paul uses dual imageries: a battle must be fought before the fruit of the spirit can be produced the...
TRANSCRIPT
Paul uses dual imageries: a battle must be fought before the fruit of the Spirit can be produced
The way of the flesh – Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The way (fruit) of the Spirit – v22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The need to crucify the flesh so the fruit of the Spirit can emerge
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh (the battle) with the affections and lusts.
Ps 1 echoes how the way of sin must first be forsaken before the fruit of the Spirit can emerge
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Renewed by the Spirit Word – Elpis Israel
This word is the great instrument of holiness and purification. It changes men's minds; loosens their attachment to earthly things; causes them to place their affection on things above; creates a new and right spirit within them; diffuses the love of God abroad in their hearts; separates them from sinners; leads them into Christ; and develops in their lives, fruit... When the mental disposition, called “the heart” is renewed, it becomes a mirror in which one skilled in the word of the kingdom can discern the spirit, or behold a reflection of the Divine Nature. This image of God in a man’s character can only be created by the word of the truth of the gospel of the kingdom. The testimony of God came by the Holy Spirit...hence, the effects of the word believed are attributed to the spirit; and because the word sets men to breathing in God’s moral atmosphere, it is termed “spirit and life”. When a man is renewed by the truth, he is renewed by the spirit. Elpis Israel, pg 51-53
All 9 fruit are needed – Lacking even a single one
leaves a gaping hole in our character
Godly love1. A self-sacrificing love, putting others’ needs before our own (Jn 10)
2. Obedience to God’s commandments (Jn 14:15,21,23)
3. Done by faith, springs from faith (Gal 5:6)
4. Done in hope of a future reward (Heb 6)
5. Shown not because a person deserves our love, but because he needs our love and what it brings (Rom 5)
6. Gives to the need, whatever it might be (Deut 15; 1 Cor 8,9)
7. Requires our all – heart/soul/strength/mind (Mt 22:37)
8. Loves our neighbor as we would want to be loved (Mt 22:39)
9. Done as a servant, not as a master (Gal 5:13)
10. Restrains us from engaging in wrong conduct (Gal 5:15), and compels us to right conduct (2 Cor 5:14)
11. Provides a balance between the need for right doctrine/conduct (2 Jn) while not offending in matters of conscience (3 Jn)
12. Does good to all, is careful not to show partiality (Jm 2:8-9)
Godly love and obedience are inseparable
Exod 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deut 7:9 …he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant & mercy with them that love him & keep his commandments…
Josh 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law…to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments…
Neh 1:5 …the great & terrible God, that keepeth covenant & mercy for them that love him & observe his commandments:
Dan 9:4 …O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
John 14:15 if you love me, keep my commandments
God’s love for us is the model and motivation of our love for each other
Deut 10:18-19 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 5:1 Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us.
God defines love as our being willing to lay down our life for others
(putting their needs before our own)
John 10
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth (lay down) his life for the sheep.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
1. What was the commandment of the Father?
2. What was the Son’s response to the Father’s command?
3. What was the Father’s response to the Son’s response?
God defines love as our being willing to lay down our life for others
(putting their needs before our own)
John 10
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth (lay down) his life for the sheep.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The cross (self denial) is what must be done to the flesh; learning to love with Godly love is how we live the cross.
1 Jn 3:16 “because he laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our life for the brethren”
The Father loved the love of His Son!
