Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Goodness"

GRACE CARLSON

 

Day 7: Friday, February 12, 2010

 

Summary

In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ’How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. “surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to the flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:3-6).

Every human being is born into this world with a perverted nature. We come into this world with a mind and heart that is blind to the truth of God (Ephesians 2:1-3). The Bible is clear; external morality is not enough, you must be born again.

Only when we are born again, and God’s Spirit indwells us, will the fruit in Galatians 5:22,23 be evident in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is not a result of discipline or altruistic intentions. The fruit is God’s fruit.

If you have not yet surrendered your best ambitions to the Lord, given up all strivings after holiness, and given up any thought that you may someday be morally pure in your own strength, you are missing out on the glorious fruit that God has in store for you. Until we come to the end of ourselves, we will never become fruit-bearing by our own might.

If this is you, surrender yourself fully to Him today. Ask Him to come into your life so that He can transform it and manifest Himself through it.

“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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 7

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 7

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 7

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings