The Fruit of the Spirit 1

By Kevin G. Smith

Love: The Essence of Christian Character

Lesson Outline

1. Christian character defined

2. Christian character developed

3. Christian character cultivated

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEFINEDPoint 1

Christian Character Defined

What is Christian character?

• The Bible gives a simple answer to that question: Christian character is Christlikeness!

1. Jesus Christ is the model of Christian character.

Romans 8:29

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:11-13

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

1. Jesus Christ is the model of Christian character.

2. Love is the supreme manifestation of Christian character

There is one quality that sums up and incorporates all that God wants us to be—love! Love is the one quality that defines Christian character. All other virtues are just expressions of love.

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithful-ness

Gentle-ness

Self-control

Love is like the hub of a wheel with all the other virtues radiating out from it like spokes.

John 13:34-35A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Romans 13:8-10for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments … are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEVELOPEDPoint 2

Christian Character Developed

The New Testament consistently describes the process of developing Christlike character by using the agricultural metaphor of fruitbearing. We become Christlike as the Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit in our lives. The fruitbearing image is central to the Christian understanding of character development. Fruit stands in contrast to works in that works are the result of our efforts while fruit is the result of God’s activity in us.

The Fruit of the Spirit

1. The two natures

Galatians 5:16-18

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

1. The two natures

2. The old nature

Galatians 5:19-21

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1. The two natures

2. The old nature

3. The new nature

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

The Fruit of the Vine

Jesus used the illustration of the vine and its branches to drive home the same point that Paul made in Galatians, namely, that Christian character is not something we produce by ourselves but something that Christ produces in us as we allow him to work in our lives.

John 15:4-5

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

We must remain in him

Just as the branches must remain in contact with the vine, so we must maintain our relationship with him if we are to produce fruit.

He must remain in us

The indwelling Christ must be given room in our lives to transform us from the inside out, making us more like himself (Gal. 2:20).

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER CULTIVATEDPoint 3

Christian Character Cultivated

We develop it by cultivating our relationship with Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us. We do not focus on developing the fruit of the Spirit. We focus on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit automatically produces fruit in our lives. There are two things we must do to fertilise the soil of our hearts so that the fruit of the Spirit grows abundantly.

1. Fellowship with God

“Spending time with God is the single most important key to developing godly character.”

2. Fellowship with believers

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’

2. Fellowship with believers

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

1. Christian character defined: Jesus Christ is the model, and love the supreme manifestation.

2. Christian character developed: the biblical model is one of fruitbearing.

3. Christian character cultivated: We can cultivate the soil of our hearts through fellowship with God and others.

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