The Fruit of the Spirit encapsulated in Love
Gal 5 – Fruit of Spirit
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering/Patience
Kindness/Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
1 Cor 13 – Love
Rejoiceth in the truth
Not easily provoked
Suffers long, bears/endures all things
Kind
Thinketh no evil
Never fails; believeth all things
Not vaunt itself, not puffed up
Seeketh not her own
Class 1 Review God undertakes to achieve a massive change in our character;
to transform us into new men/women
The fruit of the Spirit specify what the new character looks like that God is trying to develop within us
We are not born with the fruit of the Spirit, nor do they develop on their own; they only emerge if the flesh is first crucified
Paul uses the unusual dual imagery of fighting a battle and developing fruit to underscore how both are needed
All 9 fruit are necessary; a character lacking even a single one will leave a gaping hole
Love supercedes the other 8 & is connected with every facet of our discipleship; all disciples must learn to love with Godly love
There is a vast difference between Godly love & human love
Families, marriages & ecclesias that develop Godly love produce much different relationships than those based on human love
The Fruit of JOY
Man’s definition: a feeling of great pleasure & happiness; to rejoice
God’s definition: happiness related to the joy of salvation
Rom 5:2 – rejoice in hope of the glory of God
Matt 5:11 – rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven
Acts 8:39 – Ethiopian eunuch went on his way rejoicing
Acts 13:48 – Gentiles had joy over the prospect of salvation
Acts 16:34 – Philippian jailor had great joy at his baptism
Ps 137 – Jerusalem in the age to come is “my chief joy”
The Joy of the LORD over Israel’s repentanceNehemiah 8
• The nation spent the day hearing the Word read and explained
• Their united, unsolicited response was to break out in mourning and weeping (v9)
And Nehemiah…and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
• It’s a great scene! The nation weeping in response to the Word because of their sins
• They are told not to mourn but to rejoice (v10)…
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Paul’s personal joy/rejoicing Prospect of visiting with believers (Rom 15:32; 1 Cor 16:17;
2 Tim 1:4)
Believers’ obedience: Romans (16:19); Philemon (v7); John echoes this (3 Jn 1:4)
Hearing Corinthians had repented of their sin (2 Cor 7:7-9)
Praying for the Philippians (1:4)
Suffering for the advancement of the faith & joy of believers (Phil 2:16-17)
When an ecclesia was united & working together (Phil 2:2)
He visited ecclesias to increase their joy (Phil 1:26); John too (2 Jn 1:12)
To see his brethren in the Kingdom, having held firm to their faith! (2 Cor 1:14; Phil 2:16; 4:1; 1 Thes 2:19-20)
The Joy of the Cross
Jesus aims at instructing them, not that they might be distressed, but that they might know the secret of his life in the orbit of God’s love. Amidst all that appeared to contradict it, because of that secret Jesus knew joy. At that moment it seemed paradoxical to speak of joy—but the joy of Jesus could be theirs in fulness even in similar circumstances. The keeping of God’s commandments and the assurance of God’s love, combine to produce joy amidst physical pain and mental stress, amidst peril and persecution, and all the other circumstances which have beset in some measure those who are followers of the Man of Sorrows who yet knew joy.
(John Carter, Gospel of John)
The Fruit of PEACE
Man’s definition: the absence of war, freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility
God’s definition takes peace to a much higher level: having unity with God, being reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice, the outcome being forgiveness of sins and salvation– It brings us to a state of tranquility and serenity,
regardless of our trials, sorrows or disappointments– Being reconciled, we are to: i) be peaceful in our
relationships with others and ii) be peacemakers
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
PEACE – by being reconciled to God
Ephesians 2:13-14 – But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off (separated from God) are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, (both Jew & Gentile find peace with God) who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (cited from Isa 59:17)
Colossians 1:20 – having made peace (between God & man) through the blood of the cross…to reconcile all things unto himself
Bro CC Walker on Rom 5:1
Peace departed from the earth in connection with Adam’s offence. It returns in connection with Christ’s obedience. The opening of this chapter (Rom. 5.) presents this bearing upon those individually who believe in Jesus: “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Here then is the true basis of peace: (our) humble and affectionate recognition of the will of God in Jesus Christ, in (our) obedience thereto according to divine appointment.
