Against such there is no law

  Against such there is no law

In the book of Galatians we read,

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."Galatians 5:19-23 

Here we see defined the sinful nature and the Fruit of the Spirit. It is given to us so that we as true Christians. As true followers of Christ Jesus can tell right from wrong. It is in effect a black and white template for us to judge what is right and wrong.

Here’s a checklist for those who claim to be true followers of Jesus,

The fruit of the Spirit is,

Love 

Joy

Peace, 

Patience,

Kindness,

Goodness, 

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control.

And as the writer points out there is no law against showing these attributes.

Are you showing the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit?

Please think about it.

Do they see it?

  Do they see it?

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:1.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you live a life worthy of Him?

When people see your life do they see the fruit of the spirit?

The fruit of the spirit being listed in the book of Galatians as,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness...

self-control.... 

Galatians 5:22.

Do people see these fruits in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Treat others

  Treat others

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

This is something I live by. We must be willing to treat others the way we would like to be treated. By doing so we can reach the world for Christ. If we fail to do so we risk turning people away from Christ.

Question. Do you treat people the way you like to be treated?

Please think about it.

The fruit of a Christian life

  The Fruit of a Christian life

In the book of Galatians we read,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22,23.

Look carefully at this list,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness

 and 

self-control

Are these the attributes that people see when they look at your life?

If you follow a pastor, evangelist, philosopher, or even a politician. Do these people exhibit these characteristics? If not you should not be following them. It’s that simple.

Those Characteristics listed above are those of a Christian man and woman. Something God wants all of us to exhibit.

Thus the question becomes; Do you exhibit these characteristics?

Think about it. 

Christian fruit

 Christian fruit,

In the book of Galatians we read,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22,23.

These are Christian attributes. They are what we as Christians should be showing to the world.

If we are doing so people will be attracted to us. Which give us an opportunity to see share our faith with them.

When people look at your life do they see these attributes?

Please think about it.

Clothe yourself

  Clothe yourself

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you. In the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Attributes of a Christian

  Attributes of a Christian

The apostle Paul tells what the fruit of the Spirit of Christ within someone is when he writes,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

If you consider yourself a Christian. Someone who claims to have the Spirit of Christ. Then people should see these attributes in your life. 

When people see you life do they see,

                                                   love, 

                                                                   joy, 

                                                                   peace, 

                                                                   patience, 

                                                                   kindness, 

                                                                   goodness,

                                                                   faithfulness,  

                                                                   gentleness 

                                                                   self-control

Please think about it.

Your Attributes

  Your attributes 

The apostle Paul writes,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Question; If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do people see the fruits of the spirit the apostle Paul notes above?

Please think about it.

Attributes

  Attributes

The apostle Paul wrote,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.

Read carefully what the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians. These are key attributes of a Christian. These are attributes of Jesus that should be seen in our lives every day.

So the question becomes; 

Are people seeing these attributes in your life?

Please think about it.

Transformation

  Transformation

In the book of Romans the apostle Paul writes,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2.

If we truly accept Jesus into our lives a transformation begins. The speed of the transformation varies in each individual. However be it slow or quick a true believer in Christ will change. They will begin to exhibit what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the spirit,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22,23.

Exhibiting such fruits will become second nature to them. This I believe is one way you can tell a true Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus.

When people look at your life what do they see?

Please think about it.

 Known by

The apostle Paul writes,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

The apostle Paul makes it clear how people will know we are true believers in Christ Jesus. Showing the fruits of the spirit is one of those ways.

Too many non-believers today in North America know Christians for what they are against. Rather than what they are for. 

The reason is simple they have gone their own way. They have let secularism seep into their belief system. They demonstrate against anything or anyone that opposes them.

This is not what Jesus and the disciples did. They didn’t protest against Rome or the religious leaders of their day.

Instead they kept to the script so to speak. They presented the Love of God that comes through Christ Jesus. They presented the Grace of God and Salvation that comes through Christ Jesus. And they did it in a loving peaceful way. They exhibited the fruits of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and self-control. 

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

They may not be Christian

  They may not be a Christian

Jesus said,

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.

Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians

you are not like him.” 

                            Mahatma Gandhi.

I think like many people today Gandhi met many people claiming to be Christian who are not. Men and women who will one day hear the words of Jesus saying,

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers”

                                                                         Matthew 7:23b.

Especially now since the pandemic hit here in North America we are seeing people who claim to be Christians who are not. Men and women who are bashing people over the head with the bible yet fail to follow what is in it.

