“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, 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. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:4-8

Character – “By way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation.” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Strong’s Concordance defines the word virtue as moral goodness or moral excellence in thoughts feelings or action.

Decency, morality, character or what the Bible calls virtue is a Biblical objective or goal. We are told in the Word of God to add to our faith. We are instructed to give all diligence to add seven things; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity.

I have seen a lifetime of “Christians” who say they know Christ yet lack the most common virtues. There is something strange about that.

I think Mr. Spurgeon sums it all up rather well,

“You can be no more saved by believing right doctrine than you can by doing right actions.  “There,” says another, “I like that; I shall go and believe in Christ, and live as I like.” Indeed you will not! For if you believe in Christ he will not let you live as your flesh liketh; by his Spirit he will constrain you to mortify its affections and lusts. If he gives you the grace to make you believe, he will give you the grace to live a holy life afterwards. If he gives you faith, he gives you good works after- wards. You cannot believe in Christ, unless you renounce every fault, and resolve to serve him with full purpose of heart.

Let us give all diligence- Shawn