Christian Virtues - Graciousness
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Intro:
Intro:
Good evening.
We are continuing our Sunday night sermon series on Christian virtues tonight.
Two weeks ago we talked about the importance of Christian virtues, and how I don’t think we use that word “virtue” as much as we should.
It’s a really important word — We’re talking character traits — Things that are supposed to DEFINE our character as Christians.
We’re talking things that (hopefully) we will teach our children and grandchildren that will define THEIR character as they grow older.
Virtues define not only INDIVIDUAL’S character, but groups of individuals that make up GENERATIONS are defined by their virtues, by and large, or lack thereof.
The Bible speaks of generations that knew not the Lord (Judges 2:10).
Thus, sometimes generations are characterized by their LACK of virtue, and they actually call things that are VICES … virtue.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
That’s what we’re seeing today!
Thus, we’ve got to raise our children to be COUNTER-CULTURAL to the predominently sinful culture of the day.
We are in a CULTURE WAR, plain and simple (which should come as no surprise — Eph. 6).
Thus, we made mention of a long list of different things two weeks ago on Sunday night and we asked:
Is it a virtue?
Is it a vice?
Or is it a neutral thing (can be good or bad depending on how you use it)?
And we made mention of 2 Pet. 1:5-9 last time as well.
And you’ll notice the very first thing that we are supposed to ADD to our faith in that list is?
VIRTUE!
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Virtue is very important!
We sometimes sing in “Soldiers of Christ, Arise” - “Take every virtue, every grace, and fortify the whole!”
We need to do that, Christians!
We need to arm ourselves for the fight!
And we need to arm our CHILDREN for the fight as well!
Let’s get into our topic of virtue for tonight.
Our Virtue to Discuss Tonight is … Graciousness:
Our Virtue to Discuss Tonight is … Graciousness:
Showing grace!
Why is this such an important virtue for Christians? (And that section of verses from 2 Pet. 1 we just read is often called “The Christian Graces.”)
Why is it so important to show grace?
Because we as Christians are walking examples of the grace of God!
Titus 2:11-14
Titus 2:11–14 (NKJV)
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (What are those? VIRTUES!) , looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Titus 3:4-6 goes on to say ...
Titus 3:4–6 (NKJV)
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared (That’s another way of saying “grace”), not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
1. If you were in the adult class on Wednesday night, we defined both the terms mercy and grace last Wednesday …
Mercy - “Withholding punishment due” — Not getting what we DESERVE (condemnation).
Grace - “Unmerited favor.” Getting what we DON’T deserve. (Salvation)
Christians are to be walking examples of grace!
Why?
Because God showed Christians ultimate grace!
And we should show it, too!
That’s why we read in Ephesians 4:29 (See if you can fill in the blank).
Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart _____________ (grace) to the hearers.
We must be willing to show kindness, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others!
The Bible is very clear about that!
So, the question becomes …
How Does One Exhibit the Virtue - Graciousness?
How Does One Exhibit the Virtue - Graciousness?
Well, here’s what it does NOT look like:
Graciousness does not look like, “Well, he did (such and such) to me, so right back at ya bud!”
Graciousness does not look like, “He had it coming!”
Graciousness does not look like, “She stabbed me in the back, so just wait until she’s not looking, and I’m going to get her back!” (No!)
Graciousness is NOT:
“Treat others the same way they treated you!”
(Which is a misquotation of the Golden Rule!)
(It’s “do unto others as you would have them DO unto you!)
The actual Golden Rule IS in line with the virtue of graciousness!
If you look up the word graciousness in a dictionary, merriam-webster.com defines it as follows:
“A quality marked by kindness, courtesy, charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit.”
Does that sound like a Christian, to you?
It should, because those are Christian charater traits!
So let’s think out loud here — What are some ways that we can show grace to those around us?
How can we show “unmerited favor,” to use the classic defintion of grace, to those around us?
Well, to start, we can us proper manners — That’s a good start.
Etiquette as it used to be called more often!
It’s important!
Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am, Yes Sir, No Sir. (When I was in ROTC training, I didn’t have any problem with that one — That’s how I was raised - Some folks weren’t raised on that!)
Please, thank you, How do you do? (That’s an old one!)
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, goodnight.
When I shake your hand, I’ll give a firm grip and look you in the eye!
Cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze.
Don’t smack when you eat.
Speak when spoken to.
Don’t ever dominate the conversation — Give others a chance to speak.
Let me hold that door open for you.
Acting as a gentleman. Acting ladylike.
All of these exhbit GRACE in one way or another to those around us.
Why mention these things if they are so obvious?
Well, to some of these younger generations, they’re NOT so obvious?
Why?
Because they haven’t been taught these things …
So that’s the first way we teach graciousness — Just use simple good manners.
Next — Show respect to whom it is due.
And with that, EVERYONE is due at least SOME level of basic respect because they are an individual human soul made in the image of God, and a soul for which Jesus died!
But on top of mere human dignity that we should be showing everyone, certain individuals are worthy of additional respect for various reasons.
Parents (Eph. 6:1-3).
Government officials (Rom. 13:1-7).
Teachers (The Hebrews had a term for a teacher — Rabbi — And it was a term of respect [Jesus was called it a few times]).
Elders in the Church (Heb. 13:7, 17).
Older people in general (Prov. 16:31 - “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness”).
Husbands — Wives are to respect their husbands (Eph. 5:33).
Employers — (If you look at what the Bible says about servants obeying and respecting masters, you can make an application for employees to employers).
And of course, God! (Mal. 1:8 - God says if you would not offer bad sacrifices to a governor, certainly you should offer bad sacrifices [worship] to God ; Ecc. 12:13 - Fear God and keep His commandments; Heb. 12:29 - God is a consuming fire).
All of those we just listed are worthy of respect!
Someone says, “Well of course I can respect GOD, but sometimes those other people on the list act in disrespectable ways, so I can’t respect them.”
No, you respect them anyway! (Because of the position they are in!)
Prime example being a woman who has a non-Christian husband — What is she told to do in 1 Pet. 3:1-2?
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
You show him respect anyway, even if he hasn’t earned it! (GRACE — un-MERITED favor; undeserved!)
The same goes for our elected government leaders (We should show them respect, even if we don’t like them).
Why?
Because if we don’t, Titus 3:1-2 says
Titus 3:1–2 (NKJV)
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
And Rom. 13:2 says
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
And 1 Pet. 2:13-17 says
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Finally, I want to talk about the virtue of graciousness from one more standpoint — (We could go on and on about this subject, but I want to talk about it in one more way).
And that way is this — Let’s follow the example of Jesus which is - “When He was reviled, He reviled not again!” (1 Pet. 2:23).
That means when we are stricken, we “turn the other cheek” (Matt. 5:39).
It means when someone stole our coat from us, let him have our shirt as well (Luke 6:29).
It means you go ahead and suffer wrongdoing and “let yourselves be cheated” (quote!) rather than to bring reproach upon the church (1 Cor. 6:7).
And it means you go ahead and suffer persecution when the time comes:
Because 1 Pet. 4:12-16 says:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
And Matt. 5:10-12 says
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Graciousness — It’s a virtue!
Do you show it to those around you?!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
That’s what I wanted to talk about tonight.
Lord willing, we will talk about another Christian virtue next Sunday night when we meet again.
(Give invitation).