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Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Self-Control"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, February 27, 2010

 

Overview

The theme for this week being the Holy Spirit’s fruit of Self-Control, the lesson uses the words of Paul for today’s memory verse:

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (I Cor. 9:27 ESV).

 

Observations

The use of this memory verse is rather interesting since it is about running a race where only one person will win the prize. Salvation, the covering and removal of sins in our life, is a free gift for all those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Obviously Paul disciplines his body to win something that isn’t the gift offered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We will come back to this and explore it more fully on Wednesday. Just keep in mind that a ‘gift’ and a ‘prize’ are two totally different things. One is earned. The other is not.

So then, what is the meaning of ‘self control’ and how does one acquire it?

Simply stated, self control is to have control of self. However, the source of the power that leads to acquiring self control is of vital importance. When we turn to Galatians and study the verses that preceded the listing of the fruits of the Spirit we discover that this is an attribute that those ‘of the flesh’ do not and cannot possess.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:16-21 ESV).

You will notice that those who possess ‘the desires of the flesh’ cannot ‘inherit the kingdom of God’. But, those indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit will fulfill the desires of the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another (Gal. 5:22-26 ESV).

Paul concludes with the admonition to walk by the same Holy Spirit that gives us life.

 

Summary

  1. Those ‘of the flesh’ are controlled and disciplined by externals, which was the deadly consequence of yielding to Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden.
  2. For those who live by the Spirit, Paul admonishes to ‘also walk by the Spirit’.
  3. The wondrous paradox is that those who turn their lives over to Jesus Christ and are controlled by the Holy Spirit receive all of the fruits of the Spirit and will experience true self control.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 25, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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