The Book of Galatians

Chapter 5

In Chapter 5 Paul begins to apply the doctrines that he laid out in chapters 3 and 4. In those chapters Paul taught that New Testament Christians are under a new system of faith and practice referred to as "the faith", "the way", "grace" and "the new covenant". Those who are under grace are under no obligation to practice the Jewish law because Christ fulfilled that law for us. So when you read verses 1-5 remember that the overall context of the book is that the system of serving the Lord known as "the faith" under the new covenant is better than the system called "Law" under the old covenant. Verses 1-5 could conceivably be applied to your personal salvation but that is not what Paul in talking about here.

5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Christ Hath Made Us Free

This verse could be applied to one's personal liberty from sin. However that is not the context of this verse, the chapter or the book of Galatians. If you jumped in here it might be hard to see where I am coming from. It's true that Jesus did say that "the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32) meaning "free from sin", but that is not what Paul is talking about here.

The use of both the noun and verb forms of "freedom" (liberty, free) imply a complete act that is both momentary and comprehensive. It is done once for all. Jesus set us free for freedom, not that we might again be entangled.

The Yoke Of Bondage

Since Christ came and instituted his New Testament church we have a new system of serving him called "the faith" and also referred to as "grace" and "the way" that is based on liberty. In the faith we are guided by the Spirit and are not constrained by the ceremonial practices and rituals of the law. To quickly recap the book, this epistle was written to refute false teachers who were telling the mostly gentile Galatians that they needed to be circumcised and observe the law in order to serve God properly and keep their salvation. Paul is urging them not to be caught up in the spokes again with the burden (yoke of bondage) that the law put on God's servants in the Old Testament.

Yoke:

A bar or frame of wood by which two draft animals, especially oxen, are joined at the necks or heads for working together, for pulling a plow or a load.

In Acts 15:10, Peter referred to the law as a yoke:

"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"

In the Bible a yoke was a metaphor for a heavy burden or obligation to bear.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Circumcision is old school. It is not a practice of a New Testament church. Circumcision is the trademark sign of the old covenant. If the churches of Galatia were to practice circumcision, then the fact that Christ came and instituted the New Testament church would be of no value or benefit to them at all.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Being circumcised was the sign of the old covenant. When a man was circumcised he was signing up to keep the law. To those who know the law this should be an onimous statement. Keeping the whole law is an impossibility because everyone has a sinful nature.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

No Effect Unto You

You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated <severed, estranged> from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. The idea with the expression "is become of no effect to you" is that of having been united with something and then that union is dissolved. It could be translated "You have been severed or estranged from Christ."

The Greek word is 'katargeo'. To illustrate its meaning, this same Greek word is used in Romans 7:2 where it is translated "loosed":

"For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband."

When a husband dies the marraige union is dissolved. In the same way if the Galatian churches were seeking to be righteous by the law they would be estranged from Christ. Christ is used here in the sense of the system of service to God called "the faith" that Christ brought. Again this is not referring to our personal salvation. Saved people are securely held by the power of God and cannot be lost again. The Galatians were at risk of forfeiting all the benefits and advantages of Christ.

Ye Are Fallen From Grace

The phrase "ye are fallen" comes from the Greek word 'ekpipto'. This is a compound word composed of the preposition 'ek' which means "out of" and denotes origin (the point from whence action or motion proceeds), from, out of place, time, or cause; and the root word 'pipto' which means to fall. Together they mean to fall away or to be driven out of one's course. It carries with it the idea of being located somewhere and then falling from that location. For example, the same Greek word is used in Acts 12:7 where it says that Peter's "chains fell off from his hands".

"And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands." Acts 12:7.

Suppose someone explained "fallen from grace" like this: "An archer shoots an arrow at a target, but he misses the target and the arrow fell to the right or left of the target". "So in the same way those who have fallen from grace have fallen to the side of salvation."

This mis-explanation comes from a desire to prove that one cannot lose their salvation. So proponents of this view try to make the verse mean that someone who is not yet saved has missed out on salvation by trying to be justified by the law. It is true that we cannot lose our salvation; but again, this verse is not about one's personal salvation.

What is wrong with this explanation? Well first of all it is the exact opposite of the true meaning of 'ekpipto'. This would be the same as saying that in Acts 12:7 Peter's chains were falling toward his hands but missed them. Yet in Acts the chains were not going toward Peter's hands, but instead were falling off (away) from them.

The same preposition ‘ek’ is used in the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ which is translated ‘church’ in the New Testament. An ekklesia is a ‘called-out assembly’. Did Jesus call out his assembly or did he call away his assembly?

Verse 4 is a reference back to verse 1. To fall from grace is in direct contrast to "standing fast" as Paul mentioned in Galatians 5:1.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1.

Galatians 5:1 could be applied to one's personal liberty from sin. However that is not the context of this verse, the chapter or the book of Galatians. Paul is urging them as a church not to be caught up in the spokes again with the burden (yoke of bondage) that the law put on God's servants in the Old Testament.

What is "grace" as Paul uses it in verse 5:4? Remember that the first part of Galatians 5 is not primarily about personal salvation. Instead it is about the New Testament system of faith and practice as contrasted with the law. The New Testament system that Christ instituted is also referred to as "grace". In Romans 6:14, Paul said "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

What Paul is saying here in Galatians 5:4 is this: As a church, the Galatians had moved away from the New Testament system of faith and practice that Christ instituted; and had gone toward law. Having been in this system of grace as a NT church, they were now falling away from it. Law and grace are mutually exclusive as systems of faith and practice. They cannot be mixed.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Here Paul is using a metaphor that these Hellenistic Galatians can relate to: The Games. These Galatians aren't lost people who missed out on salvation by falling short of grace. They are Christians. They were in the heat of the foot race; and they were running a good race. But somebody cut in on them. They came to a grinding halt with respect to the advancement of the gospel.

The word "hinder" comes from the Greek 'enkopto'. The first part of the word is the preposition 'en' which means "in". This is the opposite of the preposition 'ek' (out) mentioned in verse 4. The second part of the word 'kopto' literally means "to cut". So 'enkopto' means "to cut in".

Paul often used these racing metaphors in his epistles. The Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint.

Heb 12:1-2

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Just as an Olympic racer diets down so that they are not carrying any dead weight, we too need to set aside anything that hinders in our Christian race. We need to look ahead and stay focused on Jesus.

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

In the Bible, leaven (yeast) is usually a metaphor for sin or false doctrine. Here the danger is that false doctrine would permeate the church.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

The false teacher or teachers who were throwing the Galatians into consfusion and disturbing them would come under the judgment of God and pay the penalty for the false teaching that they were spreading.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulful the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The Lust Of The Flesh

The Greek word here for "flesh" is sarx. Sarx literally means flesh but it has many meanings in the NT. In this case it refers to the sinful nature. For example, Jesus said "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matt 26:41.

The term "the lust of the flesh" does not just refer to sexual lust. This could be translated "the desires of the sinful nature". It could be anything in the list of 17 works of the flesh below and then some.

The Two Natures

Christians have 2 natures: a spiritual nature and a sinful nature. The sinful nature comes about as a result of our birth into the human race. It seems to dwell within our bodies. We got it from Adam. In Romans, Paul said "Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom 5:12. In Romans chapter 7 he said "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Rom 7:24.

The spiritual nature is a result of the new birth. Jesus said "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". John 3:5-6.

So just as we experienced a physical birth whereby we received a body and a sinful nature, even so we can experience a spiritual birth where we receive a spiritual nature.

Unsaved people do not have the spiritual nature and therefore do not have this struggle going on. They might by brute force try to subdue the sinful nature but they really don't have a prayer, except maybe a prayer of repentence. Since being without a spiritual nature they cannot "walk in the spirit" they cannot have a life that is characterized by victory over the flesh. The sinful nature will always dominate.

Saved people will never be perfect until they receive their glorified bodies. Paul described his own struggle between the 2 natures in the book of Romans.

Sin Shall Not Have Dominion

We can have the victory over the sinful nature. Jesus said "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32).

Whichever nature we encourage the most will have dominance over our life.

Rom 6:12-14

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Someone told it like this: A little boy had two dogs who used to fight over a bone. One day an old man saw the two dogs fighting and asked the little boy "Sonny, which one usually wins?" The little boy replied "Whichever one I say 'sick 'em' to!"

Walk In The Spirit

So there is talking the talk and then there is walking the walk. Talking the talk is when somebody says "I am a Christian and I love the Lord". Walking the walk is when they serve him faithfully. Talking the talk is when somebody says "I have been born again". Walking the walk is when they are being conformed to the image of Christs. It's when the change is taking place in them to the point where you can see a difference in their behavior; where they display the fruit of the spirit.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Remember that the main message of the chapter is that New Testament churches are not under law. Someone might say then "If the law is not my rule of faith and practice, then what is?" Or someone might say "Since you don't have the law you have created a lawless body with nothing to restrain them." The answer to both of these is that the NT church is "led by the Spirit". We are under grace, not under law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

The Works Of The Flesh

The flesh is busy working. It's got dirty deeds done dirt cheap. It's takin care of business and it's workin overtime. It's working straight through lunch. It never takes a break or goes on vacation. The flesh is out of control and it is acting out its fantasies.

Adultery

Adultery has to do with violation of the marriage covenant. It is sex between a married person and another person with whom they are not married. The seventh commandment prohibited it. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Under Mosaic Law, when a couple was caught in the act of adultery, both parties were to be killed. (Deut 22:22). Of course this punishment relates only to the nation of Israel under the Old Testament. However the moral principle still applies today.

But Jesus raised the bar when he taught his disciples: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matt 5:27-28.

Jesus is saying that it is a sin to even look at a woman to lust after her. The sin is committed in one's heart. Wanton lust places the heart in the same sinful condition as actually doing the act.

God's design was that the husband and wife should become "one flesh," each being held sacred to the other. Jesus taught the "one flesh" principle of marraige.

Fornication

Fornication is a broader term than adultery. Adultery is a type of fornication as is homosexuality. The term fornication comes from the Greek: “porneia”. We get our English word “pornography” from it. Literally, it means to sell oneself and is thus associated with prostitution. The term was also applied to incest and sexual contact between two unmarried persons. I personally struggled trying to make the logical connection between sex outside of marraige and prostitution. I wondered how the idea of selling oneself can be applied when people have the kind of free, casual sex that is so common today. But then it hit me. In essence when unmarried persons have sex they are selling themselves very cheap; for the price of zero and are therefore committing fornication.

In Bible times men usually had to pay one way or another; either by paying a dowry for a wife or by paying a prostitute. Women weren't selling themselves cheap so much like they are today.

The technical difference between fornication and adultery is that adultery involves married persons while fornication may or may not involve married people.

Uncleanness: sensuality, eagerness for lustful pleasure. This is a characteristic of the "if it feels good, do it" crowd. Just like the name implies this refers to dirty, nasty stuff. To be consumed with a dirty mind. It is the opposite of living a holy life "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." 1 Thess 4:7.

Lasciviousness: wantonness, excess, debauchery, absence of restraint, living large, going for the gusto, lack of boundaries. There is a continual desire for more: more quantity, intensity, excitement. The excitement wears off so something more bizarre is attempted. The flesh is never satisfied. Shameless conduct.

"I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." Rom 6:19.

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Idolatry: the worship of false gods or a fixation on anything that comes between you and God. Whatever takes the place of God in your life.

Witchcraft: Greek: pharmakia, the use magic potions, drugs, spells, poisoning, magic arts, and incantations, appeals to occult powers, mediums, sorcery. When people are under the influence of the pharmakia, they are susceptible to Satanic suggestion.

Hatred: Not our modern notion of hatred based on the emotion of hate, strong aversion or an intense feeling of dislike. It is not like when a kid says 'I hate brussels sprouts'. Rather this is antipathy, the opposite of empahthy. Vine says it is the opposite of agape love. Hostility, enmity, a state of opposition. It is to work against someone's best interest.

