“Christian Resolutions_2020, Part 25” by Romans
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We are continuing in our Series “Christian Resolutions_2020. Tonight is Part 25. Our offshoot-study is of the Fruit of the Spirit as the Foundation and manifestation of these Resolutions. We have already covered “Love,” Joy, Peace and Longsuffering. Tonight we move forward, and we will examine the Fruit of Gentleness, the Fifth Fruit of the Spirit. I will be using the Scriptural References from both The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, and Nave's Topical Bible under their mutual heading, “Gentleness.”
First let's look at the Gentleness of God, as it is displayed and highlighted in Scripture. King David wrote Psalm 18. In it he describes God's great power and attributes. We read beginning in verse 31: “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great” (Psalm 18:31-35).
We see here the many contrasts of Almighty God Who imparts strength and makes our ways perfect, He enables us with skills to engage in and be, depending on the Covenant we are a part of, victorious in physical and spiritual warfare, but David also acknowledges that His gentleness has made us great!
Matthew Henry writes: “When we praise for one mercy, we must observe the many more, with which we have been compassed all our days. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise. In verse 32, and the following verses, the Gifts of God to the spiritual warrior are enumerated, whereby he is armed and prepared for the battle, after the example of His victorious Leader.”
Let's look at the example of the victorious Leader, Jesus Christ, where Gentleness is concerned:
Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The convinced {convicted} sinner is heavy-laden with guilt and terror; and the tempted and afflicted believer has labours and burdens. Christ invites all to come to him for rest to their souls. He alone gives this invitation; men come to him, when, feeling their guilt and misery, and believing his love and power to help, they seek him in fervent prayer. Thus it is the duty and interest of weary and heavy-laden sinners, to come to Jesus Christ. This is the gospel call;
Whoever will, let him come. All who thus come will receive rest as Christ's gift, and obtain peace and comfort in their hearts. But in coming to him they must take his yoke, and submit to his authority. They must learn of him all things, as to their comfort and obedience. He accepts the willing servant, however imperfect the services. Here we may find rest for our souls, and here only.
Nor need we fear his yoke. His commandments are holy, just, and good. It requires self-denial, and exposes to difficulties, but this is abundantly repaid, even in this world, by inward peace and joy. It is a yoke that is lined with love. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness.
The way of duty is the way of rest. The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. Such is the Redeemer's mercy; and why should the labouring and burdened sinner seek for rest from any other quarter? Let us come to him daily, for deliverance from wrath and guilt, from sin and Satan, from all our cares, fears, and sorrows. But forced obedience, far from being easy and light, is a heavy burden. In vain do we draw near to Jesus with our lips, while the heart is far from him. Then come to Jesus to find rest for your souls.”
Barnes' Notes on the Bible says of, For I am meek ... - “This was eminently Christ's personal character. But this is not its meaning here. He is giving a reason why they should embrace his religion. That was, that he was not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, like the Pharisees, but meek, mild, and gentle in his government. His laws were reasonable and tender, and it would be easy to obey him.”
We read of God in Isaiah 40:10-11, “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Isaiah is writing here of the same Member of the Godhead Who became Jesus Christ. Of this, The Preacher's Homiletical writes, “JESUS AND THE LAMBS: Greatness in league with gentleness, and power linked with affection pass before us in this chapter. I. Who are the lambs our Lord is said to gather and carry in His bosom? 1. In a certain sense we may affirm, that all His people are lambs. In so far as they exhibit the Christian spirit, they are lamb-like. As the lamb might be presented in sacrifice, so every believer presents his body as a living sacrifice unto God. He hates wars and fightings. Jesus will gather all such lambs.
2. The word “lamb” frequently signifies the young; and our Lord graciously receives many young persons into His bosom. Jesus always had children among His auditory (see Matthew 19:14). Youthful piety should not be mistrusted. Children should be invited to declare their faith in the Lord Jesus, and to come forward and be joined to the Church of Jesus. Let them hear the words of the Good Shepherd.
