Season 3 Podcast 79 Virtues and Vices Pt A

Virtues and Vices Pt AWe equate virtue with goodness, righteousness, moral excellence, integrity, honesty, perfection, and purity. We equate vice with sinfulness, wickedness, baseness, immorality, evil, impurity, and licentiousness. During the last podcasts we have tried to know Christ better through his titles. Another way to know Christ is through his virtues. In fact, it could be said that every virtue of Christ is a new title. John said5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)It is hard for us to imagine having “no darkness at all.” It gives us an appreciation for the atonement of Christ and the cleansing power of his blood because that is exactly what the atonement does.  It removes all darkness. The ultimate goal of all good Christians is to be saved and live in the light of Christ forever. The Holy Scriptures define the conditions that we must follow for the blood of Christ to atone for our sins. We equate light with knowledge, truth, law, purity, power, understanding, comprehension, and enlightenment. And, of course, we equate light with the absence of darkness. Satan is called the Prince of Darkness. In Christ there is no darkness at all; in Satan there is no light at all. It is impossible for us to imagine the two superlatives. What would it be like to have “no darkness at all” furthermore, what would it be like to have no light at all. Virtue leads us to the light. Vice leads us to the dark.In the Holy Bible virtues are often contrasted with vices. We equate Christ with all the virtues and Satan with all the vices. From the Middle Ages we have the seven heavenly virtues:Chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, gratitude, humilityThey are contrasted with the Seven Deadly Sins.Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride.In Proverbs we read,16  These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)In James we read,17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:17-22)