with God as the potter who forms us.  He can do with us as He pleases but He endures our shortcomings and sins with patience.  Rom.9:21,22   We are no different than the Israelites to whom Nehemiah spoke.  Neh.9:17

When a person suffers a long time, patience is necessary.  Longsuffering is a requirement for a Christian.  Many versions use “patience” rather than longsuffering.  Col.3:12   This is part of a Christian’s life.  Instruction to Christians includes “slow to anger”.  Patience as well as self-control is a definite necessity in obeying this teaching.  God was slow to anger.  Ex.34:6   He set an example for us.  God was so patient and merciful then and remains slow to anger and patient with us as we displease Him so often.  Jam.1:18,19   Patience is not only our instruction but our desire as we want to grow to be like Jesus.  Rom.15:5

A person uses perseverance as he strives with patience in doing good.  Rom.2:6,7   It takes patience to “keep on keeping on”.  Working with others takes a great deal of patience.  Eph.4:1,2   Our instruction is to use patience with everyone.  1 Thess.5:14   It is sometimes difficult to use patience with our speech.  2 Tim.2:14  

A Christian is instructed to use patience in many aspects of life.  Tribulation or problems is one area difficult to use patience.  Endurance was one of the words used for patience.  Rom.12:12   When problems come, we don’t just sit by patiently but persevere.  First, we

Devote ourselves to prayer, the lack of which may have caused the problem in the first place.  Tribulation helps us grow in patience.  Rom.5:3; Jam.1:3   The Thessalonica church ws commended for their perseverance in tribulation.  2 Thess.1:4,5   They would be rewarded and be counted worthy.  What could be greater!

As Christians, we are to bear fruit.  Patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit.  Gal.5:22   A Christian wants to be seed in the good soil.  Good soil produces good fruit.  Lk.8:15   Our study is based on 2 Pet.1:6 which we have labeled as Building Blocks for Life in Christ.  Can we do this alone?  No  The very fact that enduring patience is a fruit of the Spirit which is the Holy Spirit within us indicates that we must be walking in the Spirit.  Gal.5:25   Prayer is a part of everything we do.

Early Christians thought that Christ would return very soon.  We also need to be ready for His return any hour day or night.  We live for His return.  This is our hope but it must be a hope with patience.  Rom.8:25   James uses the produce from the soil as an example of our patience in waiting for the Lord.  Jam.5:7,8   Look within to see if we really do look for the coming of the Lord or are there things in our life of which we need to rid ourselves.  Are we really ready to stand before our Maker? 

The time of the return of the Lord is being extended for a reason.  2 Pet.3:9   Christians need to work for the salvation of souls – souls of family, friends, neighbors that are outside of the Lord.  Steadfastness of hope needs to be always present.  The patient endurance is important as we do the will of the Lord.  Heb.10:35,36   Our patience will be known as it was with those in Ephesus.  Rev.2:2

As we persevere in our patience, we cannot be sluggish.  Heb.6:12   We are told to run with this patient endurance.  Heb.12:1   Jesus is our example who ran with great endurance.  Heb.12:3   So we run on ‘till the end.  Heb.12:12,13

What a rich testimony we have of those who have gone before us.  Jam.5:10,11   In speaking of Abraham, patience was exemplified.  He waited years for the promise but in God’s time, he received it.  Heb.6:14,15   Paul is another example for us.  In 2 Cor. Paul summarizes his afflictions that he endured with patience.  2 Cor.6:4,6   Paul again summarizes his experiences in the last book he had opportunity to write.  2 Tim.3:10

As Christians we need to develop patient endurance in adverse things, antagonistic people, trying circumstances, provocation, and anything that afflicts us outwardly or inwardly.  The Holy Spirit is present to help if we call upon Him. 

Barclay gives a good statement regarding patient endurance.  “It is the courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us and the transmitting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way.  Look to our Lord.  2 Pet.3:14,15

Job is synonymous with patient endurance.  Through it all he could say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  How small are the things we think we cannot endure.  Job 1:21

LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS - 3

C – BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE – 3

Knowledge was mentioned in the beginning of this series and it will also be mentioned at the end so we will move ahead to self-control.  2 Pet.1:6   One would think this to be a simple task.  The Greek definition is the ability to take a grip of oneself.  We think that “of course we can handle ourselves”.  We can, we should, but do we?  If we are honest with ourselves, many areas of our lives are out of control.

Other definitions would be well to consider.  When we think of self-control we think of self-discipline, self-denial, will-power, and holding back from excess.  To be self-controlled, one has restraint over one’s own impulses, emotions, and desires with the ability to keep words and actions under close control.