Variance: Acts produced by hatred, strife, discord, fighting, contentiousness. The flesh is always looking for a fight. It enjoys a good fight. It always wants to start an argument. The flesh wants payback for the wrongs done against it.

Emulations: jealousy. The flesh is always comparing itself with what other people have. It wants to keep up with the Jones.

Wrath: fits of rage, outbursts of anger, fierceness.

Strife: selfish ambition, getting over for oneself, intrigue, factions, rivalry, disputes. A good example of 'strife' is in 1 Corinthians10:

1 Cor 1:10-12

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions<schisms> among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions <strife> among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

So in verse 11 you can see that the 'strife' or contententions represent rivalrous factions in the church that were divided among various leaders.

Seditions: literally a standing apart, dissension, complaints and criticism against authority, division. A good example of seditions is found in Romans 16:

Rom 16:17-18

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions <seditions> and offences<skandala, obstacles, stumblingblock, hindrances> contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words<smooth talk> and fair speeches <flattery> deceive the hearts of the simple<unsuspecting, naive >.

The 'seditions' or divisions at Rome were caused by deceiving the brethren with smooth talk and flattery that was contrary to the doctrine they had learned. The motivation for these divisions was self serving.

Heresies: factions, a self willed opinion substituted for the truth that leads to a sect, disunion, and parties.

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Envy: The difference between envy and jealousy is that envy seeks to deprive another of what he has, whereas jealousy desires to have the same thing or same type of thing as another.

Murders: to slay, kill. This is another one where Jesus raised the bar:

Matt 5:21-22

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Drunkeness: From the Greek 'methe', does not refer specifically to alcohol but rather refers to intoxication by any means including drugs. 'Meth' is the slang name of a class of stimulants today.

Revellings: carousing, wild drinking parties, rioting, letting loose. If you want to se an example of just head up to CU Boulder on any weekend.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Fruit Of The Spirit

Ps 1:1-3

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them

Notice that we have the works of the flesh, but the fruit of the spirit. This fruit metaphor goes all the way back to the beginning. To those whom God first blessed he said "Be fruitful" (Gen 1:22).

Jesus said "By their fruits you shall know them" (Matt 7:20). When a fig tree puts forth its leaves you know that summer is nigh and when a Christian displays the fruit of the Spirit you know that they are growing in the Lord. (Matt 24:32).

Fruit grows under the right conditions.

If a branch brings for some fruit, proper pruning will help it bring forth more fruit. We are the Lord's planting (Isaiah 61:3). No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can we bear fruit unless we remain in the Lord. (John 15:4). A tree that is planted by a river has a steady, dependable supply of water that allows it to produce. Likewise, those who delight in the law of the Lord and meditate in it day and night shall bring forth their fruit in its season.

Love

There are 3 different Greek words that are translated into the single word “love” in English:

Agape – Godly love
Phileo – Brotherly love, tender affection
Eros – Romantic love

I refer to agape as “Godly love” because it is strictly a Bible concept. Also the word is primarily a New Testament word. The word does not appear in secular ancient Greek writing. Neither does the idea that God is love. In ancient Greek writing, the gods are angry and need to be appeased. They are not love.

It's ironic that a society like the United States that pays so much lip service to love (pardon the pun) actually knows so little about it. When most people in western civilization think or speak of love, they are really thinking of EROS not AGAPE love.

Agape love is not based on a feeling of affection as most people think of love today.Godly love is expressed primarily through actions, not feelings.

Agape love can be accompanied by a feeling of endearment but it is not required. For example when Jesus said to "love your enemies" (Matt 5:4), he was not saying that we must have a strong sense of affection for our enemies. For example, the Islamic terrorists hate the United States and are trying to destroy us. They are our enemies. But I don't hate they Islamic terrorists. They do however need to be stopped and so I support fighting them. Jesus did not say that we are not to defend ourselves. But my prayer is that the terrorists would come to repentance and that they would turn to the Lord for salvation.

In 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul said that "love never fails". So agape love is a committment. Our society speaks of love in passive terms. Love is seen as something that happens to you. People are said to "fall in love". But in the Bible, love is spoken of in active terms rather than passive. It is a decsion that we make and a commitment that we keep rather than a feeling that overwhelms us.

