Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Is your heart right before God? When you have a pure heart, it means that you sin less because you understand that sinning grieves both you and God because of the damage it does to your relationship. A pure heart is a heart […]

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Why was it that you mother always told you to eat your fruits and vegetables? It was because the fruits and vegetables were good for you and would promote your health. So likewise, every word of […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in purity.
Timothy is a young man who has been called by God to preach the gospel. Paul is advising Timothy on the things that he should do so that his message is not ignored by people who think Timothy might be too young to fully understand the deep doctrine of the Christian […]

Proverbs 12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
How bright is your light for God? Have you ever made a campfire in the woods? The more wood that you put on the fire, the bigger and brighter the fire will be. If […]

I Corinthians 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
Paul desires that every Christian have the knowledge that there is but one God. Most Christians would say […]

Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
The battle to add virtue to your life begins with the choices you make. To add virtue to your life, you need to fill your mind with that which is […]

Psalms 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
This world is full of individuals who proclaim to be Christians; individuals who supposedly have determined to put God first in their life. However, you know that not everyone’s relationship with God is the same. There are […]

Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

You are commanded to think upon those things that are pure. By thinking upon those things that are pure, you are thinking upon the things of God and are adding virtue to your life. The word of God is pure words. This means that if you desire to add virtue to your life, you must take the time to study God�s word. You must fill your mind with God�s word. The more time you spend studying HIS word, the purer your thoughts and the greater the possibility that HE will be able to use you.

Matthew 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

What you do here on this earth does affect your final destination. Your actions or your lack of actions can result in your going to spend eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. In this passage Jesus just informed you that it would be better for you that you do not have a hand, a foot or even an eye than it would be to spend eternity in hell.

Think about it for a second, what if you had a problem walking into places that caused you to stumble and fall short of the glory of God. What if you cut off your leg? The fact that you have to now hop along everywhere you desire to go would be a constant reminder to you of the need to put the things of God first in your life. Christ states that it would be better that you have only one leg and you enter heaven than that you have two legs and you live a life of debauchery here on this earth.

Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

The natural condition of your heart is not good. Your sin nature does not naturally produce those things that are pleasing to God. As a result of sin, your heart is filled with things that are not pleasing to the Lord.

Instead of allowing evil to be produced in your heart, you have been commanded to add virtue to your life. Virtue is thinking upon those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and is of a good report. Virtue does not come naturally. Instead you must learn virtue. You must ask for virtue so that you can receive it. You must place yourself in a position where those around you are demonstrating virtue so that you can learn by their example. Until you make the effort to add virtue to your life, the fruit of your heart will be that which is not pleasing in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

The seventh characteristic of virtue that Solomon was to look for in a woman he desired to marry was that she exercised in order to keep in shape. You understand that Paul wrote in I Timothy 4:8 that �bodily exercise profiteth little�. One who exercises is taking care of their body so that it will remain healthy longer. Solomon was not looking for a woman who all she did was exercise because then she would not have the time to demonstrate all the other characteristics that he was looking for in his future wife. In addition, he was also not looking for a woman who allowed her body and health to deteriorate simply because she was too busy doing everything else. Solomon was to look for a woman who cared enough about her health and future that she took the time to keep in shape.

Acts 23:12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

Over 40 Jews had so much hatred for Paul that they were willing to abstain from eating or drinking until they had killed him. Not only were they willing to abstain from eating or drinking, but they were willing to bind themselves with an oath. Most likely these 40 Jews were religious leaders. If they were religious leaders, they should have understood from the reading of the scriptures the significance of an oath. Nonetheless, these 40 men were willing to make an oath because of their agreed hatred of Paul.

Acts 21:28-29 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

Paul was in the temple in Jerusalem when some Jews from Asia saw him and started stirring up the people. They stirred up the Jews by saying things that they did not know whether they were true or not. They told the Jews that Paul had defiled the temple by bring in a Greek but all they knew was that Paul was talking to the individual, they did not know if Paul actually brought the Greek into the temple.

Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

If you do an extremely dirty job and are covered in dirt, upon completion of the project, you find yourself heading to the water to clean up. You personally do not desire to be caked in mud for a prolonged period of time. Even if you have not been doing work that has covered you with filth, you still take the time to regularly clean your body of even the minor filth that slowly builds up.

