The
Virtue of
Faith
.“A Gift and Habit
of the Heart”
.
By Don Schwager
“Therefore..
let us run
with
perseverance
the race that
is set before
us, looking to
Jesus the
pioneer and
perfecter of
our faith”
– Hebrews
12:1b-2
Part
1:
Introduction
“Make
every effort
to supplement
your faith
with virtue”
(2 Peter 1:5)
The
Apostle Peter
makes a very
strong link
between faith
and virtue –
“make every
effort to
supplement
your faith
with virtue”
(2 Peter 1:5).
Faith in Jesus
Christ is the
key that opens
the door to a
right
relationship
with God. “The
righteous
shall live by
faith” (Romans
1:17,
Galatians
3:11). And
what enables
us to grow
strong in
faith,
steadfast in
hope, and
fervent in
love?
Paul
the Apostle
tells us that
"God's love
has been
poured into
our hearts
through the
gift of the
Spirit who has
been given to
us
(Romans 5:5.
We cannot
draw near to
God unless he
first draw us
near to him.
Faith is both
a gift and a
response of
belief and
trust in the
One who made
us in love for
love. Faith,
hope, and love
are gifts of
God (and
supernatural
virtues) that
enable us to
live as sons
and daughters
of God. These
gifts must be
nourished and
cultivated in
us so that we
may grow in
the character
of Christ. And
how do we grow
in the
character of
Christ? First,
by looking to
Jesus the
pioneer and
perfecter of
our faith
(Hebrews 12:2)
and by
following his
teaching and
example.
Jesus
taught by
example and by
instruction.
“Go and do
likewise”
(Luke 10:37),
“I have given
you an example
that you also
should do as I
have done to
you” (John
13:15). “Love
one another,
even as I have
loved you”
(John 13:34).
Training in
Christian
character is
essential for
the formation
of mature
leaders,
teachers,
parents, and
pastoral
workers who
can pass on
the faith and
raise future
generations of
disciples for
advancing
God’s kingdom
on the
earth.
Augustine
of Hippo
(354-430 AD)
identified all
virtue with
the person of
Christ:
Now
we require
many virtues,
and from these
virtues we
advance to
virtue itself.
What virtue,
you inquire? I
reply: Christ,
the very
virtue and
wisdom of God.
He gives
diverse
virtues here
below, and he
will also
supply the one
virtue, namely
himself, for
all of the
other virtues
which are
useful and
necessary in
this vale of
tears.
C.
S. Lewis
(1898-1963)
explained the
difference
between doing
good deeds and
training in
character.
There
is a
difference
between doing
some
particular
just or
temperate
action and
being a just
or temperate
man. Someone
who is not a
good tennis
player may now
and then make
a good shot.
What you mean
by a good
player is a
man whose eye
and muscles
and nerves
have been so
trained by
making
innumerable
good shots
that they can
now be relied
on. They have
a certain tone
or quality
which is there
even when he
is not
playing, just
as a
mathematician’s
mind has a
certain habit
and outlook
which is there
even when he
is not doing
mathematics.
In the same
way a man who
perseveres in
doing just
actions gets
in the end a
certain
quality of
character. Now
it is that
quality rather
than the
particular
actions which
we mean when
we talk of a
‘virtue’ (Mere
Christianity).
Habits
of the heart
Virtues and
vices can be
described as
settled
dispositions
or
inclinations
to act in
particular
ways. They are
good or bad
character
traits. They
are acquired
through
repeated acts
of deliberate
decision, and
as such become
“habits of the
heart.”
A chief
characteristic
of both vice
and virtue is
an established
tendency to
act from
deliberate
decision. Vice
is a bad
character
trait or habit
of the heart
which leads
one into sin.
It is a
settled
disposition or
inclination to
do what is
morally wrong
or sinful. It
is usually a
habit of
character
acquired
through
repeated acts
of deliberate
decision.