Self-control requires energetic determination.  A chorus comes to mind:  “I am determined.  I’ve made up my mind.  I’ll serve the Lord.”  Joshua did this.  Josh.24:15   Discipline is usually punishment that instructs.  It corrects, molds or perfects the mental and moral character.  It intends to enforce obedience and change the pattern of behavior.  When we use self-discipline, we enforce our own obedience to what is right and change our pattern of behavior accordingly.

All of these considerations are important; however, we cannot do it alone.  The Christian life is directed by God’s command.  We want what God wants for us.  This should keep our desires in check.  Self-control is not only a building block, it is part of the fruit of the Spirit which is opposed to the work of the flesh.  As long as we are on earth, we have both flesh and Spirit.  We actually war against the flesh by the self-control we gain through the Spirit.  Rom.6:12

It is not enough that we refrain from evil but we must bring forth fruit unto God.  Rom.7:4   It is this self-control through the Spirit that we are not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.  Rom.12:21   When we think we can handle our self alone, we need to be very cautious.  1 Cor.10:12  Satan would like for us to think we can do it alone because he knows we will fail.  He puts this lie into our mind.

It is the love of our Lord that controls us.  2 Cor.5:14   We become captive to our thoughts and then to our desires—our addictions.  We think of addictions as nicotine, drugs, or alcohol.  We become addicted to many others things.  Do we waste time we could be spending doing for the Lord when we just are compelled to watch this program that may contain immorality such as marriage unfaithfulness, bad language, and other sins listed in God’s Word.  Eph.5:16   We can even become obsessive with things that are not sin.  Hobbies and special interests can make us captive or slaves and therefore, we  neglect the Lord.  2 Cor.10:5  When we can bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, we are on our way to being self-controlled.  Prov.23:7  Our control continues as we remember that we are dead in Christ.  Gal.2:20  Our “self” has been crucified.

This does not destroy our personalities for God has blessed us with many gifts.  Rom.12:6  We have to make sure we glorify God with those gifts. Rom.12:3;

1 Cor10:31

We cannot let ourselves become discouraged for we have been given the Holy Spirit within us.  Instead of thinking self-controlled, let us think spirit- controlled.  Because of having the Spirit in our lives, we can say with Paul Phil.4:13.  

God gives us what we need to conquer.  2 Tim.1:7   When we are spirit-controlled God can work in us to get our “selves” under His control.  2 Cor.7:1   We honor God by being under His control.  When we have a close relationship with our Lord, He will give us strength to overcome.  Titus 2:12 (NIV)   As the world sees us change with our ability to control ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit, we become a testimony; for where we were weak, Christ makes us strong.  2 Cor.12:9   Victory of self-control is gained through submission to God to let Him make us Spirit-controlled.  We must love the Lord.  Lk.10:27   Do we love and trust our Lord enough to let Him have control of our lives?

Through friendship with the world and time spent with worldly media, a desire can be created in us to act and look like the world.  Jam.4:4   DARE WE TAKE A CHANCE WITH OUR ETERNITY so we can look like and be like the world?  So we can be in style?  Jam.1:27;  Rom.12:2   Satan makes it easy to be enslaved by the world.

Paul was discussing self-control among other topics with Felix when he became disturbed and put him off until another time.  Acts 24:25   We can also become uncomfortable as our own self-control or lack of it is discussed.  Do we honestly face ourselves and realize wherein we lack?  Whether sports interests us or not, we realize the control over self that is paramount to the success of an athlete.  Paul mentions this in 1 Cor.9:25.  Physical health and agility is of utmost importune to an athlete.  Shouldn’t our spiritual health and our ability to move in the ways God desires be of even greater importance to us?  They were running for a wreath.  We run for our eternity with the Lord.  Rom.2:7

Help for control over every aspect of our life is available to us.  Heb.4:16   We must identify the issues that cause our loss of self-control.  Then there must be an urgent desire to have victory over that weakness.  It takes determination to overcome and be spirit-controlled.  Too often we think we are trying but we still dabble in our sin.  We have to be zealous in our efforts to kill those wrong desires.  Is our faith real or do we just say the words?  Our faith will overcome.  1 Jhn.5:4

Self-control is so important to rid ourselves of those sins that so easily beset us as well as those impulses and desires that keep us from growing in Christ.  Let us sincerely pray that we may be spirit-controlled. Gal.5:16,17   If we lack self-control, we become useless and unfruitful.  2 Pet. 1:9   This defeats our purpose as a Christian.

Jhn.15:4,5   We long to be self-controlled to bear fruit but cannot do it alone.  We live by the Spirit and bear fruit to the glory of God.  Phil.1:10,11

LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS - 2

B – BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE – 2

The blocks on which we build our life are so important.  The church’s foundation is built on the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone.  Our personal lives need to be built on Christ.  No beginning is possible without a strong faith—a faith that keeps growing in Christ.  Knowledge is our next block for we need to understand our Lord and our God.  This also grows deeper and deeper as our understanding grows.  As we learn, we find out how to please our Lord in our actions.  We grow in our understanding of what our “new life” should be.