II. How does Jesus show this special care for the weak ones? 1. By gathering them. The shepherd watches carefully when the little lambs are born. He watches, when the flock is on the march, lest the lambs lag behind. He knows their skittish nature. He gathers them, and keeps them under his own eye. 2. By carrying them in His bosom. (1.) As the safest place. Who can hope to take His bosom-treasure away from Jesus? (2.) The tenderest place. Soft for hurt little ones. (3.) The easiest place. It makes one wish to be always a lamb, if one could always ride in that chariot. (4.) The most honourable place.
We would not put into our bosom that which we despised. 3. By His teachings. These are simple, mostly in parables, full of winning illustrations, and always plain. (1.) He reveals His teachings gradually. He gives milk before He offers strong meat; does not hang our salvation upon our understanding mysteries. (2.) His experimental teachings are all by degrees too. He suits the burden to the back. 4. By the solemn curses with which He effectually guarded the little ones (Matthew 18:6-10). 5. By the promises made on purpose for the weak. 6. By requiring of them what is easy (see Matthew 11:29-30). He does not send the weak believers to the forefront of the battle, as David did Uriah. 7. By accepting the least service that these little ones may offer.
III. Wherefore this care of Christ towards the lambs of His flock? 1. Because the weak are as much redeemed by the blood of Christ as the strong. A man will not lose a thing which cost him his blood. 2. Because in the new-born child of God there are peculiar beauties which are not so apparent in others. The first love of the beginner is well known. The first tenderness of conscience; the first intense delight in the service of God.
3. Because they will become strong one day (See Mark 4:28). Jesus sees them as they are to be. 4. Because Christ’s suretyship engagements require that He should preserve the weakest as well as the strongest (as we read in John 17:6; Jude 1:24). 5. Because of His promises (from John 10:28). 6. Because compassion argues that if any should be watched it should be these.
IV. Practical Conclusion. 1. Let us gather the lambs. (1.) For Christ. (2.) Into His Church. 2. Let us carry in our bosoms those who are gathered (See Exodus 2:9). —C. H. Spurgeon: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 1868, pp. 73–84.
This promise concerns “the lambs” of Christ’s flock. He is a mighty Shepherd (see Isaiah 40:10); but He does not despise “the lambs,” those who are feeble, ignorant, and conscious of their helplessness. He carries them in His bosom! What does this imply? 1. His boundless affection for them. On the cross He has given costly proof of it; and always His is a love that expresses itself in actions, not in words merely. 2. Their tender nearness to Him. How sweet it is to lie on the bosom of the Good Shepherd!
3. Their absolute safety. If He has in His heart love enough, and in His arm power enough to protect them, then for the lamb to perish is as impossible as it is for Him to perish). 1. This presentation of Christ has a kindly aspect toward the sinner. How gentle is that Mighty Being to whom we invite you, on whom we counsel you to rest! 2. There is encouragement here for those who feel themselves the weakest and feeblest of all God’s children (H. E. I. 959, 960). 3. There is no encouragement here for those who are wilfully weak. For what purpose does the Good Shepherd cherish? It is that He may sanctify. It is not merely to preserve, to protect; but He nourishes His lambs that they may grow.—J. H. Evans, M.A.: Thursday Penny Pulpit, vol. iv. pp. 324–336.
THE MIND OF CHRIST TOWARD THE YOUNG: Isaiah 40:11. He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom. The earlier verses of this chapter are sufficient to prove that these words were written of our Lord Jesus Christ. Seven hundred years before the appearing of our Saviour, a prophecy was given of His character; of His tenderness in guiding, protecting, and feeding the souls of those who should be brought to put their trust in Him,—more especially in cherishing and watching over the weaker and the younger members of His flock.
Let us inquire how far this predicted character of the Messiah was fulfilled in the recorded deeds and works of Jesus Christ upon earth. 1. How precisely does Mark 10:13-16 set before us the Good Shepherd gathering the lambs with His arm! How precisely does it declare His readiness to receive and bless little children! (1.) How great a comfort to pious parents who now dedicate their children to Him! (P. D. 464, 465.) (2.) How gracious an encouragement to those who in early years begin to seek Him! (P. D. 962, 963.)
