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SUPPLEMENT YOUR FAITH" (Part Two) Bob Myhan
f Christians would be "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), they must “make every effort to supplement…faith with virtue" (2 Peter 1:5, ESV). But what is "virtue"? While this word sometimes means "moral excellence" it surely does not mean that here since Peter distinguishes between it and other qualities that are necessary to "moral excellence."
here are at least three reasons for understanding Peter to be referring to "moral courage.” (1) The word translated "virtue" [arête] comes from a military term that was given as a personal name by the Greeks to their mythological god of war (Ares). What better name for a god of war than a word meaning courage? (2) The English word "virtue" comes from the Latin "virtus" meaning, "manhood." This also conveys the idea of courage. (3) Since the Christian is to be engaged in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-17) one should naturally expect "moral courage" to follow on the heels of faith in such a list as Peter's.
hether or not one agrees with the above paragraph, it cannot be denied that the demands God makes upon His people require moral courage. First, Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Some are so afraid of what others will say or do that they will refuse to obey God. Such do not believe that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). Such are destined for “the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8, ESV).
econd, Jesus also said, "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, him I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32,33). This involves more than a public confession of faith in Christ prior to one's baptism.
f one is too afraid of being called an "anti" to take his stand with those who oppose institutionalism he is "denying Christ” just as much as one who is too afraid of being called a "Campbellite" to confess Christ and be baptized. Both actions necessitate moral courage! Other demands that require moral courage include resisting temptation (1 Peter 5:8,9), confessing sin (James 5:16), rebuking sin (Eph. 5:11; Luke 17:3), giving a reason of your hope (1 Peter 3:15), contending for the faith (Jude 3), standing fast in the faith (1 Cor. 16:13), and living right (2 Tim. 3:12).
t is true that doing what God requires will occasionally result in persecution. But by facing persecution with moral courage you will not only save yourself, but will also have a positive influence on the lives of others (Matt. 5:11-16). Therefore, do “not in any way [be] terrified by your adversaries" (Phil. 1:28). WHATEVER IS LOVELY Bob Myhan
f we are going to have the influence God intends for us to have in the world (Matthew 5:13-16) we must manifest positive spiritual qualities. But we cannot manifest positive spiritual qualities without giving due consideration to the things that produce them (Proverbs 23:7). We can bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 3:22,23) only if we allow the seed of the kingdom to be sown in our hearts (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23).
ut we must remember that Satan and his ministers are striving to sow weeds in our hearts in order to defile us (Matthew 13:37-40; 15:17-20). We must also remember that God has given us all the armor we need to defend against Satan and his ministers (Eph. 6:10-17). Each piece of armor relates to the word of God.
hus, it is only by filling our minds and hearts with God’s word that we are able to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). David prayed, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). “What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions…. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through television, books, conversations, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God’s Word and pray. Ask him to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. It takes practice, but it can be done” (comments on Phil. 4:8, Life Application Bible, p. 2087).
f there is to be any virtue and any praise, we must not only think on things that are true, noble, just and pure, but also on things that are lovely (Phil. 4:8). Obviously, Paul is not speaking of things that are physically lovely but of spiritually lovely things (1 Timothy 2:9,10; 1 Peter 3:1-4). “These are the things that, when thought about and put into practice in life, elicit from others not bitterness and hostility, but admiration and affection…. Think often and long about those things that are likely to win people to the faith and will help them grow, rather than let your minds dwell on things that, when practiced, will give offense and drive people away from Christ” (Gerald Hawthorne: Philippians: Word Biblical Themes, pp. 102, 103).
f we wish to attract the right kind of people, we must be the right kind of people ourselves. “A man that has friends must himself be friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). DETERMINING TRUTH Bob Myhan
e begin with the premise that the truth can indeed be determined for the reason that Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). If the truth cannot be known, it cannot make us free! The truth, of which we speak, of course, is the word of God (John 17:17). If we cannot determine truth, then God has not revealed it. If God has revealed truth we can determine it! But how does one determine truth on a Bible subject?
our things are required. First, one must have received the love of the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-12). Second, one must have a desire to obey the truth (John 7:17). Third, one must have an investigative spirit (2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 7:7). And fourth, one must exercise his mental faculties (Psalm 1:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14).
onsider the Jews of Berea as an example. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica” (Acts 17:11). Their fair-mindedness was illustrated in two ways: (1) “they received the word with all readiness,” indicating a love of the truth and a desire to obey the truth and (2) they exercised their mental faculties as they “searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” This demonstrated an investigative spirit.
s a result of these attitudes and actions the Jews of Berea were able to determine truth, for “many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men” (Acts 17:12).
o you have a love of the truth, a desire to obey the truth, and an investigative spirit? Are you willing to exercise your mental faculties in an unbiased assessment of what God has revealed? If so, you can discover the truth on any Bible subject. Why not search the scriptures yourself to see whether you have been taught the truth?
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