Goodness Is Implanted Into Our Lives Through Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT

Podcast Episode: The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT – GOODNESS #3

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. There is no law against these things.” [Galatians 5:22-23 NLT]

Faith Without Good Deeds Is Dead

In James 2:21-24 NLT says, “19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

The acceptance of a creed (even a true one) is not enough to save anyone. The demons have complete and thorough conviction that there is one God, but they are terrified by that truth. They believe in God only to hate and resist Him in every way they can. Their “faith” even moves them to a negative reaction, while the faith of some of James’s readers isn’t real enough to give them a shiver. The demons tremble in terror and demonstrate that their “faith” is real, though misdirected.

James addresses his hypothetical person who held the above views, calling that person a fool. The foolish person is literally a “hollow man.” If the faith around which we build our lives turns out to be empty, we are truly hollow people. When will we ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless? There are times when we need more teaching or understanding in order to respond to God’s direction. But most often we know what needs to be done, yet are unwilling to act. When it comes to putting into practice what we know, is it our habit to obey God?

From his own case studies, James now turns to historical figures from the Old Testament that he expects will confirm what he has been teaching about the importance of active faith. Abraham was one of the Old Testament figures most revered by the Jews (see Genesis 11:27–25:11 for Abraham’s biography). Abraham’s remarkable obedience in being willing to sacrifice his son at God’s command was evidence of the works for which Abraham was declared right with God.

What was Abraham doing when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? He was trusting God. The lesson we can draw from Abraham’s life is not a comparison between his sacrifices and ours. We can expect that in one way or another, our faith will have to grow from internal trust to external action. Eventually, like Abraham, we too will have to answer the question, “Do I really trust God?”

Abraham had great faith in God (Genesis 15:6), but James points out that Abraham’s faith was much more than just belief in the one God – the fruit of Abraham’s great faith was in his deeds: His faith was made complete by what he did – by his actions. His faith produced his actions, and his actions completed his faith, meaning they “perfected” or “matured” it. Mature and complete believers are produced through perseverance in trials; mature and complete faith is produced through works of obedience to God. Faith and works should not be confused with each other, but neither can they be separated from each other.

Abraham believed God, so God gave Abraham the status of a right relationship with Him – and this happened before Abraham’s noted works (such as his willingness to sacrifice Isaac), and even before Abraham was circumcised (see Paul’s words in Romans 4:1-17). The Scriptures to which James is referring is Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.“ James showed that Abraham’s righteousness was the basis and reason for all those actions. Because of Abraham’s great faith and obedience, he held the privileged status of being called “the friend of God” (see also 1 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8). Acting out our trust in God will lead to friendship with Him, as it did in Abraham’s case.

We are made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Many have said that this statement contradicts Paul’s position, who wrote: “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law” (Romans 3:28). Indeed, if both James and Paul used the term “made right” (justified) in the same way, this verse would contradict Paul’s teaching about justification by faith alone. But for James, being “made right” refers to God’s final verdict over our entire Christian lives, whereby we are declared righteous for having lived a life that was faithful to the end. For Paul, being “made right” is the initial granting of righteousness upon a person’s acceptance of Christ. For James, “works” (what we do) are the natural products of true faith; for Paul, “works” (“obeying the law”) are what people were trying to do in order to be saved. For James, faith alone is the shallow belief in an idea; no commitment or life change is involved. For Paul, faith is saving faith – the belief that brings about an intimate union with our Lord Jesus Christ and results in salvation and obedience.

Paul made clear that a person enters into God’s Kingdom only by faith; James made clear that God requires good deeds from those who are in the Kingdom.

A person receives salvation by faith alone, not by doing works of obedience; but a saved person does works of obedience because of that faith. For people who rely on their religious “busyness” for their salvation or merit before God, Paul’s words are critical – those works alone can do nothing to save them. For people who rely on their intellectual assent of a belief, with only a verbal commitment, James’s words are critical – their belief alone can do nothing to save them.

Two brief questions that help us monitor our spiritual health are: Who am I trusting? and Why am I working? If we are trusting anyone (including ourselves) other than our Lord Jesus Christ as the source and provider of our justification, we are lost. If we are acting for any reason other than in obedience and thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done for us, we are lost. We only truly find our salvation in Jesus Christ. Out of our trust in Him will flow action.

In Mark 19:17-22 NLT says, 7 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” He told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away very sad, for he had many possessions.

In Romans 10:12-15 NLT says, “12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring Good News!”

In Matthew 26:6-13 NLT says, “6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While He was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over His head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste of money,” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

In these GOODNESS Series of Podcast, we will learn the PURPOSE of this fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT:

1. Learn To Care How God Feels About Our Morality (see last week of Podcast Goodness #1)
2. To Have The Desire For Holiness – Podcast Goodness #2
3. To Know That God Implanted Righteousness Into Our Lives Through Our Lord Jesus Christ
4. Learn To Imitate Our Lord Jesus Christ
5. To Be Contented With God’s Commandments

If you are not sure that you are Born-Again Christian believer, please take a look of one of our ministries, “An Invitation To Meet Our Lord Jesus Christ” at https://homefellowshipchurches.org/an-invitation-to-meet-our-lord-jesus-christ/

Observation: What do these passages say to you?

Interpretation: What do these passages mean to you?

Application: How do the meaning of these passages apply to you or to your situation?

Suggested Prayer: Father God, we come into your presence in Jesus name, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for Your agape love and for the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. We cling, yield, plug-in and tune-in to you Holy Spirit to help us to understand God’s Words, receive Your divine revelation, know the Truth, and obey them, in Jesus name, Amen!

God bless us, our families, and our loved ones!