The Fruit of the Spirit 1

Love: The Essence of Christian
Character
The Fruit of the Spirit 1

By Kevin G. Smith

Lesson Outline

1. Christian character defined

2. Christian character developed

3. Christian character cultivated

Love: The Essence of Christian Character

Point 1

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEFINED


Christian Character Defined

What is Christian character?
• The Bible gives a simple answer to
that question: Christian character is
Christlikeness!



1. Jesus Christ is the model of Christian
character.


Romans 8:29 2 Corinthians 3:18
For those God foreknew And we, who with
he also predestined to be unveiled faces all reflect
conformed to the likeness the Lord’s glory, are being
of his Son, that he might transformed into his
be the firstborn among likeness with ever-
many brothers. increasing glory, which
comes from the Lord, who
is the Spirit.



Ephesians 4:11-13
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be
pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for
works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.



1. Jesus Christ is the model of Christian
character.

2. Love is the supreme manifestation of
Christian character



There is one quality that sums up and
incorporates all that God wants us to be—
love! Love is the one quality that defines
Christian character. All other virtues are
just expressions of love.


Love is like
Joy
the hub of a
Self-
control
Peace wheel with
all the other
virtues
Gentle-
Love Patience radiating out
ness
from it like
spokes.
Faithful-
Kindness
ness

Goodness


John 13:34-35 Romans 13:8-10
A new command I give you: for he who loves his fellowman
Love one another. As I have has fulfilled the law. The
loved you, so you must love commandments … are
one another. By this all men summed up in this one rule:
will know that you are my ‘Love your neighbour as
disciples, if you love one yourself.’ Love does no harm to
another. its neighbour. Therefore love is
the fulfilment of the law.


Point 2

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEVELOPED


Christian Character Developed
The New Testament consistently describes the
process of developing Christlike character by using
the agricultural metaphor of fruitbearing. We
become Christlike as the Holy Spirit produces
spiritual fruit in our lives. The fruitbearing image is
central to the Christian understanding of character
development. Fruit stands in contrast to works in
that works are the result of our efforts while fruit is
the result of God’s activity in us.


The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:16-18

1. The two natures So I say, live by the Spirit, and you
will not gratify the desires of the
sinful nature. For the sinful
nature desires what is contrary to
the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each
other, so that you do not do what
you want. But if you are led by
the Spirit, you are not under law.



1. The two natures The acts of the sinful nature are
obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
2. The old nature and debauchery; idolatry and
witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,
fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions and envy;
drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I
warn you, as I did before, that those
who live like this will not inherit the
kingdom of God.



1. The two natures But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
2. The old nature
and self-control. Against such
things there is no law. Those who
3. The new nature 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.


The Fruit of the Vine John 15:4-5
Jesus used the illustration of the Remain in me, and I will remain in
vine and its branches to drive you. No branch can bear fruit by
home the same point that Paul itself; it must remain in the vine.
made in Galatians, namely, that Neither can you bear fruit unless
Christian character is not you remain in me. I am the vine;
something we produce by you are the branches. If a man
ourselves but something that remains in me and I in him, he
Christ produces in us as we allow will bear much fruit; apart from
him to work in our lives. me you can do nothing.


We must remain in him He must remain in us

Just as the branches must The indwelling Christ must be
remain in contact with the given room in our lives to
vine, so we must maintain our transform us from the inside
relationship with him if we are out, making us more like
to produce fruit. himself (Gal. 2:20).


Point 3

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER CULTIVATED


Christian Character Cultivated

We develop it by cultivating our relationship
with Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work
in us. We do not focus on developing the fruit of
the Spirit. We focus on Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit automatically produces fruit in our lives.
There are two things we must do to fertilise the
soil of our hearts so that the fruit of the Spirit
grows abundantly.


1. Fellowship with “Spending time with
God God is the single
most important key
to developing godly
character.”



1. Fellowship with 1 Corinthians 15:33
God
Do not be misled: ‘Bad
2. Fellowship with company corrupts good
character.’
believers


1. Fellowship with Hebrews 10:24-25
God
And let us consider how we
may spur one another on
2. Fellowship with toward love and good deeds.
believers Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the
habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another—and
all the more as you see the
Day approaching.


CONCLUSION


Conclusion
1. Christian character defined: Jesus Christ is the
model, and love the supreme manifestation.

2. Christian character developed: the biblical model is
one of fruitbearing.

3. Christian character cultivated: We can cultivate the
soil of our hearts through fellowship with God and
others.


The Fruit of the Spirit 1

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The Fruit of the Spirit 1