The Fruit of the Spirit: “Faithfulness”

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Key truths to keep in mind as we study the Fruit of the Spirit:

1. There is only one Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “But the FRUIT…”

It is a singular in the English and the Greek. It is a singular fruit with 9 distinct aspects: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control…”

So far we have looked at love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness. This week, the next characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit that we are examining, is… FAITHFULNESS.

Hebrews 10:19–25 (NASB)

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

What is faithfulness?

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:

FA'ITHFULNESS, noun

1. Fidelity (Careful and exact observance of duty; Honesty; adherence to truth); loyalty; firmness…

2. Truth; veracity; as in the faithfulness of God.

4. Strict performance of promises, vows or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Faithfulness)

In Hebrew, it is trustworthiness, or steadfastness of character…

In the OT a synonym for “faithfulness” is “truth.” …

When used of God in the OT, the word “faithfulness” refers to his unwavering commitment to His promises.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Human Faithfulness)

[When referring to] Human Faithfulness. Faith and faithfulness are logically and linguistically one in the OT and NT…

The word words for faith in both Testaments also connote the concept of “faithfulness.” This indicates that faith is more than momentary assent to the truth of God…

[Faithfulness in humans] is commitment to the truth of God, and it manifests itself in continued obedience.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Human Faithfulness)

Faithfulness, then, must not be viewed as an isolated act. Rather it is an attitude that should characterize the entire life of those who say they have faith in God.

…by definition all unbelievers are characterized by unfaithfulness, but God’s children are called to manifest faithfulness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22; cf. Eph 2:8).

I believe this robust definition of faithfulness is clearly seen in our text. And I we are going to go through it and break it all down, but first, we need to make sure and remember…

The source of faithfulness.

The Holy Spirit is the source of the Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “…the fruit OF THE SPIRIT……

John 15:5 (NASB)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

(v. 19-22) 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

God is the source of faithfulness!

The faithfulness of God.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 (Faithful, Faithfulness)

Faithfulness is one of the characteristics of God’s nature. It denotes the firmness or constancy of God in His relations with men, especially with His people. It is, accordingly, one aspect of God’s truth and of His unchangeableness. God is true not only because He is really God in contrast to all that is not God, and because He realizes the idea of Godhead, but also because He is constant or faithful in keeping His promises, and therefore is worthy of trust (see TRUTH). God, likewise, is unchangeable in His nature. This unchangeableness the Scripture often connects with God’s goodness and mercy, and also with His constancy in reference to His covenant promises, and this is what the OT means by the Faithfulness of God (see UNCHANGEABLENESS).

Psalm 36:5 (NASB)

5 Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Galatians 5:22 (NASB)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is … faithfulness …

The faithfulness from God in us.

Galatians 5:24–25 (NASB)

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Philippians 2:13 (NASB)

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

The spheres of faithfulness.

Faithful to God.

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Sin against God unfaithfulness.

Leviticus 5:15 (NASB)

15 “If a person acts unfaithfully and sins…

(The book of Hosea)

Faithful to others.

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Toward family.

Spiritual Family: the church.

…not forsaking our own assembling together…

…stimulate one another to love and good deeds…

…encouraging one another…

Biological Family: spouse, children, parents, siblings, extended.

1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV)

8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The 5th Commandment:

Exodus 20:12 (NASB)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Toward friends.

Proverbs 17:17 (NASB)

17 A friend loves at all times…

Proverbs 27:6 (NASB)

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend…

Toward foes.

Matthew 5:44 (NASB)

44 “...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”

The sorts of faithfulness.

Spiritual faithfulness.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…

It is about the devotion of the heart.

Isaiah 29:13 (ESV)

13 …this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me…

John 4:24 (NASB)

24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

False worship (idolatry).

Jonah 2:8 (NASB)

8 “Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness…

Feeble worship (insufficient).

Matthew 25:24–30 (NASB)

24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Faithful worship.

Matthew 25:20–23 (NASB)

20 “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

Physical faithfulness.

22 …and our bodies washed with pure water.

24 …and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds…

It is about our deeds done or left undone.

Joshua 1:7 (NASB)

7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

Am I sinning in what I do or am I being faithful to God and others?

Faithfulness requires that there are things we do not do and other things we do.

Martial faithfulness! (The 7th Commandment)

Exodus 20:14 (NASB)

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Emotional faithfulness.

Matthew 5:27–28 (NASB)

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

(v. 22) …sprinkled clean from an evil conscience…

Our motivations, attitudes or emotional investments?

1 John 2:15 (NASB)

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 Timothy 3:3 (NASB)

3 …not addicted to wine…free from the love of money.

Why am I doing what I do? What is my motivation?

What are my attitudes while I do what I do?

Psalm 100:2 (NASB)

2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.

You can do the right things with an emotionally unfaithful heart!

Am I emotionally invested in the right things?

What do I love?

What matters to me?

Faithfulness is about the spiritual, physical and emotional.

The standard of faithfulness

(v. 23) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful...

Philippians 2:8 (NASB)

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Psalm 18:31 (NASB)

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God…

Is that the standard of faithfulness in us?

Psalm 37:3 (NASB)

3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

(v. 25) …and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 (NASB)

12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

In Closing:

God is the source of faithfulness.

He sets the standard.

Is His faithfulness consistently being manifested in you?

In every sphere of your life?

Is there a particular sort of faithfulness you struggle with? Spiritual? Physical? Emotional?

Your faithfulness has been tested and will be tested again.

And we have good news… God is faithful, even when we are not.

1 John 1:9 (NASB)

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

As I pray before our last song, confess any unfaithfulness you might have in your life. Repent from it and ask humbly ask God to forgive you and to help you be faithful.

Let’s pray.

Memory Verse of the Week:

Jonah 2:8 (NASB)

8 “Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness…