The Qualities of Holy Living - Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Ephesians 4:20-24

by David Woods

Read "Point of Special Interest" (p. 28)

This lesson is chock full of really good material. I hope each of you have read or will read this lesson. I get my thesis for this lesson from the "Introduction."

Big Idea: "A truly godly person looks like Christ in character and life." (p. 25)

Read Galatians 5:22-26

Discussion: Why do you think spiritual qualities/characteristics are called "fruit"?

While my family lived in Tennessee we planted a plum tree (from the seed, as I remember). When we left, I do not think the tree was over four feet tall.

I do remember at least one year seeing plums on the branches. However, these plums were not really edible. We should be careful in not taking analogies too far, however, I would like us to consider some possible implications in comparing the Christian characteristics as "fruit of the Spirit."

Discussion: What is implied in the idea that the Christian way of living is called "fruit of the Spirit"?
(This is not an exhaustive list of ideas, but possibly: it will take time for the Christian to bear spiritual fruit. The spiritual fruit a Christian bears may not be "perfect".)

Love is a popular topic in the world today. There are many ideas about what it means to love others.

Discussion: What is the love that is fruit of the Spirit?

Often, happiness is differentiated from joy according to during. The former is said to be temporary; the latter is longer lasting.

Discussion: Is this a suitable definition of joy that is fruit of the Spirit? What if the "joy" someone feels is just "happiness" that that person is able to maintain for a longer period of time? Can joy be mistaken for a positive outlook (i.e. Norman Vincent Peale) on life?

The lesson comments suggest that the first three fruit of the Spirit are inward and come from God. I would agree, however, I would also suggest that this spiritual peace includes a peace with God, a peace with oneself, and a peace with others.

Discussion: What does it look like to have an inward peace - with others who do not like us or want to have peace with us?

Discussion: What is the difference between longsuffering and lack of motivation/lack of standing up for one's rights?

A popular contemporary Christian writer has several books out in which he exhorts men to be "manly" and "rugged." He argues against wimpy Christianity.

Discussion: Was Jesus a "girlie man"? What does it mean to gentle?

Discussion: How would the world characterize "goodness"? Can we trust the world's definition of anything?

Faith or faithfulness implies a characteristic or quality observed over time.

Discussion: What does this suggest to us concerning spiritual self-examination?

Discussion: What does it mean to be self-controlled/temperate?
(Consider the ideas of self-discipline, ability to reject temptation, etc.)

I find three assumptions in verse twenty-five. First, since we live in the Spirit, we must have been born by the Spirit. Second, we do live by the Spirit.

Discussion: What does it mean that we live by the Spirit?

The third assumption I find in this verse is that if we live by the Spirit, we should walk in the Spirit.

Discussion: What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?

Read 1 Peter 2:21-25

The comments for verse twenty-one says:

The world for "example" is hupogrammaton. This Greek word gives the word picture of a teacher who carefully draws out the letters of the alphabet on a writing surface and then allows the student to trace the drawn letters. (p. 25)

Jesus left us this example:

1. He did not commit sin.
2. He was not deceitful.
3. He did not revile his persecutors.
4. He did not threaten others.
5. He committed Himself to the Father.
6. He bore our sins on the Cross.

Discussion: How closely does Christ expect us to "trace" the Word of His life?
(By God's grace, we can imitate His example very closely, except that we can never make atonement for anyone's sins. However, we should imitate His sacrifice by offering ourselves as a living sacrifice in service to Him.)

Discussion: When you think about the way you should live, are you attempting to trace Christ's steps or the steps (or commands) of someone else?

Read Ephesians 4:20-24

Often, the "old man" has been preached to be synonymous with the carnal nature. Maybe in some other passages it is. However, I agree with the lesson comments in that the old man Paul is referring to in these verses is a lifestyle of sin.

Note that Romans 6:6 says, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (ESV)

The imagery is the same. We give up our old lifestyle of sin and are born again by the Spirit, in order that the carnal nature (the body of sin) might be destroyed that from then on we should not and will not serve sin.

"By grace are ye saved through faith." "Put off … the old man."

Discussion: What are the proper divine and human roles of salvation?

Discussion: "Be renewed" suggests a passive action. Do we bear any responsibility in the renewal of our minds?

Discussion: If Christ-like characteristics are spiritual fruit, what does it mean to "put on the new man"?