Ministry of the Prophets – Isa 16
Godly peace = knowing we are reconciled to God, it creates within us an inner quietness & confidence
Lk 2:14 – glory to God in the highest and on earth peace
Lk 19:38 – blessed be the King that cometh…peace in heaven
Jn 16:33 – these things I have spoken, that…ye might have peace
Acts 10:36 – …preaching peace by Jesus Christ
Rom 3:17 – the way of peace have they (those under sin) not known
Eph 6:15 – your feet shod with…the gospel of peace
Phil 4:7 – the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Heb 13:20 – now the God of peace, that (raised Jesus)
2 Thes 3:16 – the Lord of peace himself give you peace always
2 Pet 3:14 – be diligent to be found of him in peace, without spot
An Old Testament concept too:
Num 6:25 – the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace
Isa 53:5 –…the chastisement of (NKJ: for) our peace (the suffering needed to obtain our peace with God) was upon him and with his stripes we are healed
This is why Paul begins all 13 of his epistles describing the peace that comes from God and the Lord Jesus Christ – it’s not a simple greeting, it’s a reminder of the peace we have with God and Christ because of Christ’s saving work
There is a caution related to peace: our obedience must still be added to Christ’s saving work
Romans 2:10 But glory, honor and peace to every man that worketh good
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is (eternal) life and peace (of mind)
Phil 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, DO!; and the God of peace shall be with you
We obtain peace and reconciliation with God through Christ’s saving work, but we retain that peace only if we remain obedient to his commands
Having been reconciled to Him, God expects us to be men/women of peace
In the world – Rom 12:18; Heb 12:14
But especially between brethren:– Rom 14:19 follow after things which make for peace– 2 Cor 13:11 be of one mind, live in peace– Eph 4:3 keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace– 1 Thes 5:13 be at peace among yourselves– Matt 5:9 blessed are the peacemakers– James 3:17-18 the wisdom…from above is first pure then
peaceable…the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
The peace of God with man (reconciliation) will be heralded in the Kingdom
Isa 52:7 the gospel of salvation is called the gospel of peace
Isa 9:6 Jesus will be the Prince of peace
Heb 7:2 Jerusalem’s future role will be the city of peace
Ps 122:6-8 Jerusalem to be at peace
Ps 85:8-9 God will speak peace unto his people
Isa 32:17-18 the work of righteousness shall be peace
Ezek 37:26 God to make a covenant of peace with Israel
Zech 9:10 Jesus shall speak peace to the nations
Longsuffering
and
Kindness
The fruit of Joy – a review Godly JOY cannot be understood by man’s definition; it is
not just happiness, but is bound up with salvation
There was great JOY at Jesus’ birth
God and heaven JOY when sinners repent
Our JOY needs to align with the joy of the Father and Son
It brought Christ/Paul JOY to see disciples in the Kingdom
Christ viewed the cross with JOY because he saw beyond it; he wants us to embrace it, not view it with sorrow; it’s how God is glorified and the flesh defeated
We should never let anyone or anything take away our JOY
The fruit of Peace – a review
Godly peace is the result of our being reconciled to God through the saving work of Christ (Rom 5:1)
Knowing our standing with God is secure provides tranquility and serenity, creating an inner quietness and confidence
Having peace with God, He then expects us to be peaceful in our relationships with others; to be peacemakers, especially among brethren
Godly peace doesn’t depend upon circumstances and can’t be destroyed by them; on the eve of his crucifixion, the world couldn’t take away Jesus’ peace
There is a warning related to peace: to Christ’s saving work, we must still add our obedience
A character missing the fruit of longsuffering would
leave a gaping hole so large as to overshadow all
other fruit that might develop
The Fruit of Longsuffering(Patience)
New Testament: makro (long/large) thumeo: temper
- Strong’s: it means longanimity (patient endurance)
- Practically: it takes God a very very long time to get angry
- Vine’s: it is the opposite of angry; synonym = forbearance
Old Testament: arek (long) & aph (face/nostrils)
- a Hebrew idiom: long in the face = longsuffering, slow to anger
- 1 of the 5 characteristics of God (Ex 34) revealing His glory; all of which contribute to His forgiving character
Longsuffering: part of God’s forgiving character
Num 14:18 – the LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression
Neh 9:17 – thou art God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness
Ps 86:15 – thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth
Ps 103:8 – the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy
Ps 145:8 – the LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy
God’s longsuffering is designed to save, to lead sinners to repent
Rom 2:4 – Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2 Pet 3:9 – The Lord is not slack…but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance
v15 – the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation
Conclusion: Longsuffering, as part of God’s character (glory) is closely connected with forgiveness; if we are to properly reflect His character, developing the fruit of longsuffering, to forgive and save, should be our aim