2. In Mark 10:17-22 we read that a young man came running to Jesus, with every sign of earnestness... and reverence, to ask what he must do to inherit eternal life. Our Lord saw in him that self-satisfied spirit which immediately appeared in reply to our Lord’s answer to his question: “Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” Then our Lord gave a direction, designed, not to teach us the method of our salvation, but to bring to light the plague of the young man’s heart. The event showed that he was not then prepared to enter into the kingdom of God. Yet there was that in his serious and respectful demeanour, his ingenuous simplicity, and his outward blamelessness which our Lord regarded with deep and affectionate interest.
In Mark 10:21, He showed that interest by mercifully revealing to him his sad and fatal defect, and urging him to lay the axe to the root of his sins, and to follow Him. From this incident we may learn with how deep an interest our Lord regards that ingenuous openness, that blameless morality, that dutiful and reverent simplicity which is the greatest charm of youth; and yet how far all this may at last fall short of the character of an heir to the kingdom of God.
3. Another manifestation of the mind of Christ towards the young is seen in this, that He takes the character of a little child as the type of that which distinguishes His true disciples (see Matthew 11:25; Matthew 18:2-
4). He who so acted and spoke must have had a singular tenderness of feeling towards little children. Doubtless that which commended them to Him was their instinctive feeling of weakness, and of dependence upon others for all things; their consciousness of ignorance, and simple faith in all that is told them by those older than themselves; the absence in them of guile, ambition, hypocrisy, and all assumption. Our sharing in these qualities, and our display of them toward Christ, is essential to our very safety.
4. Remember also the solemn earnestness with which He denounces a woe against all who lead them into sin (Mat_18:6). Probably “the little ones” here spoken of are those who resemble little children; but still they are peculiarly applicable to children, so liable to be drawn away from Him by the force of evil influence or example (H. E. I. 775). 5. Christ did not disdain the praises of little children (See Matthew 21:15-16). 6. Remember His charge to Peter: “Feed my lambs.” Those thus referred to might be rather the weak in faith than the young in years, yet in many cases the two would be identical; the young would be also weak. For these their parents should tenderly care (H. E. I. 781–788, 803–806). But when the parents do not discharge that sacred trust, the Church should see to it that the young souls for which Christ died do not perish for lack of knowledge. —C. J. Vaughan: Sermons, 1846, pp. 328–342.
THE GENTLENESS OF CHRIST TO THE BURDENED: Isa_40:11. He shall gently lead those that are with young. We have here an indirect proof of the Deity of our Lord. Infinite power is required to control the movements of the burdened ones of whom our text speaks; so many as He has to lead! Besides, He must have infinite wisdom to know me. I am a mystery to myself; though myself be a book that I study, and ought to study far more than I do, yet how little do I know of it!
How then can He know all of them, and each one singly?—know all the maze, the whole of the labyrinth, the “wheel within wheel,” the winding path within the winding path, of body, soul, and estate; all that bears on me in my relative positions, in my connection with the Church, in connection with my family; all my personal weaknesses, my constitutional infirmities? Unless He does know this He cannot “lead” me. He must be God who doeth these things. And He is God. May our hearts bow before Him!
I. Christ’s people are often burdened. Sin, their inborn corruption, is a burden to them. Still heavier is the burden when they have been betrayed into actual transgression; a guilty conscience is a heavy burden indeed. The slowness with which he makes progress in spiritual excellences is also to the believer a burden. Sorrows and temptations are burdens. The body itself is a burden (see 2 Corinthians 5:4). The service of God has itself a burden in it; we read of “bearing the burden and heat of the day.” Often, too, he feels the burdens of others—their mistakes, follies, and sufferings, to rest heavily upon him.
II. When they are thus burdened they experience the infinite tenderness of the Good Shepherd. 1. He does not drive them; He leads them. Satan drives his miserable victims to perdition; the Saviour leads His ransomed ones along the paths of righteousness to eternal blessedness. 2. He leads them gently. Who can unfold the wondrous tenderness, patience, forbearance, compassion, and love with which He has lead each one of us? He leads “gently,” not foolishly; not with such tenderness as one sometimes sees in earthly parents, leading their children to their harm, and thinking it to be love,—the worst of all unkindness.
