I Have Conquered the World

THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT

I Have Conquered the World

Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Retired, Itinerant Elder

 

Galatians 5:22-23 – NRSVU

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

We are reminded that, in the context of our relationship with Christ, self-control is the supernatural ability to submit our will to God’s leading in our lives.

A spirit-controlled person is always in control of their own mind, body, and words.

The aforementioned fruit must be seen in us as evidence of our salvation. God asserts that unrestrained flesh indulges the self, but a person walking in the spirit has the power to control inner urges.

Life in the spirit bears powerful and positive fruit in the Christian’s life. In other words, the Spirit represents the attributes that surface and mature in the lives of people who have truly surrendered their lives to God and have been filled with God’s Spirit.

Paul admonishes the people of Galatians then and us today not to think the law will save us. He points out that it is only faith in Christ that gains us salvation. That is why, by the grace of God, any sinner can come to Christ, and their sin will not be counted against them because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The Word of God warns that the flesh lusts against the Spirit. In other words, our sinful nature constantly battles against our spirit, which is our new identity in Christ. There is a constant battle because our flesh wants to sin and disregard the circumstances and repercussions of our actions.  On the other hand, our “new man “wants to flush away the old man and live for Christ. It is a constant, daily battle for us.

Paul encourages us to keep walking in the spirit, and we will carry out no fleshly desires. Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit and warns that those who love God are just as imperfect, sinful people as those who do not live as Christians.

They make many mistakes, and they sin to various degrees.

They have the same desires as any other person.

They face the same temptations as any other person faces.

They have their weaknesses and strengths.

They struggle in this wicked world just like everyone else.

These things do not depend on whether or not one is religious.

Our text speaks of one problem we all face: desires.

We all desire different things and people.

Some can be satisfied in the right way, and some may not be.

We may find it difficult, if not impossible, to resist some temptations because the world offers us all sorts of possibilities.But, if we are walking in the spirit, meaning we ask God’s Holy Spirit to operate in us and do our best to protect ourselves from temptations, then with the help of the Spirit, we will not carry out our desires in the wrong way.

Our text lists nine attributes that evidence the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer and describes what those in Christ should expect to see flowing from their lives when they allow the Holy Spirit to lead them.

Note that Paul refers to this as the fruit of the spirit. Paul implies that it is a single fruit. The Greek term is singular. The text refers to fruit. Paul reminds us that there are 12 to 15 remarkable works of the Holy Spirit in the internal spirit of the believer in Jesus.

One of the greatest miracles in Scripture is regeneration. Regeneration is the act of the Holy Spirit by which He imparts new life and begins to develop the fruit of the spirit in us. Fruit-bearing has a divine power source. It is not an effort to search the flesh for the energy and desire to obey God.

The natural man is accustomed to finding strength within himself. He pushes himself to do things he would rather not.–to face challenges–to move through suffering–to hold his tongue, and perhaps even to live another day.

On the other hand, the spiritual man recognizes that he does not have to find these things within himself. He looks to a promise of God In scripture with faith, knowing that his reliance upon God will make it so in his life. Consideration of the nature of what God’s spirit produces in the life of the believer begins with love.

Many Christians already know the Greek term /agape/. Nearly an entire chapter in the Bible is devoted to its properties and products.

Let us consider four characteristics listed in First Corinthians

Agape Bears all things, Believes all things, Hopes all things, and Endures all things.

Finally, deeds of the flesh are done by a person’s efforts, whether saved or unsaved.  On the other hand, the Fruit of the Spirit is produced by God’s spirit and only in the lives of those who belong to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.  Amen

The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is a retired Itinerant Elder who lives in Summerville, South Carolina.

 

Admin

Admin

Comments are closed.

Back to Top