Christian Growth Lesson 16 C a

Noel Merrick

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VI. How to Improve Your Virtue

A. Loathe (hate) the vices, the sins in you – the quickness by which you give into temptation and pressure from friends and the world

1. Choose the good, and hate the evil in your life and in this world (Ps 97:10; Pr 8:13) – on a day-by-day basis

Psalm 97:10 KJV 1900

10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 8:13 KJV 1900

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.

2. Do things Christ’s way, by faith, trusting that He will work everything out for your good

3. Live by virtue, by the strength of the Holy Spirit in your life

B. Get Lively – get a life project that takes up your time – your family, your job, a ministry in the church, a big house project, a college course, a degree!

C. Learn the lives of the people in the Bible – they are real people, with real problems, whom God has recorded to show us REAL solutions

1. If you won’t take the time to study your Bible, then you are wasting your time as a Christian

2. You will not move on and grow strong, unless against temptation you learn how to endure long

D. Constantly add virtue to your way of thinking, loving, living

1. It is not a one time GOODNESS act that you do

2. But a constant development of your ability to live right and godly – walking the straight (hard) and narrow way of a Christian!

E. Love God’s laws – thank God for rules, and limits on your life – keeps you OUT of the deadly traps (snares) of the devil

F. Look always for a way of escape when facing any temptation (1Cor 10:13)

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1. There always is one – God makes sure of it

2. Pray and ask for a way through, and to make it apparent

3. Then, DON’T DEBATE – just act against the temptation as Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife tempted him – RUN!

VII. Conclusion

A. Everyone who comes to Christ, comes as a wicked, condemned, lost sinner, with the desperate need to find forgiveness, and the ability to live free from the enslaving power of sin – that’s what it means to be saved!

B. The FIRST thing a Christian is to add to their life as soon as they get saved is virtue - build up some walls between you and sin

C. Too many believers get some faith, and then STOP right there!

D. David Starr Jordan profoundly said, “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.”

E. Do you have that ability – to do what is right and good when all the world around you is sinning against the Lord?

F. Virtue is the ability to walk away from temptation –it takes a lot of inner strength to do that because temptation usually is attractive, fun and enjoyable

G. King David is a good example of lack of virtue – wasn’t man enough to turn away, and wasn’t man enough to accept responsibility for his sin

H. We all need to add a lot of virtue to our lives before we watch another TV show, turn on the radio, or sit down with our schoolmates and friends SOLID STEPS OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH LESSON 16 C

Continued

Lesson 16C Add To Your Faith Virtue

(Moral Excellence)

Scripture Lesson: II Peter 1:5-7

2 Peter 1:5–7 KJV 1900

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2 Peter 1:5–7 KJV 1900

The Christian's Thought Life

The mind is the starting point for behavior.

Philippians 4:8 (KJV 1900)

8 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.

We Must Learn To Think Christianly.

GET RIGHT, THINK RIGHT, LIVE RIGHT.

1 Peter 2:9,

1 Peter 2:9 KJV 1900

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Moral excellence is the inner strength to do right, the courage to live out your faith and fight against temptation; how to maintain a clear conscience.

“ WISDOM is knowing what to do next,

SKILL is knowing how to do it, and

VIRTUE is doing it.”

Psalm 18:30 KJV 1900

30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Virtue is a strength -

a supernatural ability to say “no” to temptations and “yes” to right and good things.

The opposite of virtue is vice - virtues are what is right with a man and vices are what is wrong with him.

What Does Moral Excellence Looks Like Without Faith?

A Christian’s FAITH is directed towards God.

A Christian’s VIRTUE is directed towards sin and temptation.

How To Add Moral Excellence To Our Faith

A Christian’s moral excellence is derived from the Word.

Romans 10:17, II Timothy 3:16-17,

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

James 1:22-25,

James 1:22–25 KJV 1900

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James 3:10-12,

James 3:10–12 KJV 1900

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10,

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 KJV 1900

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Being a Christian demand having a spiritual backbone; the conviction of faith and the willingness to stand and live by faith.

1 Corinthians16:13,

1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV 1900

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

A WORD ABOUT MORAL COWARDICE.

A coward is someone who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc., A timid or easily intimidated person.

Pilate: Failed To Use His Authority To Free The Innocent (Jesus).

Luke 23:20-25, Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting,

Luke 23:20–25 KJV 1900

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

So, Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Moral Cowardice Knows What Is Right, But Will Not Do It.

James 4:17,

James 4:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Moral Cowardice Tries To Justify Itself Before It Peers.

Peter: A Man who knew the Truth but Failed to Acknowledge It. Matthew 26:69-72,

Matthew 26:69–72 KJV 1900

69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

Moral Cowardice Values Safety Over Truth.

Moral Cowardice Fears Consequences Of Standing For Truth.

A WORD ABOUT MORAL COURAGE

PAUL: A Man who Publicly Resisted Sin.

Gal 2:11-14,

Galatians 2:11–14 KJV 1900

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

Moral Courage Is Public About Its Faith.

DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS:

Commitment to the True God. Daniel 1:8,

Daniel 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Moral Courage Requires Purpose Of Heart.

Moral Courage Trusts In God.

Dan 3:16 -18,

Daniel 3:16–18 KJV 1900

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Moral Courage Will Not Compromise.

Dan 6:7,10,

Daniel 6:7 KJV 1900

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel 6:10 KJV 1900

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

1 Timothy 5:21, doing nothing with partiality. lay hands on anyone hastily, Do not nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 5:21 KJV 1900

21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Our Need For Moral Courage.

It Takes Courage To Practice Moral Purity.

1 Pet 4:3-5,

A COMMUNITY OF VIRTUOUS PEOPLE

Bible Study Follow Up Chat Questions:

1. Do you have an energetic, vigorous faith? Is it active, alive, and growing?

2. Are you fulfilling your intended, created purpose?

3. What does your life reflect to others about the nature and character of God?

4. When was the last time you publicly stood for truth?

5. What actions are you taking in maintaining moral excellence in your household?

6. Describe situations in which you are aware of evil being called good (Isaiah 5:20).

Isaiah 5:20 KJV 1900

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!