Fruit of the Spirit (Part 4) – Goodness, Faith

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Goodness n. – 1. The quality or condition of being good. Of persons: Moral excellence, virtue.

1. Goodness is a fundamental attribute of God (Exo 34:6), and therefore is a fruit of the Spirit who is God (1Jo 5:7).
2. Only God is truly good (Mar 10:18).
3. By nature, no man does good (Rom 3:12; Rom 7:18).
4. We only possess goodness (Rom 15:14) because Christ made us righteous (Rom 5:19) and began a good work in us (Php 1:6).
5. God created us as new creatures to do good works (Eph 2:10; Col 1:10).
6. Goodness is the only one of the fruits of the Spirit that is in both lists (Gal 5:22-23 c/w Eph 5:9).
7. We should strive so that it might be said of us as it was of Barnabas that “he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith” (Act 11:24).
8. The Bible says the following about a good man:
9. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psa 37:23)
10. “A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.” (Psa 112:5)

iii.    “A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD…” (Pro 12:2)

1. “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…” (Pro 13:22)
2. “…a good man shall be satisfied from himself” (Pro 14:14)
3. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good … for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luk 6:45)

vii.  “Joseph, a counsellor … was a good man, and a just … who also himself waited for the kingdom of God” (Luk 23:50-51)

viii.Men recognized that Jesus was “a good man” (Joh 7:12)

1. “…for a good man some would even dare to die” (Rom 5:7)
2. Women should strive for goodness as well as men (Tit 2:5).
3. We should both do good and be rich in good works (1Ti 6:18).
4. The scriptures furnish the man of God unto every good work (2Ti 3:16-17).
5. A pastor should show himself a pattern of good works (Tit 2:7).
6. It is a constant battle with our flesh to do good (Rom 7:19-23).
7. We must cleave unto, follow, and hold fast that which is good (Rom 12:9; 1Th 5:15; 1Th 5:21).
8. We should overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21).
9. We should do good unto all men as we have opportunity, especially to the brethren (Gal 6:10).
10. God is pleased with us when we do good (Heb 13:16).

Faith n. – I. Belief, trust, confidence. 1. a. Confidence, reliance, trust (in the ability, goodness, etc., of a person; in the efficacy or worth of a thing; or in the truth of a statement or doctrine). b. Belief proceeding from reliance on testimony or authority. 3. in various specific applications. a. Belief in the truths of religion; belief in the authenticity of divine revelation (whether viewed as contained in Holy Scripture or in the teaching of the Church), and acceptance of the revealed doctrines. c. The spiritual apprehension of divine truths, or of realities beyond the reach of sensible experience or logical proof. By Christian writers often identified with the preceding; but not exclusively confined to Christian use. Often viewed as the exercise of a special faculty in the soul of man, or as the result of supernatural illumination.

1. Faith is a fundamental attribute of God (Deu 7:9; 1Co 1:9), and therefore is a fruit of the Spirit who is God (1Jo 5:7).
2. Faith is the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1).
3. By faith we see the invisible God (Heb 11:27).
4. It’s impossible to please God without faith (Heb 11:6).

iii.    In order to come to God, one must first believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6 c/w Psa 19:11).

1. Faith is a gift of God that He gives to His children in regeneration (Rom 12:3; 1Jo 5:4; Phi 1:29).
2. Therefore, faith is the evidence of eternal life and being born again (Joh 5:24; Joh 6:47; 1Jo 5:1; 1Jo 4:15).
3. No man can have faith in Christ without the Holy Spirit dwelling in him (1Co 12:3).

iii.    Faith is the fruit, not the bait, of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). (See Section III)

1. In other words, faith is the evidence of the Spirit dwelling in us, not the cause or the means of it.
2. God commands us to have faith in Him.
3. Jesus exhorted His disciples to “Have faith in God.” (Mar 11:22)
4. Faith is a weightier matter of the law (Mat 23:23).

iii.    Believing in Christ is doing the work that God would have us to do (Joh 6:28-29).

1. God commands us to believe on His Son Jesus Christ (1Jo 3:22-23).
2. Jesus said if we believe in God we must also believe in Him (Joh 14:1).
3. Having faith in Jesus is having faith in God because Jesus is God (Joh 1:1,14; 1Jo 5:7,20).

vii.  Believing in Jesus includes believing that He died for our sins according to the scriptures and that He was buried and raised again from the dead three days later according to the scriptures (1Co 15:1-4).

1. By faith, we find rest (Heb 4:3).
2. Those that believe in God shall never be ashamed (Rom 10:11; 2Ti 1:12).
3. Through faith in God, we will obtain a good report and be victorious, no matter what persecution or hardships we may endure (Heb 11:32-40).