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Christian Virtue and Character |
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John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Romans 13:1-7 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work,... 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God. Romans 12:1,2 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 1 Timothy 6:6 ...there is great gain in godliness with contentment;... Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD! Romans 12:11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Luke 20:21-25 They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 "Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?" They said, "Caesars." 25 He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods." Luke 21:9-19 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be a time for you to bear testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; 17 you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives. 2 Timothy 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Matthew 8:5-13 As he entered Caperna-um, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even * in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment. Mark 11:22-24 And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Matthew 25:23 'His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' Mark 11:25,26 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Ephesians 4:31,32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Colossians 3:13 ...forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Matthew 6:14,15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. John 8:31-36 Jesus then said
to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are
truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will
make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and
have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, 'You will
be made free'?" John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, 12 training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, 13 awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Matthew 5:3-12 "Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed
are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16* since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 2 Corinthians 8:21 ...for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of men. 1 Peter 2:17 Honor all men.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Luke 18:9-14 I tell you,
he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes,
will he find faith on earth?" 9 He also told this parable to some
who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a
tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I
thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even like this tax collector. (Picture) 12 I fast twice a week, I give
tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off,
would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to
his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts
himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Philippians 2:3-11 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, * being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Luke 10:20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Colossians 3:12,13 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. John 9:4 "We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work." Luke 10:27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." 1 Corinthians 13 (complete chapter)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but
have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have
prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I
have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be
burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. John 14:15-24 "If you love me,
you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he will
give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, 17 even the Spirit of
truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor
knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." John 16:33 "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Revelation 3:12 He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Luke 11:1-13 He was praying in
a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 And he said to
them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us
our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and
lead us not into temptation." Ephesians 6:18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Matthew 5:27-32 You have heard
that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you
that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your
members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if
your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is
better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into
hell. 2 Timothy 2:22 So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. John 5:39 "You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me;..." Psalm 1:2 ...but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16 besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Exodus 20:1-7 And God spoke
all these words, saying, 2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of
the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 "You shall have no
other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a graven
image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in
the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall
not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third
and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast
love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Psalm 89:7 ...a God feared in
the council of the holy ones, great and terrible above all that are round
about him? Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 6:33 "But seek first
his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as
well. " Philippians 1:9,10 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ... 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 2 Corinthians 9:6,7 The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the
LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6 In
all your ways acknowledge him, John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. " John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth." Ephesians 4:14,15 ...so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,... 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Mark 13:34-37 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch therefore--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning-- 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch." Colossians 3:23,24 Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ. 1 Peter 4:11 ...whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ... John 4:23,24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." John 2:13-17 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." John 6:27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal."
The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyrighted, 1966, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
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