Acts 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

God had brought the fear of the Lord upon many in Ephesus. A revival was breaking out in the community. Many of the believers who use to practice the occult took their books and burned them. It did not matter that these books had great value and that they could be sold to someone else. The believers in Ephesus did not want anyone else to read these books and be drawn away from the Lord.

The believers in Ephesus had no need for these books since they now served the living God. They understood that there could be no other gods before the One true God and as such, they removed from their lives those things that use to be gods in their lives. They understood the importance of having a clear conscience before God and having nothing that could hinder their relationship with God.

Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

A controversy arouse regarding whether the Gentiles had to be circumcised prior to being saved. While the Pharisees that believed felt that circumcision was necessary, Peter shared his testimony and reached the opposite conclusion. James then arose and used the prophets to demonstrate that circumcision was not necessary. However, James did proclaim that there were four laws of Moses that the Gentiles must abide by. The Gentiles were to abstain from idols, fornication, things that were strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Paul and Barnabas came to Jerusalem to have the elders of the church determine whether Gentiles had to be circumcised before they were saved. After Peter had shared his personal testimony of God working through him to bring the good news to Cornelius, James used the prophets to explain how it was foretold that the message would be told to the Gentiles. James did not believe circumcision was necessary, but there were four laws that he felt that the Gentiles should abide by.

Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he
preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Philip had just baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. Immediately after Philip
baptized him, the Spirit of the Lord took him away. Philip continued to
do what he had been doing prior to God leading him out to the desert by
preaching the good news everywhere he went.

Philip had just seen God use him in a mighty way. However, rather then
sit back and brag to others about how God used him, Philip was diligent
in continuing to serve God. Philip understood that he could not afford

II Corinthians 11:2-3 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

You are the espoused bride of Christ. Christ is returning to this earth to claim you and to take you to the home that HE has prepared for you in heaven. Just as an earthly husband desires his bride to be a chaste or pure virgin, so to, it is Christ�s desire that you save yourself for HIM by not allowing yourself to dwell upon impure thoughts.

God created a perfect world and gave Adam and Eve complete dominion over the earth. However, there was only one rule and that was that they could not eat of the tree of good and evil. Satan came to Eve and caused her to think more highly of herself then she ought. Eve allowed Satan to put impure thoughts in her mind that then caused her to sin and violate God�s perfect law.

Purity is not just skin deep. Purity starts in the mind. Christ told you �That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment� Matthew 5:22. HE also told you �That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.� Matthew 5:28. In order for you to practice virtue, you must learn to guard your mind early and prevent impure thoughts from entering your mind. If you allow impure thoughts to control your mind, you are setting yourself up to follow Eve�s example by allowing yourself to fall into sin.

Christ is the perfect bridegroom and HE desires that you HIS bride remain pure while you wait. Virtue requires that you dwell upon pure thoughts. The gospel of Christ is simple. Throughout the ages, mankind has attempted to corrupt the gospel so as to raise their status among man. By pride they have attempted to mislead many creating a gospel according to works so as to diminish the gift that Christ made upon the cross. Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving HIS life for HIS bride. HE is asking HIS bride to remain faithful to HIM and wait for HIM by being virtuous.

Christ is courting you. HE is coming one day soon to take you to heaven. It is your duty to add to your faith virtue which means that you are to save yourself for the Bridegroom by dwelling upon pure thoughts. It is not easy keeping your mind pure living in an impure world. Adam and Eve could not refrain from impure thoughts and they lived in a perfect world. You cannot on your own accord keep impure thoughts out of your mind. However, by the power of the blood, you have the strength to overcome the wicked one. Just because Satan desires to tempt you with impure thoughts, it does not mean that you must yield to that temptation. Instead, demonstrate virtue by learning to not dwell upon impure thoughts. Preserve yourself for the Bridegroom.

No one said it would be easy to add to your faith virtue. Nonetheless, virtue requires that purity be in your mind and in your heart. Do not dwell upon things that are impure. Do not allow yourself to be corrupted into believing anything but the simplicity of the gospel. Keep yourself pure by not dwelling upon things that would not be pleasing unto Christ your Savior. Save yourself for Christ as HE is coming soon for you.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on thee things.

The second precious promise that is given to you is virtue. Peter tells you that you are to diligently add to your faith virtue. Virtue will not magically appear in your life but you must learn to diligently seek it and allow it to change your life so that you might be a partaker of the divine nature. While you may live in the world, you do not need to be of this world. Instead, the inward character of Christ must reside within you so that when people see you, they understand that there is something different about you. The light of God must shine within you and you must allow yourself to be visible to all so that God�s glory will be evident to all who see you.

II Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Timothy was instructed that he could not be like every other young man. Timothy was to have different goals for his life. Timothy was not to subject himself to the lusts of the world as others did. Instead, Timothy was to fill his time pursuing righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with those who have a pure heart.

Timothy was not to be like everyone else. Just because everyone else does it, it does not make it right. It is not easy going against the grain, to stand-alone for the cause of Christ, but that is exactly what Paul was asking Timothy to do. Paul was asking Timothy to be an example among the believers by avoiding those sins that plagued young men at that tie. Timothy was to flee, to get away from, to have no part of these sins. Timothy was to set his life apart for the Lord.

However, when you do not do what everyone else is doing, it does create a vacuum of time in your life that others do not have to worry about. What was Timothy to do with his time now that he was having no part of youthful lusts? Timothy was instructed to flee lusts but to associate himself with those who have a pure heart. What was he to do with those who had a pure heart? Timothy was instructed to pursue the things of God.

It is harder to yield to the lusts of the world when you are by yourself; that is probably why Paul desired that Timothy pursue the things of God with someone who has a pure heart. Timothy would have a better chance to flee lusts since he had accountability with another individual to pursue the things of God.

Timothy was instructed to pursue the righteousness of God. He was to live his life in a manner that God would approve of his life, not because of who Timothy was, but because of who God was in the life of Timothy. Timothy was instructed to pursue faith. This means that he should be striving to live each day of his life drawing closer to God and hearing the Lord�s voice and seeking ways that he could obey the Lord. Then upon seeing the Lord�s provision, protection and direction, Timothy and his accountability partner would be in a position to see their faith grow as they shared their testimonies.

Timothy was instructed to pursue love. He was to learn to love the Lord with all his heart and to love his neighbor as himself. By filling his life full of love for others, he would not have time to pursue the lusts of this world. Timothy was instructed to pursue peace. This means that Timothy was to learn to develop a tranquil state of his soul and to learn to be content with whatever God brings his way.

Satan does not want you to follow after the things of God. Instead, he desires that you waste your time with the things of this world. This means that he will try to distract you from the things of God by filling up your life with things that just eat up your time. Find an individual who is seeking the Lord and spend your time with them pursuing God. Together you will be in a position that enables you to avoid the entrapments of this world and will give you the strength to pursue the things of God. Together you can learn to put others before yourself. Together you can learn to increase your faith.

I Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

As Paul is finishing this letter to Timothy, he tells Timothy to �keep that which is committed� to him. Paul had just instructed Timothy on several important doctrines to the Christian faith and he told Timothy to keep these doctrines. Paul did not tell Timothy to obey the doctrines, if he had, he would have used a different Greek word. While the word �keep� does have a meaning of obeying, it also means to watch, to guard, to preserve, to observe, and obey.

Paul did not just want Timothy to obey the words that he instructed, but he wanted him to guard the words and ensure that the doctrine of the gospel as presented in this letter were preserved and taught to the church. Paul had shared the truth with Timothy, and it was now time for Timothy to take these truths and ensure that the church understood them.

After instructing Timothy of what he should do, he then cautioned Timothy on two things that he should avoid. Timothy was instructed to avoid fruitless and vain debates and he was instructed to stay away from science or knowledge that proclaimed truth but in reality was just false religion. Paul was not saying that there was a problem with the sciences and knowledge, what was going on at this time was that there were individuals who were using their knowledge to try to explain away some of the power of God and thus by their false knowledge, they were leading many away. There are some things of God that cannot be explained or understood until you get to heaven.

Timothy was charged to keep the faith. Timothy had chosen to serve the Lord and now he had the responsibility to ensure that he did not place himself in a position where he would err or cause others to err concerning the faith. Paul gave Timothy the truth and he instructed Timothy to keep his attention on the truth.

An individual whose job it is to find counterfeit money spends all their time studying the real thing, so Paul desired that Timothy spend his time on the doctrines of God. By avoiding vain discussions he would be able to concentrate on the doctrines of truth. By avoiding strange sciences, Timothy was able to spend his time studying the truth. It was the truth of the doctrine of the gospel that saved Timothy and it was these doctrines that would guide him in the way he was to live.

