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The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit #6Text: Galatians 5:16-24 Introduction:
I. Last week we discussed the fruit of the Spirit and the
first characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit –
LOVE.
II. We noticed that Love:
A. God and Christ is our example.
B. This is to be our attitude toward:
1. Fellow-Christians
2. Our neighbors
3. enemies
4. God
5. also, husbands for their wife.
III. Tonight, let us look at the next three characteristics
of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Body:
I. Joy. (cara chara).
A. Definition:
1. Arndt and Gingrich: joy.
2. Thayer: joy, gladness.
3. Vine: joy, delight (akin to chairo; to rejoice…)
4. Newman: joy, gladness, happiness; cause or
object of joy.
5. Green: joy, gladness, rejoicing.
B. Other passages: There are too many passages to list
all of them. The word is used 60 times in the New
Testament. The verb, chairein, “to rejoice” is
used 72 times. The King James translates chara by
joy and gladness.
C. Comments:
1. The New Testament is really a book of joy as is
evident from the many times the word is used.
The verb, “chairein” is the normal word for
“Greeting.” It is literally “joy be with you!”
a. Acts 23:26
b. Acts 15:23
c. Luke 1:28
d. Matthew 28:9
e. James 1:1
2. Joy is the distinguishing atmosphere of the
Christian life. It is one of the ingredients
that make our life.
a. Scriptures:
1) Philippians 3:1; 4:4 (a book of joy
written in prison)
2) 1 Thessalonians 5:16
3) Colossians 1:9-11
4) Romans 14:17
5) 1 Peter 1:8
6) There is no circumstance and no occasion
which is not illumined with joy.
b. The joy of fellowship – togetherness.
1) A joy to enjoy the fellowship of
Christians, to see it rejoiced.
2) Philippians 4:10; 2 John 12; 2 Corinthians
7:7, 13.
c. The joy of truth.
1) The joy of receiving the truth.
2) The joy of believing.
d. There is a certain sternness in this joy.
1) Rejoices even in discipline and testing.
James 1:2
2) Joy and affliction walk hand in hand. Acts
13:52; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians
1:6; Acts 5:41; 1 Peter 4:13; Colossians
1:24
3) “Bales Emphasized: ‘Since our source of
joy is rooted in Christ and not changing
circumstances of this life, or in the
other things of the world cannot really
know; and which the world cannot take
away. Although the Christians are not
always on the mountain peaks of joy, and
although they have their time of
descending into the valley of sorrows, yet
still there is a source of joy in their
hearts. Christ is with them in these
sorrows and He has promised them that
ultimately they will be triumphant in
Him.’ (p. 89)” Jenkins p. 51
4) Since all things work together for good
for those who love God, Romans 8:28; it is
evident that believers can rejoice even
amid the most distressing circumstances.
3. The joy of work.
1) Joy in the sight of God action.
2) Joy in the spread of the gospel.
3) Joy of preachers and teachers in progress
of those taught.
3. It may be that in the end the greatest joy will
be the joy in the people whom we have brought to
Jesus Christ.
II. Peace (Eirene eirhnh)
A. Definition:
1. Arndt & Gingrich: peace…fig. peace, harmony.
2. Thayer: 1. a state of national tranquility,
exemption from the rage & havoc of war… 2. peace
between individuals, i.e., harmony, concord… 5.
acc. To a conception distinctly peculiar to
Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul
assured of its salvation through Christ, and so
fearing nothing from God and content with its
earthly lot, of whatsoever sort it is…
3. Neuman: Peace, harmony; often used in
invocations and greetings; order (opposite of
disorder).
4. Green: Peace; tranquility; concord, unity, love
of peace.
B. Other passages: It is used 88 times in the New
Testament. The King James translates it by peace,
rest, and quietness.
C. Comments:
1. Peace is a felt absence of disturbance, felt
presence of harmony, in heart and in state
toward God and man.
2. “Peace” is common in greetings:
a. Grace (charis) – the typical Gentile
greeting.
b. Peace-from Hebrew shalom-ordinary Jewish
meaning. Shalom really means everything that
makes for man’s highest good, all that makes
life life indeed.
3. Sources of Peace:
a. Believing – Romans 15:13
b. From God – Philippians 4:7
4. Peace is the right relationship in every sphere
of life. This is the most common meaning in the
New Testament.
a. in the home. 1 Corinthians 7:12-16
b. between Jew and Gentile. Ephesians 2:14-17
c. must exist in the church. Ephesians 4:3;
Colossians 3:15
d. between man and man. Hebrews 12:14; Romans
12:18
e. the new relationship between God and man
through Christ. Romans 5:1
5. Our search for peace is described by three
words:
a. 1 Peter 3:11 (Seek, Pursue)
b. 2 Peter 3:14 (zealous)
6. Peace does not mean peace at any price.
III. Longsuffering, patience (makroqumin, makrothumin)
A. Definition:
1. Arndt & Gingrich: patience, steadfastness,
endurance… 2. forbearance, patience towards
other…
2. Thayer: 1 patience, endurance, constancy,
steadfastness, perseverance, esp. as shown in
bearing troubles and ills… 2. patience,
forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging
wrongs…
3. Vine: To be patient, long-suffering, to bear
with, lit., of self-restraint in the face of
provocation which does not hastily retaliate or
promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger,
and is associated with mercy, and is used of
God…
4. Green: patience; patient enduring of evil,
fortitude; slowness of avenging injuries,
longsuffering; forbearance.
5. Trench: a long holding out of the mind, before
it gives room to action or to passion.
6. Trench: a long holding out of the mind, before
it gives room to action or to passion.
7. Plummer: the forbearance which endures injuries
and evil deeds without being provoked to anger
or revenge.
B. Translations: Most give either “longsuffering” or
“patience.”
C. Other passages:
1. Romans 2:4
2. Romans 9:22
3. 2 Corinthians 6:6
4. Ephesians 4:2
5. Colossians 1:11
6. Colossians 3:12
7. 1 Timothy 1:16
8. 2 Timothy 3:10
9. 2 Timothy 4:2
10. Hebrews 6:12 *
11. James 5:10 (7-10) *
12. 1 Peter 3:20
13. 2 Peter 3:15
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