The
word virtue,
which comes
from the Latin
word vir for
man, denotes
strength of
character
leading to
courageous
deeds.
It signifies
manliness or
courage.
Augustine of
Hippo said
that “virtue
is a good
habit
consonant with
our nature.”
The virtues
are
dispositions
or habits of
character that
lead us to do
good. Virtues
are good
character
traits or
habits of the
heart.
Augustine
further
defined virtue
as “a good
quality of the
mind by which
we live
righteously,
of which no
one can make
bad
use.”
The virtues
dispose us to
an orientation
of life
opposite that
of the vices.
Many
people today
tend to call
vice and sin
not as
character
flaws or
wrong-doing
but simply as
“behavioral
problems” –
and guilt is
labeled as
emotional
distress.
The language
of sin has
been replaced
by the
language of
symptoms.
People rarely
talk about
vice or virtue
anymore.
But in fact,
virtues and
vices are
acquired
habits of
character, by
which we are
either
perfected
(i.e. becoming
a mature
person of
integrity,
moral vision,
and good
character) or
degraded (i.e.
becoming a
person of bad
character by
embracing
immoral ways
of thinking,
acting, and
living).
Natural
virtues and
the
supernatural
virtues
If we want to
grow in full
maturity as
men and woman
of God we will
need more than
the natural
virtues and
human wisdom.
The natural
moral virtues,
such as
prudence,
justice,
courage, and
temperance,
are acquired
by human
effort. They
are the fruit
and seed of
morally good
acts. But the
natural
virtues in
themselves are
not sufficient
for living a
fully good
human life as
God has
intended for
the human
race.
Gregory
of Nyssa said
that “the goal
of a virtuous
life is to
become like
God.” It
is not easy
for fallen
human beings,
who have been
wounded by
sin, to grow
and persevere
in the
virtues. We
need God’s
help and the
strength he
gives us
through the
supernatural
virtues of
faith, hope,
and love.
These virtues
are not just
added on top
of the natural
virtues. They
permeate and
transform all
of our natural
virtues.
Peter
Kreeft in his
book, Back
to Virtue,
explains how
the
supernatural
virtues of
faith, hope,
and love
inform and
give life to
the moral
virtues.
The
natural
virtues are
the seedbed,
soil, or
fertilizer for
the flower of
supernatural
virtue. Ethics
is preparatory
to religion,
because “the
law is our
schoolmaster
to bring us to
Christ.”
Having said
these good
things about
natural
virtue, it
must be added
that it is not
sufficient,
either for the
next life or
even for this
life… The four
cardinal
virtues are
not sufficient
even for this
life. Unless
we “seek first
the kingdom of
God and his
righteousness,”
all these
other things
will not be
added to us.
Unless we put
first things
first, second
things will
not come
either.
Without the
supernatural
virtues, the
natural
virtues fail.
For instance,
without
charity, which
goes beyond
justice, no
one can be
just. We
cannot fulfill
the
requirements
of the natural
law of justice
to our
neighbors
except by the
power of love.
“Love is the
fulfillment of
the law,” not
by
substituting
for it, as if
we did not
need to do the
works of
justice when
we love, but
rather by
fulfilling it,
for when we
love someone,
we want them
to receive
justice.
Another
example is
that it is
very hard to
be totally
courageous
without hope
in Heaven. Why
risk your life
if there is no
hope that your
story ends in
anything other
than worms and
decay? Also,
no one can be
truly wise
without faith,
for faith sees
higher and
farther than
reason or
experience
can. It sees
“through a
glass, dimly”
but it sees
deeply.
Finally, no
one can
successfully
practice
self-control
without God’s
grace, for we
are all
addicted to
sin,
self-indulgence,
and
selfishness…The
two levels,
natural and
supernatural,
hang together.
The
source of
godly virtue
The true
source of
godly virtue
comes from God
and not human
beings. All
that is good
has its origin
in God who is
the very
source of
goodness.
