6. fruit of the spirit - goodness

FRUIT OF THE SPIRITFRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

“GOODNESS”

Galatians 5:22, 23Galatians 5:22, 23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

relationships

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

goodness

Review the “Relationship Fruit”Review the “Relationship Fruit”

• Longsuffering – trait of restraint, not acting hastily to retaliate or punish a deed

• Kindness – trait of being gentle, easy, mellow so that others feel at ease before you

Defining “Goodness”Defining “Goodness”

• Greek agathosune– only used four times in the N.T.– 2Thess. 1:11, “Therefore we also pray

always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power” (cf. Rom. 15:14; Eph. 5:9)

– “uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness” (Strong’s 19)

• Mas quando agathos se torna a palavra ‘agathusune’, significa ‘bondade’ no sentido de se ‘ser bom para alguém’

A palavra raiz é ‘agathos’, e significa ‘bom’

Esta palavra era usada para Esta palavra era usada para descrever uma pessoa que era descrever uma pessoa que era ‘‘generosa, liberal e caridosa generosa, liberal e caridosa com as suas finançascom as suas finanças.’.’

Chamaríamos a esta pessoa, uma ‘pessoa dadora’

• Goodness & Justice1. justice – giving a man what is due him

(i.e., what he deserves)

2. goodness – giving a man what will help him

Defining “Goodness”Defining “Goodness”

What “Goodness” GivesWhat “Goodness” Gives

1. shares material wealth with others

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (cf. Eph. 4:28)

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (cf. Eph. 4:28)

What “Goodness” GivesWhat “Goodness” Gives

1. shares material wealth with others

*Barnabas*

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

ACTS 4

*Barnabas*

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

ACTS 4

What “Goodness” GivesWhat “Goodness” Gives

1. shares material wealth with others

2. shares time and talents with others

*Tabitha* (Acts 9:36-43)

• “full of good works and charitable deeds” (v. 36; cf. Titus 2:5)

• made tunics and garments for widows (v. 39)

*Tabitha* (Acts 9:36-43)

• “full of good works and charitable deeds” (v. 36; cf. Titus 2:5)

• made tunics and garments for widows (v. 39)

What “Goodness” GivesWhat “Goodness” Gives

1. shares material wealth with others

2. shares time and talents with others

3. shares strength of heart• Acts 11:22-24

Acts 11:23 (BBE)“Who, when he came and saw the grace of God, was glad; and he made clear to them the need of keeping near the Lord with all the strength of their hearts”

Acts 11:23 (BBE)“Who, when he came and saw the grace of God, was glad; and he made clear to them the need of keeping near the Lord with all the strength of their hearts”

What “Goodness” GivesWhat “Goodness” Gives

1. shares material wealth with others

2. shares time and talents with others

3. shares strength of heart• Acts 11:22-24• may require to give the sting of rebuke to

those in error • Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; Seek

justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow” (Is. 1:17; cf. Prov. 24:25; 28:23; 1 Tim. 5:20)

Galatians 6:9, 109 And let us not grow weary while doing

good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

a commitment to the Creator

&• exist together in

society (Matt. 9:10-13)– the good in contact

with evil to save(Matt. 5:13; Jn. 17:15)

• exists together on the tongue (Jas. 3:9-12)

• exist together in the Christian’s field(Matt. 10:16)

• exists together in the church (Matt. 13:24-30)– THERE WILL BE A DAY

OF SEPARATION (v. 30)

GOODNESS• You are either good or not

• You chose whether to be good or not

• You choose to bear “good fruit” or not

• You decide whether today is good or not

• You decide whether today is a good day to do good or not

MATTHEW 3:10

“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

We can do so much evil with our bodies in this life!

ORWe can do so much good!

ORWe can do so much good!

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His

goodness and the work of faith with power”

2Thessalonians 1:11

Defining “Goodness”Defining “Goodness”

• Goodness is virtue and holiness in action. – It results in a life characterized by deeds

motivated by righteousness and a desire to be a blessing.

– It's a moral characteristic of a Spirit-filled person.

• The Greek word translated “goodness,” agathosune, is defined as "uprightness of heart and life."

• Agathosune is goodness for the benefit of others, not goodness simply for the sake of being virtuous.

• Someone with agathosune will selflessly act on behalf of others.

• Confronting someone about a sin demonstrates goodness.

• So do giving to the poor, providing for one’s children, visiting the sick, volunteering to clean up after a storm, and praying for an enemy – is agathosune

Expressions of goodness are as varied as the Spirit is creative.

Goodness is not a quality we can Goodness is not a quality we can manufacture on our ownmanufacture on our own

• James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."

• This certainly includes a life characterized by goodness.

• In letting the Holy Spirit control us, we are blessed with the fruit of goodness.

• As others see our good works, they will praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

• Christians are exhorted to do good works, such as teaching and preaching the Word of God, encouraging and serving in various ways within the fellowship of believers.

• "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Gal. 6:9, 10

Romans 12 has specific teaching regarding Romans 12 has specific teaching regarding Christian conductChristian conduct

• "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality."

• All these actions express goodness, the sterling character of someone filled with the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion:Conclusion:

• Goodness is the nature and character of God. • Goodness will declare truth without concern for the

consequences. Speaking can appear to be unkind at times, but goodness will say what a person needs to hear not just what they want to hear. But we must be careful to speak in a right way under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

• Goodness always acts in unity with the righteousness of God. • Goodness will produce good works that glorify the Lord. We

have been created in Christ Jesus to do good works that reflect the beauty of Jesus in us.