Be perfect, merciful, good, just as your heavenly Father is perfect… Matthew 5:45 As Jesus is perfect and good, we are to grow into that same goodness, or, virtue
Memorial Day - the giving of one’s life for the sake of another - the virtuous life
What is this perfection Matthew speaks of?
Virtue: conformity to a standard of right: MORALITY
· a particular moral excellence
· a beneficial quality or power of a thing
· a manly strength or courage: VALOR
· a commendable quality or trait: MERIT
· a capacity to act: POTENCY
Moral: the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character. a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.
Valor: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.
Merit: the quality of being particularly good and growing in that goodness
Potency: the power of something to influence or make an impression. the ability or capacity to achieve or bring about a particular result
In other words: be virtuous just as Jesus is virtuous.
Matthew 5
How can I be perfect, or virtuous like Jesus?? Because of God’s divine power, His ability, to transform me into the likeness of Jesus – His power in me, with my every effort – works the process of my being conformed, more and more, into Jesus’ character and nature – in me.
By God’s divine power!!
2Peter 1:3-5 God’s divine power – God’s dynamic power and ability to accomplish – enables us to live as Jesus, good and virtuous lives. Lives that are pleasing to Him and make an impact on our world.
God’s divine power resides in us and gives us everything we need. So, in order for me to “be perfect” or virtuous as Jesus, there is something required, needed, to live the life of God in us - physical and spiritual - the actual and real life of God in us - we cannot live a godly life on our own.
Philippians 2
That divine power: is God’s dynamic power and ability working in us to desire, will, and act according to His good purposes – Phil 2:13
We now, in response - gladly, appreciatively, humbly, expectantly:
Work out our salvation with fear and trembling - reverent awe – Phil 2:12
Strive, reach to take hold of that for which Jesus took hold of me – Phil 3:12
Back to 2Peter 1
Make every effort to add to this faith those things that best represent Jesus and who I am in Him – 2Peter 1:5
The first of which is: goodness. And what is goodness: There is a virtuous, even courageous, service that is born from our faith that we must indulge
Virtue - moral excellence – the character and nature of Jesus in us and out from us
A virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action; moral goodness - the character/nature of Jesus formed more and more so that our “natural course of thought, speaking, and doing” would be good, righteous, courageous - that is consistently consistent with Jesus - in this world, even the face of opposition and persecution
What does this goodness or virtue look like?
Genuine and sincere: giving of self for…
Care of and for our loved ones
Service to the body or fellowship - for the purpose of edifying, encouraging, and building up
Goodness to our neighbor and/or enemy - for the purpose of blessing, conviction, and the light of grace (that we are)
What are those acts? (1Peter 2:12; Ex 34:10; James 2:15; 3:13; Matt 25:35-36; 1Jo 3:17)
Caring for family - physical and spiritual needs (Gen 45:11; 47:12; 50:21-22; Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16; 1Chron 28:8; Pr 19:18; 29:17; Mk 7:10; Lu 11:11-13; Eph 6:2; Ruth 3:9, 12; Col; 1Tim 5:8)
Generosity to the one-another
Need meeting - acts of kindness: what is good and necessary for now and eternity done tenderly and with great care - according to their need (Acts 2:42-47; Eph 4:29; 1Tim 6:17-19; Tit )
Physical - bodily needs - life here, now
Relational - time and wisdom giving
Spiritual - prayer, word - encouragement, instruction, correction
Gift exercising - edifying, blessing, and building up (Rom 12; 1Cor 12)
Love of neighbor - loving them as one loves self (Lev 19:18; Matt 5:43; Mk 12:31; Ja 2:8; Rev 2:19)
Love of enemy - (Matt 5:43-48; Lu 6:27-36; Rom 12:9-21 - where in proximity wisdom permits)
Needs observed - hungry, thirsty, in need…?
Prayer - travels, can be there, even when we cannot
Blessing - the wishing for God’s happiness - to wish well or good (1Pe 3:8-10) Wanting for them God’s good - in particular, redemption
Doing good to those who mistreat you