The wisdom behind longsufferingProv 14:29 – he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding
Prov 15:18 – a wrathful man stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife
Prov 16:32 – he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city
1 Cor 13:4 – Love suffereth long (allows time to repent Isa 48:9)
Eph 4:2 – with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
Col 3:12-13 – Put on therefore…longsuffering…if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you
2 Tim 4:2 – preach the word…reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering & doctrine
The Fruit of GENTLENESS(Kindness)
Man’s definition: mild, soft spoken, considerate, tender (this is not God’s definition)
Greek meaning: chrestos (adjective) or chrestotes (noun)– Together appear 17 times in NT– Vine's: goodness, in the sense of what is upright;
goodness or kindness in action, goodness in deeds
God’s definition: kindness, in the sense of being useful to others– Included in the definition is the idea of friendship– Chrestos is not about being gentle as a lamb; rather, being
kind as a friend– The purpose of kindness is to save, not just to be kind
The Kindness of God9 of the 17 NT references are to God’s kindness (chrestos/otes)
Titus 3:4 the kindness & love of God..toward man appeared
Eph 2:7 the…riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
Luke 6:35 he is kind unto the unthankful
Rom 2:4 despisest thou the riches of his goodness…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance
Rom 11:22 the goodness and severity of God…but toward thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness
Eph 4:32be ye kind…tenderhearted…forgiving…even as God…hath forgiven you
1 Pet 2:3 the Lord is gracious
1st point of recognition: Scripture defines God’s kindness as sending a Savior
1st point of recognition: Scripture defines God’s kindness as sending a Savior
2nd point of recognition: Godly kindness cannot be earned; it is extended as a result of grace
The Intended Outcome of God’s Kindness
1 Peter 2:1-5
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (unto salvation – RV):
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (chrestos)
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
God extends His kindness to us for a reason! So that we will forsake our former way of life and grow in the Word and become living stones, in His temple, replicas of His Son, the cornerstone
God’s kindness provides His Son for our redemption; as newborn babes we partake of the milk of the Word, we then grow up and are transformed and become living stones to offer our lives in sacrifice and devotion to God (Rom 12:1)
What begins with God’s kindness should end with our transformation, becoming holy priests, during our probation
Paraphrase:
V1: we should lay aside (grk: put away, get rid of) all sinful ways – the malice, guile, etc
V2: as newborn babes in Christ we should desire the teachings of the Word so we can grow unto salvation
V3: what should motivate us? God’s kindness (chrestos)! i.e. because we have tasted God is gracious
The Kindness of God9 of the 17 NT references are to God’s kindness (chrestos/otes)
Titus 3:4 the kindness & love of God..toward man appeared
Eph 2:7 the…riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
Luke 6:35 he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil
Rom 2:4 despisest thou the riches of his goodness…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance
Rom 11:22 the goodness and severity of God…but toward thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness
Eph 4:32be ye kind…tenderhearted…forgiving…even as God…hath forgiven you
1 Pet 2:3 the Lord is gracious
Luke 6:35
Anyone can be kind to those who are kind to them (human kindness); Godly kindness is extended to all
Godly kindness isn’t just a feeling; it loves, does good, lends, expecting nothing in return: it’s visible & tangible & can be seen in action
Longsuffering – a review The longsuffering of God is 1 of His 5 primary characteristics
God is far more longsuffering toward us and gives us far more time than we tend to give each other
A person cannot be quick tempered, and forgiving
Parents know how to be longsuffering because their children would be unrecoverable if they were not
God is longsuffering because He is trying to save people, to lead sinners to repentance, to give them time to change
There is great wisdom in longsuffering: it prevents us from acting in haste and creating folly; it appeases strife and removes its destructive power; it’s of greater value than being a mighty warrior
The very thing a person or group who have erred need is for others to be longsuffering, to help return them to right living
Godly kindness is being useful to others, to help save them; think useful like a godly friend, not gentle like a lamb
Our kindness to others should align with that of the Father and Son; God’s greatest act of kindness was providing a Savior (Titus 3:4); He shows kindness by grace, it cannot be earned
1 Pet 2 reveals God’s kindness is intended to motivate us to put away sin, desire His word as newborn babes, and grow up into living stones in His temple as a holy priesthood
God’s kindness is not restricted to believers, but is shown to all men (Lk 6:35); it does good, and it can be seen in action
Godly kindness forgives those who mistreat us and it does so tenderheartedly (Eph 4:32)
The kindness of the Lord is seen in his offer of friendship (Mt 11); his yoke is called kindness and he offers to share our burdens to encourage us to persevere in the face of trial