The apostle Paul wrote,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

I believe that if a person is not exhibiting the fruit of the spirit there is a good chance that they are not Christian at all. 

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Again if a person is not exhibiting love for God and ones neighbour I firmly believe he or she is not a Christian. 

What do you think?

Please think about it.

A Christian principle for living

  A Christian Principle for living  

The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings. 

That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life. 

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.

Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?

Please think about it.

What do they see?

  What do they see?

The apostle Paul writes,

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  

(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” Ephesians 5:8,9.

Do you walk as children of light? Does your life reflect the virtues of God? OR; Are you still in darkness?

If Christ is truly working in your life, those around you should see the fruit of the spirit working in your life. 

The apostle Paul tells us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Being a Christian is like being a flower. The flower starts as a seed planted in the darkness of the earth. Eventually as it gets watered and receives nutrients from the ground it grows toward the sun where upon all those around can see its beauty.

All who become Christian converts start in darkness, but after being watered with prayer and receiving knowledge and wisdom from the Bible. They grow closer to the Son of God and the fruits of the spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” become evident in their lives.

Question: When people see your life what do they see in you, is it darkness or light?

Please think about it.

What's a Christian to do?

 What’s a Christian to do?

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17.

So what is a Christian to do? The apostle Paul makes it clear we are to,

Clothe ourselves with 

Compassion

kindness

humility

gentleness

patience.

We are to, forgive whatever grievances we have against one another.

We are to,

love

let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

We are 

to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.

To admonish one another with all wisdom.

To sing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs

We are to do all this with gratitude in our hearts.

AND we whatever we do in word or deed we must do it in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.

So my question is, Do you do this?

Please think about it.

Not all

Not all
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
The other day I found a couple of interesting quotes. One from Lenny Bruce said,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God. Really.” 

                                      Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."

The other is from an unknown author it states,

I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

I have met many people who truly believe in God but are turned off by the people who supposedly serve Him. It’s sad but there are many claiming to be Christians who are not. Jesus said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
Sadly there are many in the world today claiming to be Christians who are not. They have twisted the scriptures to say what they want it to say. They have wandered far from the principles of God. What is worse in many such people have in many cases become the face of the church.
Sadly true Christians for a myriad of reasons have not stood up to them. They have not followed the teaching of the apostle Paul who tells true believers in Christ Jesus,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Paul also tells us what the characteristics of a true believer in Christ Jesus will exhibit when he states,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
I think I can honestly say that if these attributes are not being shown by anyone claiming to be Christian, they may be Christian in word only. Christ may not be active in their life at all.
Please think about it.  

At Peace with Others

At Peace with others
The apostle Paul writes,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
Question, do you? If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to live at peace with everyone?
If you are not. You should be. It’s not only the apostle Paul that tells us to live at peace with everyone. In the book of Hebrews we read,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Notice the writer of Hebrews tells us to not only make every effort to live in peace with all men, but to do our best to be holy.
If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus you should be exhibiting the fruits of the spirit. The apostle Paul telling us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22,23.
Are these truly the fruits you exhibit in your life to those around you?
Please think about it.

Are these qualities?

Are these qualities?
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3,4.
The apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12
The above quotes are not suggestions for a Christians to follow. They are things we as believers in Christ Jesus must do.
The apostle Paul tells us the kind of things believers in Christ should be exhibiting in their personal lives when he writes,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
These qualities should be seen in a believers life by those who are around them without them saying a word.
Thus my question, If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are these qualities that are exhibited in your life?
Please think about it. 

These are Christian Traits

These are Christian Traits
The apostle Paul writes,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
If you consider your self a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are the above traits exhibited in your life?
As Christians we need to live our lives differently. We should not be following the ways of the world. Rather we should be exhibiting the fruits of the spirit,

Love,

Joy,

Peace,

Patience,

Kindness,

Goodness,

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control.

If these fruits are in our life the world will be attracted to us. If they are not the world will dismiss us as nothing special. Nothing of importance.
Francis of Assisi wrote something every believer in Christ Jesus needs to consider. He wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                               Francis of Assisi.

What Francis is saying here can be done by anyone. The key is we must want to do it. Thus my questions becomes,
Are the fruits of the spirit active in your life?
Are you showing unconditional Love and Mercy to all whom you come in contact with?
Are you truly an instrument of God’s Peace?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for living #3 Christian attributes,

Christian Principles for living #3 Christian attributes
The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings.
That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.
Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?
Please think about it.