Whatever
goodness we
have is
derived from
him. Through
the working of
the Holy
Spirit, he
frees us from
our sins and
gives us the
help and
strength we
need to reject
whatever is
evil and to
choose for
what is good.
It is through
the work of
the Holy
Spirit, and
our
cooperation
with him, that
our lives are
changed and
transformed
into the
likeness of
Jesus Christ.
In 2
Corinthians
3:18 Paul
states that
“we are being
changed into
his (God's)
likeness from
one degree of
glory to
another; for
this comes
from the Lord
who is the
Spirit.”
Christian
virtue
consists in a
living
relationship
with God, in
conformity
with his
words, in
obedience to
his will, and
in a profound
and lasting
turning
towards him.
Faithfulness
in following
the Lord's way
is the
fundamental
virtue for
walking with
God. It's also
a requirement
for keeping
God's covenant
(Exodus 19:5).
On the other
hand, the
fundamental
vice is to
follow some
god other than
the true God
and to be
unfaithful to
God’s covenant
with us by
departing from
his way. The
virtuous
person who
puts his trust
in God finds
delight in
following
God’s
commandments
(Psalm 1, and
Psalm 15).
You
have made
known to me
the path of
life; you will
fill me with
joy in your
presence, with
eternal
pleasures at
your right
hand (Psalm
15:11).
Jesus
describes the
perfect
disciple in
his Sermon on
the Mount
(Matthew 5,
Luke 6). In
summary he
says that the
heart of a
true disciple
is free from
evil and full
of love and
mercy towards
friend and foe
alike.
The deadly
vices have
their source
in sinful
attitudes of
the heart. If
unchecked,
sinful
attitudes
easily become
habit-forming
and thus
relatively
permanent
features of
one's
orientation to
life. The
deadly vices
and the sins
they breed are
forms of
behavior
resulting from
sinful intent
or neglect. It
is behavior
dictated by
wrong
attitudes, in
habits of the
heart, that
make the heart
lukewarm, then
cold,
hardened, and
evil.
What
comes out of a
man is what
makes him
unclean. For
from within,
out of men's
hearts, come
evil thoughts,
sexual
immorality,
theft, murder,
adultery,
greed, malice,
deceit,
lewdness,
envy, slander,
arrogance and
folly (Mark
7:20-22).
When
we separate
ourselves from
God through
sin we become
incapable of
controlling
our evil
desires and of
remaining
master of
ourselves (1
John
2:16).
In such a
condition we
cannot find in
ourselves the
strength to
resist the
weight of our
passions. When
we are united
with God we
discover the
strength or
capacity to
live virtuous
lives.
It is the
strength of
the Lord that
is our
strength.
Without it we
remain
fainthearted
and listless
in the face of
evil.
God calls us
to live
virtuous lives
(2 Peter
1:3-11). We
need the
virtues to
counter the
vices.
Part
2:
Faith
as a Virtue
Christian
faith is
believing,
trusting, and
expecting the
Lord Jesus to
work in and
through us by
the gift and
working of the
Spirit who
dwells in us.
Christian
faith is following
Jesus Christ
in a committed
relationship
of loyalty,
obedience,
love and
faithfulness.
The root
meaning of the
word “faith”
is
trust,
reliability,
and
faithfulness.
It is a trust
that is based
on honesty,
truthfulness,
integrity, and
commitment.
Another word
for faith is “to
believe”–
to believe
that someone’s
word is
truthful,
reliable, and
trustworthy.
The New
Testament
Greek word for
“faith” is pistis
and the word
for “believe”
is pisteuo.
They both
share the same
root stem.
Keeping one’s
word or
promise is the
mark of true
faith and
trustworthiness.
|
Josef Pieper
on Faith /
Belief
To believe
always means:
to believe
someone and to
believe
something...
The
believer – in
the strict
sense of the
word
– accepts
a given matter
as real and
true on the
testimony of
someone else.
That is, in
essence, the
concept of
belief.
Strangely
enough, in
theological
disputation
the two
elements of
belief that we
here present
as linked – assent
to the truth
of a subject
and assent to
a person – have
repeatedly
been isolated
and played off
against one
another, as
though they
were by nature
incompatible.
Martin Buber,
for example,
states that
there are “two
modes of
belief”, the
“Greco”-Christian
mode and the
Jewish mode.
The first, he
says, depends
exclusively
upon holding
propositions
to be true,
whereas the
second affirms
a relationship
of trust to
God as a
Person. It is
not for me to
define the
nature of
belief as it
is conceived
in religious
Judaism. But
the Christian
concept of
belief, at any
rate,
explicitly
embraces both
the material
and the
personal
element.
“Everyone who
believes
assents to the
testimony of
someone.”
“Belief is
always
addressed to a
person.” The
first of these
two sentences
is by Thomas
Aquinas; the
second by
Martin Luther – evidence
that on this
score no
difference of
opinion
existed
between the
Reformer and
the last great
teacher of a
still
undivided
Western
Christendom.
Source:
Faith,
Hope, Love,
by Josef
Piper,
Ignatius
Press, 1997,
2012
|
Faith
defined in
Scripture
The New
Testament
author of the
Letter to the
Hebrews uses
two
expressions to
define
Christian
faith.
He uses the
word assurance
and the word conviction.
“Now
faith is the
assurance of
things hoped
for, the
conviction of
things not
seen. For by
it the people
of old
received
divine
approval. By
faith we
understand
that the world
was created by
the word of
God, so that
what is seen
was made out
of things
which do not
appear” –
Hebrews
11:1-3.
Faith is not
something
vague,
uncertain,
undefineable,
or something
which requires
a leap of the
imagination or
worse, some
kind of blind
allegiance.
In fact, it is
quite the
opposite.
Faith is a
response of
trust and
belief in what
is reliable,
truthful,
certain, and
real. To have
faith is to
believe and
trust in
someone or
something.
We believe in
the power of
electricity
even though we
can't visibly
see it with
the naked eye.
We know we can
tap into that
power and use
it to do
things we
could not do
by our own
human
power.
Faith in God
works in a
similar
way.
When God
reveals
himself to us
he gives us
the assurance
and conviction
that his power
and presence
and glory is
just as real,
and even more
real, than our
experience of
the natural
physical world
around us.
Things around
us are subject
to change, but
God never
changes. He is
constant, ever
true to his
word, and
always
faithful to
his promises.
That is why we
can have the
greatest
assurance of
his
unconditional
love for us
and why we can
hope with
utter
conviction
that he will
give us
everything he
has promised.
The Lord Jesus
is God's
visible proof
that his word
is reliable
and true; his
love is
unfailing and
unconditional;
and his power
is
immeasurably
great and
unlimited.
Abraham,
the father of
faith (Hebrews
11:8-19)
Abraham is the
greatest model
of faith in
the Old
Testament.
Paul the
Apostle calls
him the
"father of all
who believe"
(Romans 4:11).
What made him
great?
Exceptional
gifts,
leadership
skills, wisdom
or experience?
God chose
Abraham to be
the father of
a mighty
nation because
he was
faithful --
every ready to
believe what
God spoke to
him and ever
ready to obey
his commands
without
hesitation.
Abraham was
evidently a
good
listener.
He was attuned
to God's voice
and hungry for
God's word. He
trusted even
when God told
him to do
something he
didn't fully
understand.
Genesis 12
tells us the
story of
Abraham's
journey of
faith to an
unknown land
of promise.
What must have
gone through
the minds of
Abraham's
relatives and
friends?
"There goes
that dreamer
again, in
search of
adventure and
fortune."
Abraham was
willing to
forsake
everything he
had and
cherished for
the sake of
the God who
called
him. God
was evidently
pleased with
Abraham and
called him his
"friend" (2
Chronicles
20:7, James
2:23).
