Archive - June 5, 2013

Now that we’ve spent time reflecting on our soil, we need to introduce the idea of fruit. Fruit implies work. We need to be certain that we don’t mess up our theology here. We do not have a works-based salvation (that is, we can never be “good enough” to be saved). Instead, we have a faith-based salvation.

Our faith and our works, though not interchangeable, work together for the glory of God. In chapter two of his book, James says that he will show you his faith from his works. This means that his belief in God is the motivating factor behind his actions.

But we will encounter people who believe that their works will save them. I once worked with a lady who did not call herself a Christian, even though she believed God existed. One day, I had the opportunity to ask her what she believed about God. Here’s what she told me.

“Renae, my God is a loving, compassionate God. He understands that I’m doing my very best and he gives me credit for my effort. My God would never tell people that they have to spend eternity in hell. That’s not fair.” I asked her if her God is just. She answered yes. I asked her, “Then how can He set a standard and yet not expect people to live up to it?” She had no answer. We kept talking a few minutes before I said, “I think I have a pretty good picture of your God – then what about Jesus? Who was He?” She got silent and looked me in the eyes. “I haven’t decided.” I responded, “Until you decide who Jesus is, the rest doesn’t matter.”

Before Paul discusses the Fruit of the Spirit in chapter five, he talks about “other Gospels” being spread in culture. The sad conversation with my coworker is one such example. Read Galatians 2:21:

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Just like my coworker, people are going to tell you that they are “good enough” to get to heaven. That God doesn’t care about the actions as long as the intent is good. FALSE. We can never work our way to heaven. God doesn’t love you because you do your chores without complaining or because you let your little brother play with you. God loves you. Period.

The law refers to the 10 Commandments – one of the best known lists of do’s and do not’s. God does not weigh our good against our bad. Christ died because our good deeds are like filthy rags to Him.

Why then do we have the law? Read on in Galations 3: 24-26:

The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,  for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

The law is a guiding system, a constant reminder to check where our priorities are.

I bring this point up now so that you do not grossly misunderstand the purpose of the fruit of the spirit. We do not have these characteristics so that God will love us, let us into heaven, or pat us on the back. We live out the fruit of the spirit so that we can always focus our mind on honoring God and giving Him the glory.

Read the next post in this series: http://wp.me/p2xHae-9z