Let us examine 2nd Peter 1:5-7 in order to determine what some of the most important Christian virtues are. Peter says: “. . . 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 (or love)”.
This is quite a lesson in addition, and by ourselves we could never solve this most difficult problem. But we know that if we are sincere in our efforts, and work diligently on our own behalf, that we will have the assistance of our Lord and Savior. We Must add these virtues to our lives if we expect to inherit the kingdom with Him.
Peter seems to assume that we already have a certain amount of faith since we have accepted Christ and have been baptized into His name. We will not dwell upon faith, since it would take an entire article to cover that subject. We will just say in passing that we must have a real, vital faith in the Word of God and what it teaches. We must have faith in God, faith in Jesus and faith to believe that everything that happens to us is for our good (Romans 8:28). Assuming that we have such a faith, Peter tells us to add to our faith, Virtue. The dictionary describes virtue as “chastity”, and also as a “Rare, beautiful or admirable quality.” In Philippians 4:8, Paul lists a number of things such as honesty, justice, purity, loveliness and things of good report, and goes on to say that if there is any virtue (admirable quality) in these things to think on them. If we have these rare qualities we are certainly going to be different from the world whose qualities are usually anything but beautiful. So it behooves us to BE different from the world, as both Peter and Paul admonish us to be.
Add Knowledge
To virtue we must add Knowledge. It is God that gives us knowledge (Exodus 31:3; 2nd Chronicles 1:12; Psalms 119:66; Proverbs 1:4; Proverbs 2:6; Ecclesiastes 2: 26; Daniel 2:21; 1st Corinthians 1:5; 1st Corinthians 12:8). There are many other Scriptures, but these will serve our purpose. Now, God does not speak to us directly as He did to some in Bible times. How then are we to obtain knowledge? The above Scriptures tell us that we obtain knowledge from God by the study of His Word. The Holy Spirit does not reveal things to us as in times past, but if we earnestly pray for guidance, and diligently search the Scriptures, we will be able to understand those things which are of the greatest importance and necessary for our salvation (Read Psalms 25: 8-14, and Matthew 7:7).
Add Temperance
Now, to knowledge we must add Temperance. 1 Corinthians 9:25 tells us to be temperate in All things. (See also Titus 1:8; Titus 2:2; Acts 24:25; Galatians 5:23). Just what does the word “temperate” mean? Again we refer to the dictionary. “Temperate” means “observing moderation”; “not excessive”. We have been accustomed to associate the word “temperance” with intoxicating liquors. Certainly none of us are guilty of over-indulgence in this respect. But might we not be guilty in some other respect, such as eating, for instance? Temperance must apply to every act of our lives, little things as well as great.
Add Patience
To temperance we must add Patience. Several exhortations could be written on this quality. But we will let the Scriptures speak for us in a few quotations. 1st Thessalonians 5:14 admonishes us to be patient toward ALL men, not just the household of faith, not just the good men of the world, but ALL men. 2nd Thessalonians 3:5 tells us to “direct our hearts . . . into the patient waiting for Christ.” Do we sometimes become impatient at the seeming long delay in the return of our Lord? Do we direct our thoughts more and more to the things of the world? Do we become weary waiting for Him? There is great danger in doing this. Romans 15:4 tells us that by patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. This is the only way we may obtain hope, by examining and thoroughly understanding the plan of God and our part in it if we are faithful. Romans 8:15 tells us that it is by patience that we bring forth fruit, the fruit of the spirit. Luke 21:19 states: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Do we need patience when we are tried by our husbands or wives, children, friends, people with whom we must come in contact day by day? Are we sometimes irritated and tried to the limit? Then let us try “in patience to possess our souls”, and we will be a long way on the path that will lead us to the kingdom. “. . . Tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 6:3). Do we sometimes become weary beyond all words with our daily tribulations? The Scriptures tell us that without chastisement we are bastards and not sons. We don’t want to be bastards, do we? Therefore, we must endure tribulations as being sent from God for our best good, to polish the rough diamond, and make it into a beautiful jewel. ” . . . Through faith and patience we inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12). We wait for their fulfillment, to be sure, but, because of the waiting, how much more blessed will His coming be. ” . . . The trying of our faith worketh patience” (James 1:3) Let us remember that it is the Trying of our faith that worketh patience. Our faith will be sorely tested, so we must be on guard at all times, knowing that “patience must have her perfect work” (James 1:4). Several other Scriptures could be quoted, but space does not permit.
Add Godliness
To patience we must add Godliness. If we want to know just what God is like, Paul tells us that Christ is the express image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus told Philip that “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. …” (John 14:9). So let us study the character of Jesus in order to become godly. Jesus was patient and long-suffering. He endured the “contradiction of sinners”, He was misunderstood even by His disciples; He was kind to the weak and erring, endeavoring with patience to cause them to turn from their wrong-doing; He remembers our frame that we are dust and has compassion on us; He reveals the loving-kindness of the Creator, and even in the Garden of Gethsemane He uttered no complaints. His heart must have been broken on many occasions by the indifference and sometimes cruelty of those who were supposed to be the sheep of the House of Israel, but even on the cross He asked forgiveness not only for them, but for those who actually drove the nails. Have any of us endured such suffering as was endured by our Lord and Master? Let us take Christ as our pattern and endeavor to become godly even as He was godly.
Add Brotherly Kindness
To godliness we must add Brotherly Kindness. (See Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12; 2nd Corinthians 6:6). This must be exhibited first to the household of faith, but the Scriptures tell us that we must be kind To all men Kindness covers a host of little things, as well as a field of great things: helping a crippled man off the streetcar; giving an elderly woman a seat; being kind to the newspaper boy and the salesman, to mention just a few. We must be kind even to our enemies. Jesus tells us that it profits us nothing if we are kind only to those who are kind to us, that even the Gentiles love those who love them. We must be kind to the unlovable, the unsightly, the sick, the weak, the sinful. We must show kindness in our words as well as in our deeds. “A soft answer turneth away wrath . . .” (Proverbs 15:1). Enemies have sometimes been won by persistent, loving kindness in the face of their unkindness and evil deeds.
We must, of course, be kind to our friends and those nearest and dearest to us. How often we are kind to everybody else except those nearest to us. We think they should understand us and it isn’t necessary to be kind. But unkindness leaves a scar that sometimes takes years to efface, if it can ever be accomplished. Perhaps they do irritate us sometimes, but no doubt we irritate them, too. If we can be kind at home and in the office, it will be much easier to be really kind to our friends and acquaintances.
Add Love
Last of all, perhaps because it is the greatest of all virtues, we are to add to brotherly kindness Charity Or Love. To understand what love is and what it covers, we have only to study and analyze the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, one of the most wonderful and beautiful chapters in the Bible. We have formerly (in the May-June, 1962 “Tidings”) covered this subject in detail, and will not enter into discussion of it here. Suffice it is to say that if we possess love, as detailed in the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, it will include all other virtues. If we possess love, we are going to possess the rare quality of virtue; we will wish to study and gain an understanding or knowledge of God and of His Word; we will be temperate in all things; we will be patient, and, yes, even godly, and certainly we will be kind.
Beloved, let us examine ourselves at this time and see if we possess these virtues, and if we think we do, study the Scriptures to see how far we have yet to go before we will be acceptable to our Lord Jesus when He comes.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One