Three Theological
Virtues
I grew up just cynical enough to think “wimpy” when I heard
the term “virtue.” To be labeled as someone virtuous was definitely not a compliment. Saints were virtuous;
straight-laced, goody-goodies. No one wanted to be virtuous. After all, it
wasn’t cool to be good.
I do not know where I got such an idea. Honestly, it sounds
like I was raised by hooligans, surrounded by delinquents, aspiring to be a
bozo or thug.
Any amount of maturity enables one to see that virtue, far
from being dismissible, is admirable on every level. Virtue is character, an
ideal, quality, value. Virtue: “moral excellence; goodness; righteousness;
conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles.” Now, who
wouldn’t want that?
The Church has long recognized the Bible’s emphasis on three
particular virtues, qualities stressed for every Christian—Faith, Hope, and
Love (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 5:8; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13:8). These are the “Three
Theological Virtues.” They are called “theological” for two reasons: First, the
ultimate object, purpose or goal of these traits is God Himself. While many may
personally benefit from one’s faith, hope and love, these qualities eventually
lead toward Jesus. We may not mean it to be so, others may not recognize it,
but the ultimate end of every true virtue is the Savior. We can see that to be
so, especially given the second reason for calling them “theological virtues.”
These qualities are obtained only as a gift from God Himself. True, we have the
honor and responsibility to exercise these virtues, to employ them in our daily
lives, but the source of these traits is the Lord, given to us by His grace.
These theological blessings, then, point us toward Jesus because they
ultimately come from Jesus.
Faith is the trust, the reliance upon God, believing His Word, for promises unseen.
Hope is the confidence, the assurance that God’s hold on the future is certain and sure.
Love is the sacrificial expression of giving to others at the cost to oneself.
How is our ethical conduct to be filled with faith, hope and
love? Above all, the Bible’s stress on these virtues recognizes that they are
grace-based, that is, we exercise them in this world only by God’s free gift of
grace, and they are graciously demonstrated to others—that is, a Christian is
virtuous to others not because they deserve it, but out of grace. These virtues
grow in our hearts by God’s good direction and blessing. They are ours, not by
right or merit, but by gracious action of our Lord.
What would it look like to be filled by these graces, to be
part of a community which exercises regularly these virtues? What would it be
like to have a witness of faith, a character of hope and a life of love? Is it
possible? Can we hope that our Lord will bring such into our lives? I think so.
Why? Because this is how Jesus encouraged the Church at Thyatira—“I know your
love and faith and patient endurance.” Perhaps He would say that to us as well?
May it ever be so!
Join us in worship this week. Read Revelation 2:18-29.
1. In verse 18, Jesus describes Himself as having “eyes like
a flame of fire” and “feet like burnished bronze.” What do these two metaphors
mean? What are we to glimpse of Jesus because of this?
2. Jesus describes the works of the church in verse 19. List
out the five qualities identified here. Can you give an illustration of what
each might look like?
3. Read 1 Kings 18-21 (or scan them!). What is the
overriding impression you get about Jezebel? What was she like? What character
traits stick out to the reader?
4. If I were to insist that the focus here is not Jezebel’s
sexual concerns but her idolatry, how would you read Jesus’ accusations against
her (vs. 20-23)?
5. How does the church at Thyatira compare with the one in
Ephesus? Remember in Ephesus, there was a lot of truth, but they had forgotten
their first love. Here we have a lot of love (tolerance) but not a lot of
truth.
6. In verse 24, Jesus says He will not lay on the church any
other burden. What burden do they already carry? What burden might Jesus be
sparing them from?
7. The promise given to the church is one of authority,
rulership. What would that look like if it were fulfilled here at Hebron? How
might we see that played out in our lives?