How did
Abraham grow
in
faith?
"In hope he
believed
against hope,
that he should
become the
father of many
nations" (Rom.
4:18).
Abraham's wife
Sarah was too
advanced in
age to
conceive. No
wonder she
laughed when
three angelic
visitors told
Abraham he
would have a
son by the
following year
(Gen.
18:12-14).
Abraham hoped
where there
was no human
hope because
his trust was
not in human
capability but
in divine
power. The
supreme test
of Abraham's
faith was the
sacrifice of
his son Isaac
to God.
Abraham not
only
obeyed.
He trusted
that God could
bring his back
to life
again!
Now that's
trusting,
believing,
expectant
faith!
True faith
takes God at
his
word.
Abraham
fulfilled the
definition of
faith given by
the author to
the Hebrews:
"faith is the
assurance of
things hoped
for, the
conviction of
things not
seen" (Heb.
11:1). God
strengthened
Abraham in
faith much the
same way a
metallurgist
strengthens
iron and
forges
steel.
He hammered
away at
Abraham's
character
until there
was nothing
left but pure
metal,
refined,
molded, and
shaped into a
perfect
instrument for
his purposes.
Abraham had to
learn the way
of living by
faith in the
same way we
learn
it.
Faith grows by
consistency,
taking daily
steps of
obedience and
trust in God's
word. If we
want to grow
in faith and
allow the Lord
to use us as
his
instrument,
then we must
cooperate with
God as Abraham
did. He
will test us,
not to make us
fail, but
build into us
the character
and strength
of will that
does not waver
in the face of
doubt, trial,
and
affliction.
Paul describes
how Abraham
grew in
faith:
"No distrust
made him waver
concerning the
promise of
God, but he
grew strong in
his faith as
he gave glory
to God, fully
convinced that
God was able
to do what he
had promised"
(Rom.
4:20-21). Do
you trust that
God will be
faithful to
you and
accomplish
everything he
has promised
you?
Faith
grows with
love and hope
Faith in God
and hope in
his promises
strengthen us
in the love of
God. They are
essential for
a good
relationship
with God, for
being united
with him. The
more we know
of God the
more we love
him and the
more we love
him the
greater we
believe and
hope in his
promises. The
Lord Jesus,
through the
gift of the
Holy Spirit,
gives us a new
freedom and
power to live
in faith,
hope, and
love. Paul the
Apostle
writes,
"For freedom
Christ has set
us free...
only do not
use your
freedom as an
opportunity
for the flesh
[sinful
inclinations],
but through
love be
servants of
one another"
(Galatians
5:1,13).
Distinguishing
Christian faith
from
disordered
desires and
vices
The following
chart
contrasts the
distinctive
character
traits of
Christian
faith and
trustworthiness
from fear,
guilt,
distrust,
disloyalty,
and rejection
of belief,
faith,
fidelity to
solemn
promises and
commitments.
Distinguishing
the Virtue of
Faith &
Trustworthiness
from Its
Opposites:
Fear, guilt, distrust &
disloyalty,
unfaithfulness,
&
rejection of
belief/faith,
&
commitments
..
Fear,
guilt,
distrust block
faith, belief,
trust, and
love for God
and neighbor
|
Faith
relates to God
with confident
trust and
reliance,
because God is
trustworthy
|
Disloyalty,
unfaithfulness,
&
rejection of
belief/faith,
covenant
commitments
|
“Do not fear, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give
you the
kingdom" Luke
12:32
Being fearful,
mistrustful,
suspicious of
the good
intention,
reliability,
and honesty of
someone who is
reliable,
honest,
truthful, and
trustworthy
Distrust is an
absence of
trust or
disinterest
while mistrust
is active
suspicion.
(Hate and
mistrust are
the children
of blindness)
A general
sense of
unease toward
someone you
think may be
dishonest,
unreliable,
and bad.
