Fourth Blog - The Fruit of the Spirit

When sitting down to write this blog the term "Christian Values" kept comming into my mind. It seems that everybody believers and unbelievers alike know what their values are and have an idea about what those values are based on. 

For believers these values are established in our minds and hearts on the basis of our belief in Yahweh, His commandments and  our reliance on Jesus Christ's substitutionary atonement for our sins on the cross. As Christians we know our values are based on the work of Christ and nothing that we ourselves have done.

Non believers on the other hand base their concept of values on different factors. This is not saying that unbelievers hold completely different values from their Christian counterparts in all areas, they do however approach their values differently based on worldly  considerations. We all know unbelivers that exercise good moral and admirable values in their daily lives.Holding good moral values however is not a ticket to salvation.

During my considerations I went to my trusty online Webster’s Dictionary and found that there were eight definitions for the word value(s) and that was only for the noun form of the word. The definitions ranged from ‘monetary worth’ to ‘things such as a principle or qualities that are intrinsically desirable’.

Looking at the synonyms and antonyms under the noun form of the word I found phrases like cardinal virtues, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, merit, ethics, morals, principles and virtue. I also consulted my online Christian Dictionary regarding the terms, synonyms and antonyms in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.

To determine what  "Christian Values" are, I guess we should start by finding the definition that most closely aligns with the believer(s) regarding the following words;

• Ethics - We hear people talking about ethics all the time and saying that Christians have better ethics than unbelievers. I looked in my Bible and found that the word ethics or any form of the word is not found there.
• Morals -Is another word I hear many people talk about. Some about good morals and some about bad morals and some about no morals at all. Interestingly the word morals and any form of the word is not found in Bible
• Principles - We hear talk about how Christians have principles while many of the unsaved do not. The word principles is found two times in Scripture, both times in the Book of Hebrews. Chapter 5 verse 12 regarding the principles of the oracles of God and in Chapter 6 verse 1 regarding the principles of the doctrine of Christ. Ah, maybe now we are getting somewhere.
• Virtue - This is a word we are all aware of and most of us are sure its in Scripture. Yes it is found 7 times in the New Testament and not at all in the Old Testament.  It is used in two forms Luke Chapter 6 verse 19 regarding virtue leaving Christ when the multitudes sought to touch Him. In Mark Chapter 5, verse 30 and Luke Chapter 8 verse 46 regarding the woman with the issue of blood that touched his robe as he walked by.      In Philippians Chapter 4 verse 8 virtue is identified by Paul as something believers should think about. 2 Peter Chapter 1 verse 3 Peter states that He (Jesus) has called us to glory and virtue and in 2 Peter Chapter 1 verse 5, Peter states that believers are to give all diligence, add to their faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;...We see that in regards to Jesus it is power going out of Him and  in regards to believers it is particular execellences such as consideration and knowledge.
• Value - We hear all the time about "Christian Values". What does the Bible say about values. It does not. the word value(s) is not in Scripture. Now based on what we have learned about the the word value(s) in Webster's Dictionary and the word virtue in my Christian Dictionary we can see that the words have simularities.

Most if not all believers have heard of "The Fruit of the Spirit and know that these fruits are gifts from the Holy Spirit. Based on this term we know that these are spiritual gifts that all followers of Jesus Christ have or have access to. This fruit is described in Galatians Chapter 5, verse 22 and are further elaborated on in Ephesians Chapter 5, verse 9. 

The first thing I noticed about this list is that these are all attributes of our Father. Looking at this list I'm seeing that these words are also terms. Not only Biblical words that need defining but also Biblical terms in need of understanding.  

Love is the first of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The type of love as referred to here is agape.There are different types of love expressed in the Bible they are; selfless and pure (agape) romantic love (eros), friendship love (phila), and familial love (storge).

Agape is the truest kind of love that Yahweh has for his creation. It is self-sacrificing, selfless and pure. This kind of love seeks the best for others including even enemies - no matter how costly at all times. When we read ! Corinthians, Chapter 13 we see the highest elevation of His love. 

The greatest love the Father showed to us is that He sacraficed His one and only begotton Son to save us from our sinful nature. 

One of the best ways we can evangelize to unbelievers is to show outwardly that we are Christians by our love towards them.

Joy as refered to in Galations chapter 5 is much more intrensic than the happiness and gladness we find in the circumstances of our daily lives. It is the inner and outer joy we show and express during our service to our Lord and Saviour. This is the most important type of joy in the life of the believer as it comes through the Father's love. Now we begin to see why love is at the top of the list.

Peace is the inner comfort we experience even during anxious times and tribulation. This type of peace is imparted by the Holy Spirit and strenghens the resolve of the Christian and as explained by the Apostle Paul, as beyond human understanding. Philippians 4:6-7

Longsuffering is what the Father shows at present and all times past. This attribute is never ending with the Holy Spirit and is given when the believer needs it most. Acheiving this attribute is very hard in the culture and world in which we live, because our inclinations are to want everything now! 

Kindness is what flows from love as the two are inseperable.In fact without the attribute of love, none of the fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galations 5 can or will consistantly occur. Treating others no matter the challanges with kindness, compassion and fordgiveness is an evident feature in the Christian's life.

Faithfulness results in trustworhyness, loyality, and dependability. All believers know that our Father is faithful and he expects his children to exhibit this form of his "Godliness" in thier lives and to other people in their lives.

Goodness in the Christian life is shown by exercise of good morals and motives. This is done by doing good things for others. As no Christian is good, no not one (Romans chapter 3, verse 10), this fruit is an effective way of showing "godliness" in your life, which may draw unbelivers to faith in Jesus Christ. Galations chapter 6 verse 10 tells us that we have an opportunity to do good to all people, especially those in the family of believers.Ephesians chapter 5, verse 9 says that the Fruit of the Spirit can be found in goodness, righteousness and truth.

Righteousness when applied to Yahweh is the perfection or holiness of His nature exact rectitude and faithfulness. With Christ it is the active and passive obedience by which the law of Yahweh is fulfilled by Him. With believers it is the cause of our justification. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 9 says that the Fruit of the Spirit can be found in righteousness, goodness and truth.     

Truth is Yahweh's veracity and faithfulness (Psalms 71) or His revealed will (Psalms 26). For the believer truth is the practice of His commands. Again Ephesians chapter 5, verse 9 says that the Fruit of the Spirit can be found in truth, goodness and righteousness.

So,the next time you think of the term "Christian Values." It would be better to think about "The Fruit of the Spirit" because you know that this fruit is a gift from Yahweh to all His children.

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