You have been saved and are instructed to live your life for HIM. Are you living your life so that others can see the truth through you? You have the truth; do not waste your time with vain conversations that do not assist you in understanding the truth. Do not waste your time trying to understand things that will compromise your faith. Spend your time in the word; spend it studying the truth because it is the truth that will set you free.

It only takes one drop of poison to poison a glass of water, so too it only takes one mistruth to destroy the purity of the teaching of God�s word. Spend your time guarding the truth to ensure that you do not cause others to stumble in the faith because you allowed others to corrupt your understanding of the truth of God�s word.

I Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Starting in I Timothy 2:9, Paul is instructing women how they are to abide in the church. Paul instructs women to be modest, to learn in silence, and then not to teach or usurp authority over man. To explain this last instruction, Paul details how it was Eve who first transgressed in the Garden of Eden. The first half of this verse is relating back to verse 14 that is referring to one woman, Eve. Because of Eve�s sin, it became necessary for a Savior. God sent that Savior not through man, but through a woman. If Eve had never had children, there never would have been a Savior.

Paul had been talking about one woman, Eve, when he mentioned that woman was saved by childbearing. However, once he is finished with his explanation as to why women are not to usurp authority over the man, then he transitions back into a general commandment to all women. Paul then instructs women to live in faith, charity and holiness with sobriety.

This final general commandment is no different then what he had instructed all Christians in various passages. The commandment to Christians is that they are to live their life in faith, love, and purity with self-control. This is no different for the women. Paul probably finishes this discussion with the general commandment so as to ensure that there is no confusion that the specific instruction does not violate the general commandment. In fact, the specific instruction is designed to enable women to better understand how they are to fulfill the general commandment.

Paul understood that it was important to give instruction to both the men and the women as to what was proper conduct for them during the worship of God. Paul took his teaching and went back to the basic foundation that Christians whether they are male or female have a duty to live in faith, love, purity with self control. However, because these terms are sometimes construed so broadly, Paul gave specific examples at how a woman can live her life pleasing to the Lord and still abide by these principles. This entire passage is similar to Jesus� teaching on adultery. Jesus took the general commandment of one not committing adultery and further explained that principle by stating that if one lusted in their heart, they were guilty of adultery.

You have a duty to live your life in faith, love, and purity with self-control. This sometimes means that you are required to do things out of deference for others. Yes, you may feel qualified to do something, but in order to live your life pleasing to God, you must defer to others. A Christian needs to understand that they are not living their lives for themselves, but they are living their life for the glory of God.

Living by faith is understanding God�s will for your life and living it. Sometimes you will have to do things that seem contrary to society today and even the belief of other Christians. However, you live by a higher standard. You must live your life by God�s standards, not by man�s standards. Just because others are doing it, it does not make their actions right in the eyes of God. You must be careful to live your life for God, live your life with self-control, putting God�s will first.

Judges 7:4 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

God had told Gideon that he was going to use him to lead the nation into battle against the Midianites. Gideon obeyed the Lord and 32,000 men showed up to follow him. The Lord had Gideon dismiss all those who were afraid and Gideon was left with 10,000 men. 10,000 men against the multitude of Midianites was not exactly what most would call too many men. Nonetheless, 10,000 men were too many men for God to deliver Israel.

Philippians 3:9-10 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The word righteousness means the state in which we are approved by God. Righteousness is our integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting. Paul tells us in this passage that we are not righteous because we have followed the law but that we are righteous and thus acceptable to God because of our faith. By following the law, our outward actions are the things that are judged. However, it is our faith in Christ that dictates to us that we are accountable to God for our thoughts and feelings.

Acts 15:8-9 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Now that the gospel was being spread among the Gentiles, the question arose whether the Gentiles needed to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to present their case to the apostles on why it was not necessary. When the Pharisees claimed that circumcision was necessary a great dispute arouse. It was at this time that Peter arose and reminded the believers of what God had done through him regarding Cornelius.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his fits: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

The first individual admitted to God�s hall of faith is the second-born son of Adam and Eve. Abel brought an offering unto the Lord of the firstlings of his flock. Able understood who God was and he brought the first of his possessions unto God. God recognized that Able did this by faith and bore witness to the fact that it pleased HIM. Even though Able died as a result of his faith and his sacrifice, his example still speaks to us today about the importance of giving to God by faith the first of our possessions.