It is the kindness of One that wisely loves. Could I suppose a father taking a knife to amputate the limb of his child, there might be an appearance of severity in the sharpness of the knife, but who can tell what would be the tenderness of that yearning father’s heart? He “gently leads,” and never more tenderly than in some providences that appeared the severest at the time. As Cowper has said, it is but the graver aspect of His love. —J. H. Evans, M.A.: Thursday Penny Pulpit, vol. iv. pp. 337–348.”
Jesus, many centuries later, painted a similar portrait of Himself, gently leading His flock as the Good Shepherd.
We read of that Self-portrait in Luke 15:4-7: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
I want to return briefly to Isaiah's picture of God leading and feeding His sheep. I find it interesting that Matthew Henry, in spite of this picture of gentleness, also wrote of God's people being enabled to be victorious in physical and spiritual warfare, as a commentary to these verses. He writes, “All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the most so; but the struggle will not last always.
Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned. In the great atonement of the death of Christ, the mercy of God is exercised to the glory of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents receive of the Lord's hand double for all their sins; for the satisfaction Christ made by his death was of infinite value. The prophet had some reference to the return of the Jews from Babylon. But this is a small event, compared with that pointed out by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament, when John the Baptist proclaimed the approach of Christ.
When eastern princes marched through desert countries, ways were prepared for them, and hinderances removed. And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hinderance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the grass and the flower thereof!
And what will all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leave him under condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us, which all flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and do all that he purposes. Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for young converts, weak believers, and those of a sorrowful spirit. By his word he requires no more service, and by his providence he inflicts no more trouble, than he will strengthen them for. May we know our Shepherd's voice, and follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.”
Next, as we examine the Gentleness displayed by Christ, and as the admonition that we, as His followers, bear this Fruit of the Spirit, we read in 2 Corinthians 10:1: “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
Matthew Henry writes: “While others thought meanly, and spake scornfully of the apostle, he had low thoughts, and spake humbly of himself. We should be aware of our own infirmities, and think humbly of ourselves, even when men reproach us. The work of the ministry is a spiritual warfare with spiritual enemies, and for spiritual purposes. Outward force is not the method of the gospel, but strong persuasions, by the power of truth and the meekness of wisdom. Conscience is accountable to God only; and people must be persuaded to God and their duty, not driven by force.
Thus the weapons of our warfare are very powerful; the evidence of truth is convincing. What opposition is made against the gospel, by the powers of sin and Satan in the hearts of men! But observe the conquest the word of God gains. The appointed means, however feeble they appear to some, will be mighty through God.”
Still speaking of the Gentleness of Christ we read another Prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 42:1-3: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.”
Matthew Henry writes: “This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ in Mt 12:17-20. Let our souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear.
By a long course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.”
We read Paul's words regarding his own gentle demeanor in preaching the Gospel in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12-: “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Matthew Henry writes: Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honour, serve, and please God, and to seek to be worthy of him.”
In his first epistle to his young protege` Timothy, without specifically using the word “gentleness,” the Apostle Paul unveiled his list of qualities that a man who would be a bishop presiding over a Church. He wrote in 1 Timothy 3:1-3: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;”
Matthew Henry writes: “If a man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men, was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that service, he sought to be employed in a good work, and his desire should be approved, provided he was qualified for the office. A minister must give as little occasion for blame as can be, lest he bring reproach upon his office. He must be sober, temperate, moderate in all his actions, and in the use of all creature-comforts.”
Scripture exhorts all of us and each of us to reflect gentleness as servants of God. We read: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26).”
Matthew Henry writes: “The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. See how often the apostle cautions against disputes in religion; which surely shows that religion consists more in believing and practising what God requires, than in subtle disputes. Those are unapt to teach, who are apt to strive, and are fierce and froward. Teaching, not persecution, is the Scripture method of dealing with those in error.
