Elizabeth Barnes
Newspaper
Seminary
Teach me, Lord, through Your Spirit, that I might teach by Your Spirit, Truth from Your Word, even as Your Will intends and guides, to Your glory and honor. In the Name of Jesus, Savior and Lord. Amen.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19,20 KJV)
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these:. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:19-26, KJV)
The last two weeks’ study of Paul’s teaching in Romans 7 and 8 forms the backdrop for understanding his teaching to the churches in Galatia. Life organized according to the flesh, that is, with the mind set on, and desirous of, natural lusts and passions, and organized toward worldly goals and gains, is the life Paul describes above, and in Romans 7. Paul is addressing Christians in each instance, both in Rome and Galatia, and the carnal Christian of Romans 7 and the carnal Christian in Galatians 5, are the same.
Likewise, the spiritual Christian, whose mind is set on the things of Christ, and whose life is organized around God, is the same in Romans 8 and Galatians 5, in verses 22-26.
These, Paul teaches, are the fruit of the Spirit:
First, and preeminently, love. Love given by the Spirit, of that kind, is gift entirely, fruit of the indwelling Spirit of God. The Christian whose mind and heart are set on God and whose life is organized around God’s Will and purpose, is enabled, thereby, to love God and others. Paul teaches the Galatian Christians that amazing Truth.
Joy is the spiritual Christian’s gift from the Spirit, fruit which comes only through the Presence of the Savior Who gives abundantly the life and joy of His indwelling Spirit. That is our joy! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Peace is the Presence of Christ Himself. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Christ Jesus is peace. The spiritual Christian’s divine gift, and answer to a prayer for peace, is always the Presence of Christ Himself, our Peace.
Longsuffering, as the KJV translates it, is in Greek literally, and most clearly in English, lasting endurance, or perseverance. Paul teaches this quality as crucial for holding fast to the faith he has taught them. Judaizers insisted on circumcision and other practices of the Law for Christian converts, but Paul emphasized strongly the sufficiency and absolute holiness of Christ’s sacrificial and redemptive death and resurrection, for salvation, faith, and obedience, and extolled the fruit of perseverance in the faith.
Gentleness and 6. goodness are approximate translations of Greek words which are closer to our words for kindness and respect. Spiritual Christians receive from the indwelling Spirit of God a kindheartedness which accords respect to all persons, to enemies as well as friends.
Perhaps, in placing faith near the end of his list, Paul is repeating the stabilizing support and undergirding source, which faith is for the other gifts, and faith itself as fruit of the Spirit, not dependent on human works.
Meekness is the King James Version’s translation of a Greek word which requires two of our English words to do justice to Paul’s teaching:. “gentle strength” is closer to Paul’s teaching than the word “meekness,” which fails to convey the steadfastness indicated in Paul’s teaching on lasting endurance and perseverance. Paul teaches this gentle strength which the Gospel requires of Christ’s followers, as fruit of the Spirit.
Likewise, temperance is fruit of the Spirit, given even to those of intemperate nature, who by genetic heredity (perhaps like Paul himself), or by willfulness in need of submission to the power of the Spirit (perhaps like many of us), have need of God’s gift.
Let us continue next week. I have more to say about Galatians 5.
Thanks be to God.
Elizabeth Barnes is a native of Bladen County and now lives at White Lake. She taught Christian theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. She is a member of Beard’s Chapel Baptist Church.