The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5 22

The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5: 22 -25

The Fruit of the Spirit § Motivation: the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5: 25) – The “Walk of Grace”: walking “by the Spirit” – Completely different than growth “by LAW” § In fact, Grace is the ONLY way to accomplish real Christian Growth! – The Issue: Are you “Alive by the Spirit” ? § Not “good” versus “bad” § Rather: “dead” versus “alive” – You are a New Creature in Christ (Gal. 2: 20) § “Act your Age!” (Gal. 5: 13, 25) – Your Entire Character Can & Should Change (Gal. 2: 22 -23)

Love: The Fruit of the Spirit § The other nouns define Christian Love: – Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control Modern Love: Christian Love: • Based on Experience. Ø Based on Choice. filew, eroß Ø agape • Natural, Common (Mt. 5: 47) Ø Affinity is not an issue. • Very Changeable! Ø Feelings May Follow (Usually do)

Love: The Fruit of the Spirit § The other nouns define Christian Love: – Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control § Love is at the very Heart of Christian Ethics (Gal. 5: 13, 14) – A Decision to Serve Someone Else (i. e. , NOT Me!) – see v 13 a.

Joy - ÷áñÜ § The Problem: – Philip. 4: 4 Rejoice Always? ? – How Can They Rejoice When… § Hebrews 12: 2 § Acts 5: 41 § Hebrews 10: 34 § By Learning Thankfulness! – The biggest barrier between man and God § See Romans 1: 21 ff – The biggest barrier to Christian Growth! § See 1 Peter 1: 5 – Related to ÷Üñéò

Peace (Eiphnh) A Powerful Peace (Romans 16: 20) l A Sense of Order and Harmony (1 Corinthians 14: 33) l Peace Starts Between God and You, as an Individual: l – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - Romans 5: 1 He Teaches Us Peace (James 3: 17 -18) l It Becomes a Major Pursuit (Rom. 14: 19) l

Patience § There is a right place for anger (Eph. 4: 26) § But ìáêñïèõìßá is the qualification – Macro (long) Thumos (anger) – Not Like “Outbursts of Anger” (Gal. 5: 20) § èõìüò (thumos) is a “deed of the flesh”

Fruit of the Spirit: Relational Growth § If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5: 25

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Kindness § Doesn’t Mean: § Hard § Indifferent § Harsh § Unconcerned, or “too busy” § Cruel ØSee Gal 5: 20 b-21 a § It Does Mean: § Galatians 2: 10 § 1 Corinthians 12: 23 § Matthew 5: 47 § Hebrews 13: 2 öéëüîåíïò

Kindness § ÷ñçóôüôçò means excellence – From ÷ñçóôüò “servicable, useful” (÷ñÜïìáé “to use, DO”) – The idea is “excellent, useful deeds for others”