Oh My Goodness?
Fruit of the Spirit • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro
Intro
Joe Biden: In his speech that announced Kamal Harris as his running mate:
He made the comment that this was a “battle for the soul of America.”
We have politicized the ethics and morality of our nation
It is not the states role to legislate morality
Who then defines “good”?
I do not want politicians defining morality.
Goodness - ἀγαθωσύνη -
Some see this as a synonym for Kindness
Some view this as meaning “generosity” or “charity”
But, Paul uses “Charity” elsewhere as a different word
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
Goodness here refers to the “quality” of an individual:
“The quality of moral excellence; especially as a quality that is not stagnant, but actually working itself out.”
It is being “morally good.”
Goodness does not mean that we are good.
Romans 3 tells us that we are not
Paul is speaking about the difference betwen the Jews an Greeks:
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
The world views mankind as being morally neutral or even some who believe men are born good and are corrupted by society.
Jesus tells us that only God is good
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
We are not good or have the ability to do good unless God produces this fruit within us.
Goodness means that we have been given an enlightened heart and mind to know what is morally correct.
Paul uses it this way
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
We have been given the ability to make good ethical and moral decisions
Good Samaritan
Jesus answers the question about who one’s neighbor.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Jesus implies the disciples had the ability to choose good.
We as Christians have the ability to make good moral and ethical decisions. We can refuse to cheat on our taxes. We can be a people of integrity.
It is why we don’t abort our babies, commit sexual sins, and so on.
It is why we choose to help our neighbor, unlike those who pass them by.
In today’s world we see not only apathy but hatred and the worst kind of evil toward our fellow men.
The only thing that will help combat and overcome these evils, is if God intervenes and produces fruit in mankind. But, once he does, then we have the ability to make good choices.
Goodness is given to us to combat our sinful desires.
Paul has an expectation of this for the Christians in Rome
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
And, he prays for it in:
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 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. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is producing good works in you to prepare you for the day of Christ’s return
He is doing it that the name of Jesus is glorified through you
God is building his kingdom and you are a part of that
Conclusion
The decisions we make are for the benefit of our salvation and for the glory of God
Church fighting -
Christians can say and do some very unethical and immoral things to other Christians.
The church is a place where God lets us practice goodness.
Not a superficial southern hospitality
It isn’t the governments job to regulate or legislate morality and ethics. No, this can only be understood by someone who has a relationship with God, who has been given eyes to see and ears to hear. It is our job to practice and teach goodness - right choices leading to good deeds.
The church must stand against the immoral and unethical things of the world, an we must do so with the help and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must not be like the world
We must practice good deeds
We must teach good deeds
We must utilize what God has given us through His spirit
Only then will God use us to extend his kingdom. Only then will we stand before Jesus and know that our calling has been fulfilled.
We don’t do this by pointing people to our Good works, we do this by doing good works and pointing people to Jesus: The Good Shepherd.
It is not something we do, it is something we live. It must permeate every thought and deed.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
We have been given the ability to now: Live by the Spirit
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.