Love is evidenced or shown through action. What evidence is there that God loves us? God has shown his love for us by sending his son: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9.

God's demonstration of his love culminates in Christ dying for us while we were still his enemies. God didn't just wait for us to reach out to him. His love was proactive. He reached out to us.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8

Love is what motivated God to send his son into the world:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Joy: An Abiding Calm Delight

There are no instances in the Bible where Jesus taught about happiness. The Bible actually speaks very little about happiness. Instead the Bible speaks of blessedness and joy. Blessedness and joy are much better than happiness.

In the world's version, happiness is dependent upon circumstances. Things need to go well for lost people to be happy. Worldly happiness is an illusion that is predicated upone good fortune or luck. Look at the way the world speaks of happiness. Are you happy with your career. I'll be happy if I just find the right person to marry. It starts when you are a kid: "If I can just get that new bike I'll be happy".

Christian joy like blessedness looks beyond our present circumstances to our future glorification (Rom 5:2, Rom 8:18; 1 Peter 1:4,6). We rejoice in the hope of glory. We look forward to the glory that shall be revealed in us; to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

We look to our sovereign God, who works out all things for our ultimate good, which is Christlikeness (Rom 8:28-30).

This kind of joy is distinct from mere happiness or the type of giddiness that the world recgonizes as joy. It is characterized by an abiding, calm delight and includes a deep sense of well-being.

Joy like this is possible, even in the midst of sorrow (2 Cor 6:10; 7:4). There are "hallelujah moments" in the Christian life where we are overjoyed but the NT has another word for that. The Greek word 'agalliao' is translated 'rejoice' (Luke 1:47), 'exceeding glad' (Matt 5:12) and 'exceeding joy'(1 Pet 4:13)in the NT.

Peace

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace of God passes understanding. It cannot be understood by the human mind. It doesn’t make sense for someone to have peace in the midst of trouble. But we realize that God is working all things out for our good and that nothing can happen to us that he doesn’t allow. The peace of God “keeps our hearts and mind” from anxiety as we trust in Christ.

Longsuffering (patience)

We are short sufferers by nature.

We want patience and we want it now.

Literally, this means to be “long-tempered”. To bear with, to be forbearing. Characterized by self restraint in the face of provocation. Does not hastily retaliate. The idea here is putting up with each other's faults with a gracious heart more than it is to wait a long time for something.

Col 3:12-14

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Gentleness (kindness)

Gentleness comes from the Greek word 'chrestos'. It's doing something beneficial for somebody when they haven't done anything to deserve it. It expresses goodness in action, goodness expressing itself in deeds.

Kindness is contrasted with sterness in Romans 11:22.

Goodness

Greek: 'agathos'. That which is good in its character is beneficial in its effect. The main idea is to benefit. The "good things" are the benefits provided through the sacrifice of Christ:

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:15.

Faith

This refers to faithfulness rather than saving faith. Is is about trustworthiness or constancy. I don't have to be smart. I don't even have to be wise to serve the Lord. Intelligence and wisdom are good things to have,but they are not absolutely necessary to be able to serve the Lord. I don't have to be good at anything or talented. When I'm witnessing I don't even have to say the right thing. What counts is faithfulness. I don't have to be a good singer or be able to teach a Bible class. I can attend church regularly though. Faithfulness says "I'm going try to be in church every time the doors are open".

Meekness (gentleness)

This is meekness, not weakness. Gentleness, mildness,

Meekness, not weakness. The idea is strength under control.

The Lord was meek, but yet with the power of God at his disposal.

Meekness chiefly towards God, then to man.

We accept his dealings as good without resistance or disputing.

Meekness is closely linked with humility:

Eph 4:1-3

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Temperance (self-control)

1 Cor 9:25-27

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway <disqualified>.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Eph 4:22-24

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

There's only one way to deal with the flesh. You don't coddle it. You don't bribe it to behave. You don't negotiate with it. Don't offer to give it some ice cream it it will eat its broccoli. You don't put a leash on it and lead it around. A cross is an instrument of death.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

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