Kindness (Gentleness) – a review
The Fruit of GOODNESS
Grk: ‘agathosune’: goodness, virtue, acting in a way to benefit others (Strong’s #19)
For our purposes, we will take the English word at face value; goodness = doing what is right, doing good to others
Simple way to remember the meaning: the Good Samaritan – he did what was right; that’s what goodness is and does
Goodness is closely related to Kindness (fruit #5), but the emphasis is on doing good, doing what’s right
Kindness and Goodness often will overlap; it’s not always helpful to try to figure out if an action is one fruit to the exclusion of another; the fruit typically overlap
The fruit of Goodness – doing goodLuke 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing;
Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
Matt 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
3 Jn 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
Rom 12:9 Let love be (sincere) without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
1 Tim 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Goodness is about what kind of person we are, what kind of treasures we have, what we do with those treasures, and the impact we have on others
The fruit of Goodness not only does good, it has a positive spiritual impact on others
When we teach our children the need to be good boys & girls, we are introducing them to goodness, to choose right over wrong, good over evil
Verses helpful in understanding 2 Thes 1:11
Rom 1:16 – “the work of faith with power” – the gospel is God’s power unto salvation
Rom 12:2 – God’s will is that we be transformed
Lk 12:32 – it is God’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom
Phil 2:12 – God works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure to make us fit for salvation
God’s goodness is done to save people
2 Thes 1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power
It is the good pleasure of God’s goodness to prepare us for the Kingdom; it’s what He finds pleasure in doing
and He does it because of His goodness
The fruit of goodness is designed to save people
What brings us pleasure?
Goodness is also doing good, giving good counsel, being a good influence
Rom 15:14
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
The context begins in 14:1 – ecclesia needed to live in harmony
In ch15, Paul pleads with the Romans to work together:
V3: Christ didn’t please himself
V5: Paul’s prayer was that they would be likeminded
V6: be of one mind and one mouth to glorify God (together)
V7: receive one another (Christ didn’t discriminate; don’t you)
V8: Christ ministered to all (Jew & Gentile) to include all
The believers were full of goodness (a desire to do what’s right) because they were filled with God’s knowledge
To do good, we must have a knowledge of God’s Word
Godly goodness will not arise from man’s knowledge; we must know our Bible in order to show goodness
The more Bible we know, the greater our ability to live this fruit, but we must still do the good; knowledge isn’t enough
Goodness includes counsel & admonishment, always based on God’s principles – a pre-requisite for any admonishment
The moral power of faith• Faith is the substance (confidence, assurance) and the
evidence (a conviction based upon overwhelming evidence)
• God wants us to live with the Kingdom as a reality
• The greater our ability to see the reality of the Kingdom, the greater our ability to live as if we will be part of it
• A person with a clear vision of the Kingdom will live differently than if they are unsure of its certainty
• It’s never too early to teach our children how to develop: 1) their vision of the Kingdom; and 2) their faith it is coming
• Heb 11: the moral power of faith! living for the Kingdom
• The moral power of faith enables us to do (for God) what we otherwise would never have the power to do apart from faith
The four levels of “faith/belief”
1. Believing something is true, even though you haven’t seen it proven – i.e. Christopher Columbus lived in 1492; the sun is 93 million miles from the earth
2. Believing a person is capable of doing something they haven’t done before – “I believe a young sister would make a good ‘kitchen sister’, even though she has never had this responsibility” (athlete, general, politician)
3. Believing in someone – a young lady might believe a young man would make a good husband/father; even though he’s never been either, she is still willing to marry him
4. Believing in Christ – that the way he lived is how I should live and pattern my life after his example; taking on his name, faith, love, life, teachings, etc; and giving up my own; making him my Lord and Master – LEVEL 4 HAS POWER!
John 14:4-6 “I am the way (follow my path), the truth (follow my teachings), and the life (follow how I have lived): no man cometh unto the Father but by me”
Faith in Christ means we take on Jesus’ everything:
Name: Acts 9:14,21; 2 Tim 2:19; Jms 2:7; Rev 2;13, 3:8
Life: Gal 2:20
Love: 2 Cor 5:14; Eph 3:19; 5:25; 1 Jn 3:16
Commands: Jn 14:21
Faith: Heb 12:2; Jms 2:1; Rev 14:12
Mind: Phil 2:5
Forgiveness: Acts 7:60; 2 Tim 4:16
“Faith in Christ Jesus” saves because it is a commitment to live like him, to become like him
When a person makes this commitment, they are reckoned righteous by God, placed alongside Abraham as heirs of the Kingdom
We must still continue in faithful obedience, but salvation begins with a commitment to live like Christ
What level of faith in Christ do I have?
