Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Patience"

CAROLYN MACOMBER)

 

Day 5: Wednesday, January 27, 2010

 

Overview

The heading for Wednesday's study is "Patience Has Its Limits". Gen. 6:3 is mentioned, "Then the LORD said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.' (NASB) The author uses 1 Peter 3:20 incorrectly to convey the thought that God is patient with mankind, but ultimately His patience runs out. God's longsuffering is alluded to for Sodom and Gomorrah, Israel in the wilderness, and the Babylonian captivity. The lesson's author encourages us to be longsuffering and patient with others even though it may seem that "God can run out of patience" on occasion.

 

Observations

In the teachers notes for the lesson a phrase is used that subtly inserts the heresy that our behavior, specifically patient type behavior, is needed for salvation. O'fill writes, "It is a garment of the Spirit, given to the Christian to set forth a new fashion of moral conduct." (pg. 59; Col. 3:12-17)

When a person reads "a garment of the Spirit" they begin to think of the scriptural use of "robe of righteousness". Isaiah 61:10 (NIV) says, "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Looking at O'fill's phrase closer and his subsequent use of Col. 3 we begin to see a subtle heresy creeping in.

Colossians 1 & 2 sets up the dialogue in chapter 3. Paul in Colossians 1 and 2 speaks strongly against false teachers and is constantly reminding the Colossian Church that they are now "in Christ." (Col. 2:6; 2:7; 2:10; 2:11; 2:12; 2:15) Only when we are hidden with Christ in God can we exhibit the things mentioned in chapter 3; a true heart of compassion, kindness, humility, etc. The Greek for Col. 3:12-17 illustrates what Paul has been setting up the Colossians to understand, mainly that they have already "put on" Christ. The aorist tense of the Greek Word for "put on" is used indicating that an event has already taken place. According to the ESV study Bible, "A qualitative change of identity has already occurred in the lives of believers. It now only remains for them to bring their behavior into line with their new identity". Unfortunately, O'fill leaves out the important foundation of the new identity in Christ which is Christ living in the believer.

The fruit of the Spirit is a natural result of abiding in the true vine. We don't seek fruit, we grow it as we seek to listen and follow our Savior. There is one fruit of his presence in our lives, manifested through one Spirit, which is exemplified in nine different expressions of His presence. We grow in these outward expressions of an inward reality, naturally.

In conclusion, O'fill gives a false picture of a Holy God. He writes, when referring to Noah, that "the time came when the stubbornness of the people exhausted the long-suffering of God, and He destroyed the earth with a flood." O'fill further writes, It might be argued that, inasmuch as God ran out of patience, this gives us permission to do the same." O'fill does talk about God's long-suffering lasting for generations. The problem with O'fill's comments is that God becomes subject to mankind's behavior. Mankind is in the driver's seat to God's reactions. God does not run out of patience, because He is Holy and just. God is not some Being that can be "exhausted" by mankind. What kind of a God is O'fill portraying? He is certainly not portraying the one true God of scripture.

Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. (Rev. 15:3b-4a; NIV)

 

Summary

1. O'fill subtly inserts that our behavior is important to salvation by using a strange phrase, "garment of the Spirit".
2. Scripture on the other hand uses the phrase, "garment of salvation". Is.61:10.
3. The fruit of the Spirit grows naturally by abiding in the vine (Jesus).
4. O'fill insinuates that God is subject to mankind's behavior, because God can run out of patience.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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