1 Pet.1:5   Before the next building block is added, Peter says and besides this very reason.  1 Pet.1:4   This reason is that we can be partakers in the divine nature or Christlike and escape the pollution of the world.  Notice, it will take diligence.  It will take care, hard work, and effort.  We don’t do it alone.  We have the help of the Holy Spirit within us.  2 Peter 1:3   We have to have a great desire to obtain and progress. 

So the next building block is a word that is not always understood.  That word is virtue.  Sometimes virtue is translated “goodness” or “moral excellence”.  Virtue requires courage, energy, and boldness with vigor.  Prov.13:4   The words of Joshua would be appropriate in striving for virtue.  Josh.23:6

Excellence before the world is not that for which we strive.  It is excellence before God.  Mic.6:8   Justice, kindness, humility would be included in virtue.  We are given a promise in Ezek.18:22.  God loves us and wants the best for us but we must do our best for Him.  Any virtue or righteousness that we may have comes from God.  Jhn.3:21  As an excellent wife is described in Proverbs, this verse becomes important to us.  Prov.31:30   How we should strive to be known as Ruth was known.  Ruth 3:11    

Virtue requires ction.  It is not just a passive word.  Even a lazy person pursues something.  It may be sleep, staying out of work, sitting to be entertained or any number of things that requires little or nothing of exertion.  Others pursue evil and cunning with hateful spirits.  Virtue is not this way.

Another English definition of virtue is “a love of right and the conscious desire to follow right”.  This makes virtue an important building block of the Christian life and one in which we must grow for we want our lives to glorify God each day.  Matt. 5:16  

Striving for moral excellence, we need to use care in what we do and say.  Col.3:17   But what we think is the cause of the effect of what we do and say.  Consequently, our minds must be kept pure.   The apostle, Paul, gives us a filter for our thinking in Phil.4:8   Why so?  Because what goes in, comes out.  Our eyes and our ears feed our minds.  Are we consuming the spiritual food we need to live a virtuous life—one that loves right with a strong desire to follow what is right and  true.  It isn’t a matter of what I want or what I enjoy but what pleases my Lord who shed His blood for me.

If we seek the Lord with a desire to love and do right, He will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Phil.4:7    We must work to achieve this virtue.  Will our experiences of today and tomorrow help us in this goal or will our experiences detract from a spiritual walk?  Will we have the courage to make the changes we need to make and stand for the things that will enable us to partake of that divine image.  2 Pet.1:4   We must never forget those precious promises given to us as in 2 Pet.1:3.

We are not developing attributes or pursuits to please men but to please God.  Acts 5:29   What an example for us.  They said this at the point of being arrested.  We need courage to have virtue. 

Where is our treasure?  Is it to love right and the desire to do what is right?  The following verse may speak of material things but it is very true of our pursuits, also.  We will work for the thing we treasure.  We will have a passion for it.  Matt.6:21   If we truly love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, then we will prepare to do all that is necessary to build our lives with virtue.  Lk.10:27

At this point we will love right and be ready to choose right with strength (Eph.6:10), fight for right with courage (1 Tim.6:12), pursue right with knowledge (2 Tim.2:15), influence for right with kindness but firmness (Gal.6:1), and live for right with love (Jhn.14:15)..  With the pursuit of virtue based on a living faith, the other fruit of the spirit will have rich soil from which to blossom. 

To be virtuous, we will want to develop and grow in the fruit of the spirit as found in Gal.5:22,23.  Think about each one of these to consider the need of developing.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Our need to keep growing in all of these attributes is crucial in our growth to be full of virtue.

A quote from Channing is an important consideration.  “All virtue lies in individual action, in inward energy, and in self-determination”.  We will have God’s help through the Holy Spirit, but it must begin with us.

We conclude with some important questions.  What is our main pursuit?  What is our first love?  With what are we filling our minds?  Let us be diligent to guard our minds in Christ Jesus that we may have virtue and praise—not of men but from God.  Let us love right with all our effort of courage and strength which is mightily given to us by our dear Savior that we may pursue right to the end of our days. 

Let us heed the instruction that Paul gave to Titus in Titus 2:11-13

LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS

A – BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LIFE – 1

A better title would be “Building Blocks for Life with Christ” but for a Christian, life is a life with and for Christ.  2 Pet.1:2   Peter begins with the assumption that the people to whom he is writing have faith.  Faith is kin to belief.  It goes a step further in that we believe in what we can’t see but for what we hope.  Heb.11:1   If we had no belief in Jesus as the Son of the living God, then we have no foundation upon which to build. 