Level 1: That he lived 2000 years ago?
Level 2: That he is capable of ruling as future King of the world?
Level 3: That he makes a good Savior, someone I should unite myself to so I can have my sins forgiven and be saved?
Level 4: the way he lived is the way I must live; making his life, love, faith, teachings, preaching and forgiveness of others, my life, love, faith, teachings, preaching and forgiveness of others
– The moral power of faith only exists at level 4
– Faith in Christ saves because it creates a moral power in our life stronger than Sin
“That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ”
John 20:30-31
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
I Jn 5:13 = the companion verse to Jn 20:30-31
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The 5 power points of belief in Christ – 1 Jn 5
Vv1-3 (what is the power point?)
#1: we are born of God, love God and Christ, and obey God
Vv4-5 (what is the power point?)
#2: we overcome the world (our faith in Christ enables this!)
Vv6-10 (skip v7) (what is the power point?)
#3: we become a living witness that Jesus is the Christ (1:4; 4:14)
V13 (what is the power point?)
#4: the confidence in knowing we have eternal life
V14 (what is the power point?)
#5: the confidence of our access to God
Recognize that the Bible usually speaks of faith without identifying its moral power
True (level 4) faith in Christ will cause a person to live differently, to be transformed into a new person
Level 4 faith is a faith:
a) That leads to obedience (Jn 14:15)
b) Made perfect by works/obedience (Jms 2:22)
c) Working by love & leading to love (Gal 5:6)
A new look at a familiar passageJohn 3:14-18
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever [hath level 4 faith] in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever [hath level 4 faith] in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that [hath level 4 faith] on him is not condemned: but he that [hath not level 4 faith] is condemned already, because he hath not [level 4 faith] in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
A quick review• God’s desire is to transform us into new men/women; the Fruit of the
Spirit provide specificity for what a transformed character looks like
• The 9 Fruit are not independent of each other; they comprise ONE character with many interrelated aspects; all are needed
• We need to understand each Fruit as the Bible defines it, not man; follow God’s model; within the parameters of righteousness
• Developing the Fruit begins with a battle – crucifying the flesh
• LOVE: laying down our life to save others (love does? no, love saves!)
• JOY: happiness arising from the prospect of salvation
• PEACE: tranquility and serenity due to being reconciled to God
• LONGSUFFERING: patience to enable time for repentance
• KINDNESS (gentleness): to be useful to others; God provided the Savior; Jesus offers friendship with a yoke called kindness
• GOODNESS: doing good to help save (Good Samaritan; 2 Thes 1:11)
• FAITH: making Christ’s name/life/love our own
The Fruit of the Spirit describes, in detail, what the character of a disciple should look like; this is what it means to “put on the new man”, to “walk in
the light,” to be a “servant of righteousness,” and “to put on Christ.”
The Fruit of MEEKNESS
Man’s definition: timid, submissive, compliant, tame, unresisting
Bible definition: – Mild, humble (Strong’s)– Mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit (Vine’s)– The opposite to self-assertiveness & self-interest; not
occupied with self at all (Vine’s)– Stems from a trust in God’s goodness (Vine’s)– In English, meekness implies weakness or lack of
courage or determination, but “prautes” means nothing of the kind” (Vine’s)
The best known example: the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem
God purposely choreographed the events to portray the meek and humble spirit of the Lord
The next morning Christ is in the temple, overturning the money tables and condemning the false leaders, showing meekness does not shy away from rising to defend God’s righteous ways
Meekness is exactly what the flesh needs to keep it in check, to prevent it from becoming absorbed in self-confidence
Lk 14:11 “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”
A gaping hole is left in our character if we lack the fruit
of meekness; a hole so large as to overshadow all other
fruit that might develop
Draw a picture of what boulder people (meekness is a weakness) see when
they look at pebble people?