The same God who gives the discovery of the truth, by his grace brings us to acknowledge it, otherwise our hearts would continue to rebel against it. There is no "peradventure," in respect of God's pardoning those who do repent; but we cannot tell that he will give repentance to those who oppose his will. Sinners are taken in a snare, and in the worst snare, because it is the devil's; they are slaves to him. And if any long for deliverance, let them remember they never can escape, except by repentance, which is the gift of God; and we must ask it of him by earnest, persevering prayer.”
From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers we read of “And the servant of the Lord must not strive: Although these directions and commandments in all cases belong to God’s servants of every degree and calling, yet some of them, as we should expect from the nature of the Epistle, peculiarly apply to Timothy and those like Timothy specially devoted to the ministry of the Word. And so here everything which is likely to be the cause of strife, heart-burning, or hot words, is, St. Paul urges, singularly out of place in the life of a servant of that Lord who fulfilled to the letter that Isaiah prophecy of Messiah, “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets...
Of the phrase, But be gentle unto all men, we read “Quiet and kind, not only to those belonging to the brotherhood of Christ, but, as is expressly mentioned, to all. It is noteworthy how, in these Pastoral Epistles—which contain, so to speak, the last general directions to believers in Jesus as to life as well as doctrine of perhaps the greatest of the inspired teachers—so many careful suggestions are given for the guidance of Christians in all their relations with the great heathen world.
Conciliation may be termed the key-note of these directions. St. Paul would press upon Timothy and his successors the great truth that it was the Master’s will that the unnumbered peoples who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death should learn, by slow though sure degrees, how lovely and desirable a thing it was to be a Christian; should come at length to see clearly that Christ was, after all, the only lover and real friend of man.”
Next, in his epistle to Titus, Paul reveals more Christian characteristics, and, in so many words, gentleness, in Titus 3:1: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, James 3:13. And let this text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject.
The servants of sin have many masters, their lusts hurry them different ways; pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful, deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they hate one another; and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one another. And we are delivered out of our miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit and sufferings of Christ, and the working of his Spirit.
God the Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows, to teach, regenerate, and save his fallen creatures; and this blessing comes to mankind through Christ. The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love of God to man. Love and grace have, through the Spirit, great power to change and turn the heart to God. Works must be in the saved, but are not among the causes of their salvation. A new principle of grace and holiness is wrought, which sways, and governs, and makes the man a new creature.”
Lastly we look at a contribution to the Fruit of Gentleness, tonight, from the pen of Jesus' half-brother James. We read in James 3:13-18: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
Matthew Henry writes: “These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts on earthly motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes.
Those who are lifted up with such wisdom, described by the apostle James, is near to the Christian love, described by the apostle Paul; and both are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere, and open, and steady, and uniform, and consistent with itself. May the purity, peace, gentleness, teachableness, and mercy shown in all our actions, and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives, prove that God has bestowed upon us this excellent gift.”
The Fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, tonight's Fruit gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness and temperance, are the embodiment of Jesus Christ, Himself. When we exhibit these Fruit, we allow Jesus to live His life through us. We read in Romans 5:5 “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Matthew Henry writes: “A blessed change takes place in the sinner's state, when he becomes a true believer, whatever he has been. Being justified by faith he has peace with God. The holy, righteous God, cannot be at peace with a sinner, while under the guilt of sin. Justification takes away the guilt, and so makes way for peace. This is through our Lord Jesus Christ; through him as the great Peace-maker, the Mediator between God and man. The saints' happy state is a state of grace. Into this grace we are brought, which teaches that we were not born in this state. We could not have got into it of ourselves, but we are led into it, as pardoned offenders.
Therein we stand, a posture that denotes perseverance; we stand firm and safe, upheld by the power of the enemy. And those who have hope for the glory of God hereafter, have enough to rejoice in now. Tribulation worketh patience, not in and of itself, but the powerful grace of God working in and with the tribulation. Patient sufferers have most of the Divine consolations, which abound as afflictions abound. It works needful experience of ourselves. This hope will not disappoint, because it is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of love. It is the gracious work of the blessed Spirit to shed abroad the love of God in the hearts of all the saints.”
This concludes this evening's Discussion, Christian Resolutions_2020, Part 25.”
This Discussion was originally conducted “live” on June 24th, 2020.
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