Virtue is word no longer used in our society today. It’s origins comes from the Middle English from Old French vertu, from Latin virtus ‘valor, merit, moral perfection’. In the Greek the word would be arete which means moral excellence and goodness and uprightness. In the scriptures a good example of this word is used in 2 Peter chapter 1. To your faith you are to add virtue. Peter goes on to a good list of attributes every disciple should study and learn.
Moral perfection or excellence can ONLY be accomplished one way… via the Holy Spirit since God is the ONLY right Judge who can discern it correctly within an individual. The job of the Holy Spirit is to impart to us, guide us, teach us, and convict us when we’ve got off the path He wants us to travel (think Pilgrim’s Progress). If God is the only One who can rightly determine ‘perfection’ or real excellence within an individual then it seems correct that only HE can bestow such an attribute within an individual.
The usual method of cleansing and purification comes through trial and heat. When you heat metal and ore hot enough to make it a liquid the dross (or impurities) come to the top of the liquid and is scraped off by the one smelting the metal or ore. God allows trials and challenges into our lives to …teach us, and maybe purify us. And the further down the road of spiritual maturity you go the process only must get more intense. A man or woman of virtue is of great value. And in God’s crucible a person will find what amount of virtue they actually have or have not.
Virtue and hypocrisy are opposites. Yet is seems hypocrisy is a necessary component to be in league with the enemies of God. One of moral excellence will not be confused of what is evil and what is not. Many people now are ‘virtue signaling’ in social media in many different ways. Basically trying to show everyone else how “good” they are. But unfortunately they do it mainly to be accepted by the ‘party’ / people they want to impress, not because of any real moral foundation in their lives.
In olden days a virtuous woman meant that she had kept her virginity. And virginity was highly valued by society and men back then … as it was seen as ‘pure and undefiled’. Now our public education system is teaching 5-9 year olds how to have sex and that it is ‘good’ for them … at that age!! So much for the virginity value. Women should be taught that they have GREAT value, and that their virtue needs to ONLY be given to the one who deserves it and genuinely values it. From Biblical standards that means on her wedding night. Now it seems our society thinks virtue has no value. It also should be stated that virtue should be held within men as a noble attribute for themselves as well. Real Godly women would see and appreciate that virtue in men with GREAT value.
Here’s the miraculous thing .. God can restore our …virtue. Especially from a spiritual / soul, heart perspective. Many have lost their virtue out of no fault of their own. Some lost it out of foolishness and immaturity. Jesus isn’t called the Redeemer for nothing. He can redeem your virtue for you. But that will require real deep heartfelt repentance, and a willingness to obey the Holy Spirit in your life going forward and a willingness to ask Him to restore your virtue.
Words of Jesus.
Luke 18:26-27
Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”