Eph.2:20   A cornerstone was of extreme importance for it squared the walls.  Jesus is our cornerstone for the church but He was rejected by the Jews.  Acts 4:11,12   The entire building (church) is joined together as a building.  Eph.2:21,22   This doesn’t say “has grown” for we are still growing into this holy temple in the Lord.

Grace and peace from God, our Father, is mentioned in so many of the letters of Paul, and now of Peter.  We never deserve the favor of God and the peace that comes with it until we get to know the Lord.  This knowledge isn’t theological book knowledge.  1 Jhn.5:20   As we grow in our knowledge and understanding of God and His Son,  our favor with God and the peace it brings to our hearts is multiplied.  2 Cor.4:6   This comes even in the midst of pain and sorrow.  When we know, our hearts fill with faith and joy and we can say with Job—Job 19:25

How could we ever doubt the power and glory of Christ.  Eph.1:19   This power gives us everything we need to grow in Christ.  2 Pet.1:3   We can have faith that God will provide.  Rom.8:32   He wants us to grow so He gives us what we need to accomplish this very thing.  When we walk in the Light of Christ, we bear fruit of the Light.  Eph.5:9  

Jesus doesn’t want us to have just a mediocre life in Him.  He wants our life to be an abundant life—an overflowing life with His precious promises.  2 Pet. 1:4;  Jhn.10:10   His promises are true and secure.  We can count on them.  2 Cor.1:20   The prophets of old gave many promises from God.  Many of these were fulfilled in Christ; but now we have even better promises.  Heb.8:6

As we become Christians, we become new in Christ.  This means that we become Christlike.  Col.3:10   God created us in His image.  Gen.1:27   That image was corrupted by sin.  Through Christ we can be equipped to again build our lives toward that image for which we were intended.  Eph.4:23,24

A new Christian begins a new life that has been completely cleansed of sin.  Sin no longer reigns in his life.  Now he must start building that life all over again.  His life is not over; it is just beginning.  Gal.6:8   Before we became a Christian, we lived for ourselves with our worldly desires.  Now we are changed.  1 Pet.4:2  

This change cannot come through our own power but through the power given to us through the Holy Spirit.  We are equipped with all we need to overcome this fascination of the world.  The Christian life is a continuous progression toward that which brings us to our eternity with Christ.  We are given all the equipment we need, but we must use it.

Our success in building our new life depends not only on God’s gift of salvation which we accepted, but it also depends on our continuous effort.  Barclay gives a good example quoted from Bengel and taken from the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  “The flame is that which is imparted to us by God and from God without our own labour; but the oil is that which a man must pour into life by his own study and his own faithful effort, so that the flame may be fed and increased.”

1 Pet.1:5   In beginning to build our lives, we are admonished to use diligence.  This is important for we cannot be haphazard.  Prov.4:23   Diligence is hard working and painstaking.  We work and we care about what happens.  Phil.2:12,13   If we don’t have the will to build our lives, we won’t work to accomplish it.

The first tool with which we are equipped is faith.  Heb.11:6   We have to believe without a doubt that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Matt.16:16   These are not just words.  We believe that God is alive and that He sent His Son – Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  We believe Jesus is God’s Son.  Jhn.1:1,14   This is the groundwork from where we start.  Faith is our beginning toward salvation.  Since we have faith in Christ as the Son of God, we also have faith in His demands for our life.  Rom.1:5   Sometimes we don’t like that word, “obedience”.  We just want to believe and go on with our life as it was.

We can have faith and yet be weak.  Paul mentions this in regard to Abraham.  Rom.4:19,20   Abraham grew strong in faith; so our faith can be strengthened.  2 Cor.  10:15  As we go through those of faith in chapter 11 of Hebrews (the Faith Chapter), we see how those men and women had great faith.  How can we tell?  We are told what they did.  Jam.2:18  What we do for Christ and His church also shows our faith in Him. 

When Jesus spoke and the unclean spirit came out of a boy, the father made a statement that we might make to show how we need growth in our faith.  Mk.9:24   Jesus had no sin and yet he was made sinful as He took our sin on Himself.  We have no righteousness and yet Jesus gave us righteousness through Him.  2 Cor.5:21   This is very powerful.  How grateful we should be as we recognize our nothingness except through Christ.

The favor that we have from God came to us because of our faith.  We could never have enough works to save us.  Our salvation is solely a gift from God; however, we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  Eph.2:8-10 

The Corinthians were abounding in their faith.  2 Cor.8:7   Oh, that we could do the same.  The love of the Thessalonians was greatly enlarged.  2 Thess.1:3   Our faith needs to be secure as an example for those around us.  1 Tim.4:12