The feeling or
sense that
someone cannot
be relied
upon, or that
someone is
dishonest,
unreliable,
and not
trustworthy.
Despair is the
contrary
virtue of
diligence, by
which we
demonstrate
zeal,
integrity and
effort in our
spiritual
undertakings.
While despair
may have many
complicated
psychological
motives, those
falling into
it ultimately
conclude that
God cannot or
will not save
them or give
them the help
and grace
necessary to
obtain the
life He
offers.
Despair is
common today,
when we too
easily
conclude that
it is not
possible live
the holy life
to which God
summons us.
Our modern
world
considers
things like
chastity,
forgiveness,
and
self-control
to be
unrealistic,
if not
impossible.
This is a form
of despair
because it
denies that
God’s grace
can equip,
empower, and
enable people
to live holy
lives. |
“Now faith is
the assurance
of things
hoped for, the
conviction of
things not
seen.
For by it the
people of old
received
divine
approval.
By faith we
understand
that the world
was created by
the word of
God, so that
what is seen
was made out
of things
which do not
appear.” –
Hebrews 11:1-3
Mere
acceptance of
truth is not
faith.
Faith relates
to God with
confident
trust and
reliance,
because God is
trustworthy,
reliable, and
does not lie.
Faith proceeds
from the heart
and
determiners
how we will
live. Faith at
work in the
heart produces
hope in the
mind.
Let us hold
fast the
confession of
our hope
without
wavering, for
He who
promised is
faithful
(Hebrews
10:23).
Faith is
mutually
linked with
hope and love:
“Now faith is
the assurance
of things
hoped for, the
conviction of
things not
seen” –
Hebrews 11:1.
“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” -1
Thessalonians
5:8.
The
breastplate
protects the
heart and the
helmet
protects the
head or the
mind.
Christian
faith and hope
are both
rooted in God
and his word.
Faith is in
the present
and hope looks
towards the
future. Hope
is based on
genuine faith
in the heart
and its
expectation,
in due time,
will be
fulfilled.
|
Sinful
unbelief and
rejection of
whatever is
true, good,
righteous,
holy, and
worthy of
respect and
honor (i.e.
hatred toward
God and his
commandments
and towards
people of
belief/faith),
Relating to
God and people
of
belief/faith
with contempt,
prejudice,
discrimination,
and hatred
disloyalty and
breaking one’s
covenant
commitment
(Infidelity,
adultery)
without a just
cause,
disowning or
abandoning
one’s spouse
or family
(parents,
children)
irresponsible
and unfaithful
to one’s
duties and
obligations
(i.e. care for
spouse,
children,
elderly
parents,
contracts,
etc.)
Irreligion
(indifferent),
discrimination
and opposition
towards belief
and religion,
persecution
Deceit and
deception both
blinds and
seduces people
to believe a
lie instead of
the truth
Calling evil
good and good
evil – for
example,
labeling
abortion
(killing the
unborn) and
euthanasia
(mercy killing
of people with
disabilities
and the
terminal
illness),
“hardness of
heart”
Disinterest,
distrust,
skeptical,
suspicious
towards faith,
belief,
religion, and
God
|
Select
bibliography:
- Faith,
Hope, and Love,
by Josef
Pieper, first
published in
German in
1986, English
edition
reprinted in
1997 by
Ignatius Press
- Summa
Theologica, On
Faith, by
Thomas Aquinas
- Faith
to Live By,
by Derek
Prince, 1977,
Servant Books,
and Regal
Books
- Christian
Character
Course,
developed by
Steve Clark,
2004
- Back
to Virtue,
by Peter
Kreeft,
Ignatius
Press, 1986
- Training
in Excellence:
How Godly
Character Forms
Strong,Mature
Men and Women
and
Strengthens
the Building
of Communities
for
Generations to
Come,
2014, Kairos
Publications
Don
Schwager is a
member of the
Servants
of the Word
and author of
the Daily
Scripture
Readings and
Meditations
website...
Top photo:
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