Add To Your Faith Virtue

2 Peter 5-7

            Verse 5 starts out with “And beside this…”, Peter, in verses 1-4,  has been describing the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ. So getting saved isn’t all there is to the Christian life. Some people get saved and never grow or do anything for God. He starts in verse 5 to give us seven things that you must be diligent to add to your faith. First of all, add to your faith virtue.

What is virtue?

In Mark 5:30 and Luke 8:46 there is a familiar account of the woman having an issue of blood twelve years. She came behind the Lord and touched the border of his garment and immediately was healed. Jesus in both accounts said that “virtue is gone out of me”. When you look up the definition of virtue in the dictionary it has an “archaic” definition, meaning one that is no longer used. That definition is supernatural power. Virtue is power. That bit of virtue that went out of the Lord Jesus Christ was enough to heal that woman. In Luke 6:19 the virtue that went out of the Lord was sufficient to heal the multitudes. Peter says to add to your faith virtue, power that produces something.

Peter is telling us to add to our faith virtue. Where does a Christian get virtue? In Proverbs 31:10, a woman is described as being “virtuous”, so it surely can be done. A virtuous woman is very valuable (far above rubies), Proverbs 12:4 says that “she is a crown to her husband”.

You get virtue by voluntary obedience to truth, and with it comes the power to produce something. Peter says in verse 8, if you have it you will neither be barren nor unfruitful.

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of “voluntary obedience to truth”

John 8:29  ^“And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

Luke 22:42 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

Phil. 2:6-11 Jesus was obedient and was given all power. Matt.28:18 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

What power do you get when you add virtue to your faith by voluntary obedience?

Your obedience manifests a power (virtue) that is supplied by God to help you in your Christian life. Jesus Christ was obedient far beyond any man, and thus his virtue (power) was sufficient to produce miracles. The following are just a few of the “exceeding great and precious promises” Peter spoke of in verse 4.

The power of answered prayer [1 Jn.3:22]    Provision, supplied and prayers answered because of obedience.

The power of his resurrection [Phil.3:9-10]   Eternal Power [Rom.1:20] The same God that was able to beat death has sufficient power to help you with any problem that you will encounter.

The power of Lord’s might [Eph.6:10]            Protection, supplied by God’s strength. A spiritual strength that you must have.

The power of the word of God [Heb.4:12]      Promises, supplied in print. A living word to guide you.

The power of Christ [2Cor.12:9]         Sustaining Grace, that Paul depended on. This grace will take you through unbelievable circumstances.

The Lord wants you to get saved [2Pet.3:9] and be obedient. That obedience will manifest a power – virtue. Virtue will allow you access to power that will produce a fruitful Christian life. Disobedience will hamper your Christian walk.