Fruitful Gentleness
Fruit Bearing • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
We continue our series of lessons looking at “Fruit Bearing.”
As we have discussed, as Christians we must bear fruit for the Vine that is Christ if we do not want to be cut off or taken away.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
This series has led us to the inevitable “Fruit of the Spirit” found in Galatians 5:22-23.
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.
Having looked at this fruit’s characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness, we now find ourselves examining “Gentleness.”
This word, in the original Greek, is found 11 times in the New Testament with it translated as both Gentleness and meekness typically.
With this in mind let us examine God’s word on the subject.
Clothed In Gentleness
Clothed In Gentleness
Putting On Christ.
Putting On Christ.
When we obey the gospel Christ, have our sins washed away, and are raised a new creation we are to “put on Christ.”
Paul would write in Galatians 3:26-27…
Galatians 3:26–27 (ESV)
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Paul would also write to the Colossian church in Colossians 3:2-3…
Colossians 3:2–3 (ESV)
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
As Christians our old self is put to death.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
The reason for putting our old selves to death, so that Christ can live in us.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
What does all this have to do with Gentleness?
In 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul would write this to the church there in Corinth…
2 Corinthians 10:1 (ESV)
1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!
Christ, who we put on or clothe ourselves with (Galatians 3:27) and are hidden in (Colossians 3:3), so that he can live through us (Galatians 2:20) bears the fruit of meekness or gentleness.
So when we are clothed with Christ we are to…
Put On Meekness.
Put On Meekness.
Look again at what Paul wrote there to the church in Colosse.
Colossians 3:1–4 (ESV)
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Now look just a few verses down at verse 12.
Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience
Gentleness or meekness is not something we as Christians simply do towards other people, it is who we are as Christians and this is beautifully demonstrated by James in James 1:21.
James 1:21 (ESV)
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
One cannot actually receive the scriptures unless they have put on gentleness or meekness, by setting aside their arrogance and ego.
We have to accept that we don’t have the answers and God does so that we can actually “hear” or “receive” God’s word.
This is why it is so often linked with humility.
Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love
Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience
… it is only the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him.
Summary
Summary
When we “put on Christ” we are “putting on gentleness” in our very essence.
It is that which defines a Christian who has “Christ living in them.”
However…
How Is Gentleness Manifested?
How Is Gentleness Manifested?
By Not Striving For Conflict.
By Not Striving For Conflict.
When Christians made up of gentleness it will be manifested in our we treat those around us.
Titus 3:1–2 (ASV)
1 Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, 2 to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
This is who God’s children are.
8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
We also see gentleness manifested or fruitful…
By Spiritual Conflict Resolution.
By Spiritual Conflict Resolution.
Over and over we find “gentleness” connected with Christians in how they resolve spiritual conflict.
How Christians are to resolve the spiritual conflict of sin in their fellow brethren’s lives.
1 Corinthians 4:21 (ESV)
21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Timothy 2:24–26 (ESV)
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect
Summary
Summary
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Conclusion
Conclusion
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Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
