No Law Against Fruit of the Spirit

“The Fruit of the Spirit… Against Such There Is No Law”

By way of introduction to this subject, please consider the following points.

First, study the qualities of “the fruit of the Spirit” as that which is the exact opposite of a life filled with “the works of the flesh.” One list is revoltingly awful; one list is beautifully appealing. The “works of the flesh” show the outward products of a worldly life; the “fruit of the Spirit” shows the inner attitudes of a spiritual life. Satan uses the lusts and the things of this world to appeal to our fleshly appetite (cf. Gal. 5:16-18), but God uses spiritual qualities that are directly tied to His nature to inspire us to attain these godly qualities.

Second, please note carefully that Paul describes these qualities with a singular term—“the fruit of the Spirit.” He does not refer to them as “fruits,” but he rather addresses them as “fruit.” Contrast this with “works,” and we see many demonstrations of a worldly life, but only one singular description (cf. Matt. 6:22) of a spiritual life—a life that works to instill all of these qualities from one divine source. I realize that some may think that I am overstretching this, but I think not—the apostle Paul made a valid argument over the distinction between singular and plural tenses (cf. Gal. 3:16). Thus, while many may try to portray vividly these godly qualities as a cornucopia of different types of fruit, I believe Paul is rather describing sections of a singular fruit. Better yet, consider the next point to glean an even better illustration.

Third, just as many of the “works of the flesh” could be tied or connected together, we ought to see these qualities comprising “the fruit of the Spirit” as being joined together in a cluster. They relate to one another; they dovetail into each other. Each one thereafter promotes and encourages the next. In other words, there is a connection between them as we move from love to temperance. Thus, from the importance of the first attribute listed (“love”), we ought to visualize these as layers within a fruit, with love being at the core, and all of the rest of them emanating out from the center.

Fourth, if we are going to attain “the fruit of the Spirit” in our lives, it will not come automatically. With diligence, we are going to have to work on it (cf. 2 Pet. 1:5-8). We must allow the gospel to have its proper effect in our hearts and minds by promoting our thinking into the thinking of Jesus Christ (cf. Gal. 5:13-16, 25-26; Phil. 2:5-8). When we do so, we will have these qualities demonstrated in our lives!

Fifth, after listing these qualities, Paul concludes: “against such there is no law.” These characteristics and attributes of life are opened to us to develop and grow as long as we live. The field is wide open. We will never obtain the fullest degree of the things that Paul mentions here, which is one reason that he said, “…against such there is no law.” There is a continual opportunity for us to increase in these. If we lived to be as old as Methuselah, there would still be room for the development and growth of these principles in our lives. We never will overdo love; we never will overdo joy as described in the Bible, and such like. This is what keeps Christianity fresh—the possibility of growth. In other words, “the fruit of the Spirit” meets all the demands of the law of Christ. There are no laws that work against these qualities and virtues. There is a continual opportunity for us to increase in these.

In conclusion, the heart of religion lies in our understanding of “the fruit of the Spirit.” This is religion in practice! This is the effect of the gospel in our lives! We must avoid the fleshly life with all of its manifestations and seek to develop in our hearts and minds “the fruit of the Spirit.” Here is the very practical side of Christianity. This is what the grace of God is intended to produce. Can we see these in our lives?

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Scandal

If you follow sports at all, you’ve probably read stories involving the word ” scandal ” more times than you can count in the last few weeks. Among other scandals, Major League Baseball’s latest performance enhancing drug scandal has a number of players marked for long-term suspensions (pending appeals). Men who once adamantly denied any wrongdoing and consistently claimed their own innocence have now seen evidence compiled against them that strongly suggests that they’re guilty. A problem that was once considered to be a thing of the past has resurfaced with a vengeance. Sound familiar?
We in the church have our own ” scandals ” of sorts. Consider the widespread destruction of pornography among men (and women, in rapidly increasing numbers). Consider pregnancies out of wedlock. Consider those who struggle with homosexual thoughts or desires. There are a number of sins that we seem to have (in some unspoken way) classified as ” scandals ” that will not be discussed. However, if we don’t discuss those sins, how will we ever help people overcome them?
Two of the major keys in the baseball PED scandal help us to gain a better understanding of how we can handle these undiscussed sins. First, some of the players claimed their own innocence and spoke harshly to any who accused them of doing anything that was against the rules. Because of their attempts at secrecy they got themselves into even more trouble and had more pride to swallow when the evidence came to everyone’s attention. Second, because the league is trying to sell a product, they have swept as many issues under the rug as possible and have tried to maintain a clean image in order to keep fans, no matter how false that image may be.
In the church, we have to have open lines of communication so those who struggle with sins and want to overcome them can know that they have brothers and sisters standing behind them, willing to help them overcome sin rather than scandalize them for struggling. Confession and accountability are biblical ideas that prevent us from being prideful in ourselves and the self-images we build up to be seen before men. Rather than compounding the sin by hiding it and being dishonest inwardly and with others about the severity of a sin problem that goes unchallenged, help must be sought and offered by those who can do something. Additionally, the church can’t look at the new temptations and challenges people are facing today and pretend that nothing is wrong. Are we a little unsure about how to approach some of these issues? Probably, because they differ greatly from some of the issues we’ve had to handle in years gone by. However, sin is still sin and the Bible is still sufficient to provide the answers men and women need to eliminate the sins that plague their lives. Let us not bury our heads in the sand but go boldly into a dark and sinful world with the truth, and let’s be sure to pick up those who fall along the way and look for help when we need it.
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John Chapter 2

Six disciples, who now trusted Jesus, started on their lifelong  walk with Him and from the beginning, they began to learn more  about Him. And, each day and each new event brought marvels that  were difficult to understand. And so, in this chapter, John recorded  three wonderful revelations of Jesus Christ that they learned.

In vs. 1-12, we learn about the  Lord’s glory. Jesus had  accepted the invitation to attend a wedding and He was often seen  at social events, even though his enemies used these times to accuse  Him (Lk. 15:1-2). But, Jesus goes to this feast and is accompanied  by His mother and His six disciples mention from Jn. 1. And at this  wedding, there was a shortage of wine, which indicates a low- budgeted feast. Well, it was the groom’s responsibility under the  Jewish wedding feast laws that he have adequate provisions and if it  ran out, it would bring embarrassment and there could actually be a  fine.

Well, even though “His time” had not come yet, our Lord  decides to perform a miracle here. Now, we don’t know if this is the first miracle He ever performed, but it certainly is the first miracle  recorded. And, turning water that was in the waterpots into wine  was so impressive and superior to that which had already been  drank that the man in charge of the banquet highly praised it. Well,  this miracles did something for His disciples. It revealed his glory  (Jn. 1:14) and gave them a stronger foundation for their faith.  Though miracles alone are insufficient evidence for declaring Jesus  to be the Son of God (2 Thess. 2:9-10), the effect of them convinced  them of His deity. See, this sign (semeion) pointed to something  greater, it would cause them to not only believe in Him, but in the  Father who sent Him (Jn. 5:14[1]24). This is why Jesus would add a  sermon to His miracles after He showed his deity.

Second, in vs. 12-22, we learn of the  Lord’s zeal . During these days, each Jewish  man was required to attend three annual feasts at the Holy City: Passover, Pentecost, and  Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16). Well, during this Passover, Jesus revealed His zeal for God First  of all by cleansing the temple (John 2:13-17). Unfortunately, the priests had established a  lucrative business of exchanging foreign money for Jewish currency, and also selling the  animals needed for the sacrifices, which had become corrupted. So, when the Lord drove  them all out, in vs. 16, we see that He was careful not to destroy anyone’s property (He did  not release the doves); but He made it clear that He was in command and that the temple  was His Father’s house.

Well, when they saw His courageous zeal, the disciples remembered Psalm 69:9,  “The zeal of [for] Thine house hath eaten me up” (vs. 17). Now, it was this cleansing that  had declared war on the hypocritical religious leaders, which ultimately led to His death  and even further zeal by giving His life (John 2:18-22). It was logical for the religious  leaders to ask Him to show the source of His authority. After all, they were the guardians of  the Jewish faith, and they had a right to test any new prophet who appeared and even Paul  talked about how “The Jews require a sign” (1 Cor. 1:22). So, Jesus used the image of the  temple to convey this truth. “Destroy this temple [My body], and in three days I will raise it  up” (John 2:19). Being spiritually blind, those who heard misunderstood what He was  saying. They thought it was about the physical temple that Herod had built. But, this was a  prediction of His own death and resurrection; and His disciples remembered it after He  was raised from the dead even though other mocked it later (Matt. 27:40). Of course this  was dealing with the prediction of the Jewish religious system ending and “grace and  truth” coming through Jesus Christ. He is the new sacrifice (John 1:29) and the new temple  (John 2:19) and John will tell us later, that the new worship will depend on inward  integrity, not outward geography (John 4:19-24).

Third, in vs. 23-25, we learn about the  Lord’s knowledge . While in Jerusalem for  the Passover, Jesus performed miracles that are not given in detail, but it must have been  these signs that attracted Nicodemus (John 3:2). It also attracted other because many  professed to believe, but notice how Jesus did not accept their profession. And, no matter  what the people said, the Lord did not accept their testimony because He knew their hearts  and minds. You see, it was one thing to respond to a miracle, but quite something else to  commit oneself to Jesus Christ and continue in His Word (John 8:30-31). And so, John  makes it clear that it takes more than believing in miracles for a person to be saved. Seeing  the signs and believing in them would be a great beginning; in fact, even the disciples  started that way and had to grow in their faith (compare John 2:11 and v. 22). Thus, our  Lord’s accurate knowledge of the human heart is another evidence of His deity, for only  God can see the inner person. And, it is this chapter that prepares us for the interview that  takes place between Jesus and Nicodemus.

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Beauty

Beauty on the Beast?

Proverbs 11:22, “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” Picture in your mind a gold ring. A ring made of the purest gold. Pretty, isn’t it? Next picture a swine that wallows around in mud, eats garbage, and has a total lack of regard for anything but its own appetites. Now picture that beautiful gold ring in the nose of that pig. Not a pretty picture, is it?  The outward beauty of the ring in the pig’s nose does not outweigh the ugliness of the beast or the filth in which it lives. Gold is out of place in a swine’s nose.

The same can be said for a person’s outward beauty. If their character is ugly, it does not matter how fair they are to look upon. Paul, in 1Tim. 2:9-10, said that women (and men too) are to dress modestly as befitting godliness. Godliness has its own beauty that shines from within and no further amplifying is needed. If a man or woman walks with discretion in the way of the Lord, their inner beauty will be seen in their manner of living.

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Addiction

Addiction – Slavery to the Body!

The Bible teaches that within the stewardship of each one of us there is both a body and a soul, and of the two, the soul takes priority (Matthew 10:28).  The body, therefore, is a tool by which to develop the soul and the soul’s relationship to God.  The interaction between the two, however, is intimate and bidirectional.  The soul experiences the activities of the body; the body provides the context for the growth and development of the soul.  So, while the body is a tool, it is not a mere tool; it is not a dispensable tool.  The body will always provide the soul a context of experience even in eternity (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).  Nevertheless, the body is servant to the soul; the aim of the body is the growth, development, and salvation of the soul (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Our physical bodies are corruptible, dishonorable, weak, and natural (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).  They are composed of flesh, and contain powerful passions.  These passions are present to help us survive in the world.  They move us to eat, drink, sleep, and engage in other physical activities.  These physical activities are not ends in themselves (Romans 14:17).  They are part of the context of the development and salvation of our souls.  When these activities become ends in and of themselves, the soul begins to serve the body and its passions.  When the passions of the body rule, addiction begins, the development of the soul ceases, and the flesh takes control.  In such a state we begin to “mind the things of the flesh” (Romans 8:5).  We become addicted to flesh.

Anything can become an addiction because addiction is based within the desires of the body.  People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder become addicted to the simplest of activities: hand washing, twisting hair, looking in the mirror, thumb twiddling, clipping one’s nails, etc.  One would not think that such seemingly ordinary activities would be spiritually damaging.  However, if the focus of one’s life becomes one’s body, to whatever extent that the focus is on the body, the soul has lost control.  It is the soul that must remain in control of the body; it is spirit that must prevail over flesh.

It is imperative, therefore, that the mind of the spirit rules each one’s life.  “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).  Just as the soul is not the body, so also spirit is not flesh.  Spirit has a different set of desires than flesh.  It is the desires of spirit that must be followed.  We do not naturally know those desires, as we naturally know the desires of the flesh.  Only God’s Spirit can reveal the desires of spirit to us through His word (1 Corinthians 2:10).

This sets up a contrast between spiritual desires and fleshly desires.  Spiritual desires are absolute; fleshly desires are relative.  Spiritual desires are objective; fleshly desires are subjective.  Addiction is wholesale abandonment of the control of the spirit over the flesh, and when we permit the flesh to control the spirit, we return to the beggarly elements of the world (Galatians 4:9).  We become slaves to the body (John 8:34, Romans 6:16, 2 Peter 2:19).

There is no shortage in the list of addictions.  This issue of the Christian Worker seeks to deal with some of the chief of these addictions: alcoholism, drug abuse, tobacco, pornography, gluttony, sex abuse, personal fashion abuse.  There is also a segment in this issue on some “up and coming” addictions related to the advent of personal technologies: technology abuse, television abuse, entertainment abuse.  To this list could be added: gambling, activities of leisure, sports, working, and even sleeping (Proverbs 6:9-10).  Any desire of the flesh can become an addiction.

In focusing upon these particular addictions, we hope that each one will awake to the potential slavery of all fleshly desires.  With awareness of such things, we can order our lives to be governed by the spiritual, so that the fleshly has no power.  Only when the desires of flesh are ruled by the desires of spirit, may the desires of flesh be used to God’s glory.  Only then can we hope to find spiritual peace.  “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

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