Answer: only a tiny, little, insignificant, weak pebble
Draw a picture (in your mind) of what meek pebble people (meekness is strength in God) see if they were to draw the picture from the
perspective of the boulder?
What do pebble people see if they were to draw the picture?Pebble people (the meek) see (by faith)
the same tiny pebble but also a great and awesome God behind it!
God can do great things through the meek because God can do great things through
people who learn to trust Him!
Moses: the meekest man in all the earth
• Under public accusation of wrong doing, by his siblings, Moses is accused of overstepping and abusing his God-given authority
• They accused him of being the very opposite of meek!
• He responds in meekness! The very fruit they claimed he lacked
• Moses reveals the divine wisdom of meekness– The world might value a man with a high opinion of himself, full
of self-confidence, to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt
– Meekness made Moses the perfect choice because he placed no faith in himself; his faith and confidence were all in God
– The difference between Moses at age 40 & 80 was meekness
– This is how Moses stood before Pharaoh & the Red Sea, and declared his message with great authority, yet in meekness
• God’s wisdom is further revealed in selecting the meekest man of all time to lead mankind out of slavery to Sin
The wisdom and need for meekness• Christ was meek (Matt 11:29); he who had the Holy Spirit
without measure, could perform all miracles and call down 12 legions of angels – possessing more power than any man ever had – was meek; showing it is not a characteristic that exists in the absence of power/authority, but because of it– The more authority a brother has, the more important it is
that he be meek– Without meekness the flesh will abuse the authority
• Paul had great power and authority from Christ (2 Cor 10:8; 13:10) but was meek – 1 Cor 4:21 “shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness”
• Appealing to brethren to change/correct their error must be done in the spirit of meekness – Gal 6:1 “if a man be overtaken in a fault…restore such a one in the spirit of meekness…lest thou also be tempted”
The wisdom and need for meekness - cont• The spirit of meekness is needed more than ever when
brethren are at their worst – 2 Cor 10:1 “I Paul beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ”
• If an ecclesia is lacking unity and struggling under one or more divisive situations, Paul instructs 3 things are needed: a spirit of lowliness and meekness; to be longsuffering; to forbear with one another Eph 4:2
• A meek spirit – one that is teachable – is needed to receive the Word Jms 1:21; hearers only of the Word (& not doers) read without meekness (v22; 3:13) – cp Ps 25:9 “the meek will he (God) guide…the meek will he teach his way”
• Meekness isn’t showy; it doesn’t broadcast itself; it develops a spirit in a woman that God highly values 1 Pet 3:4
• Meekness is not unique to mortality; Christ and the immortal saints will reflect this fruit in the Kingdom Ps 45:4
Self-control: the perfect final fruit
• Self-control is designed to help save by challenging the flesh and keeping us on the correct side of righteousness
• By it we hold ourselves accountable to right living
• The responsibility for self-control rests with each person; if we fail, there is no alternative (no back-up option) and no amount of grace that will cover a life lacking self-control
• It is likely God placed this fruit last to impress upon us the need to hold ourselves accountable for living the fruit of the Spirit
• Paul made s/c a centerpiece of his witnessing to Felix (Acts 25)– He challenged immoral Felix to hold himself accountable– The aim of self-control is to produce righteousness– He warned that if Felix failed, a future judgment awaited– Felix trembled having been challenged to change his life
God can’t do it all when it comes to our salvation; we must each exercise self-control
Self control is linked to righteousness because it is God’s righteous principles we must hold ourselves accountable to live
There is no salvation without self-control
The divine wisdom behind the fruit of self-control is that it is designed to save us
1 Cor 9: Paul’s personal application of self-control
Vv19-23 – Paul’s personal devotion to saving people
V24 – he uses the imagery of a runner to encourage the Corinthians to persevere in their discipleship (cp Phil 3:8)
V25 – athletes employ self-control to achieve mastery; their entire life is focused on training to gain a corruptible crown– learn from their zeal, devotion, single focus and self-control;
they hold themselves accountable to gain the prize!
V26-27 – applying the runner to himself, Paul introduces a 2nd metaphor of a boxer to reveal how he administered self-control– he beat upon himself, “I pommel my body & subdue it” (rsv)
lest he be a castaway/disqualified from salvation– Paul’s warning: no self-control, no salvation