1. The Christian’s Virtue
23 December 2018
Adelaide Metro Church of Christ

2. 2 Peter 1: 3-11
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

3. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

4. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

5. Comparison Christians value Worldly value Faith Doubt
Goodness Badness/Harshness
Knowledge Incompetence
Self-control Unrestraint
Perseverance Irresolution
Godliness Wickedness
Mutual affection Resentment
Love Hatred

6. The Result: Change and Growth
2 Cor 5: 17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
1 Peter 2: 1-3 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

7. Conclusion
The Christians’ virtue is the path for our participation in the divine nature. Through the divine nature, Christians may present those characters. Further, the life will/is changing because of the spiritual growth. Most importantly, having the spiritual fruit is to make us doing good to all.

8. Gal 5: “19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”