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V.
The Holy Spirit
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Chapter 43
:
Fruit of the Spirit
1. WHAT is the fruit of the
Spirit?
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance." Gal. 5:22,23.
2. What are the works of the
flesh?
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, idolatry , witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like." Verses
19-21.
NOTE.-The
evils here mentioned are a close parallel to the lists
found in Matt. 15:18,19; Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:29-31; and
2 Tim. 3:1-5.
3. How may the works of the flesh be avoided?
"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the
lust of the flesh." Gal. 5:16.
4. By what is the love of God shed abroad in the
heart?
"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom. 5:5.
5. What is love declared to be?
"And above all these things put on love,
which is the bond of perfectness." Col. 3:14,
R.V.
6. By what does genuine faith
work?
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith
which worketh by love." Gal. 5:6.
7. What does love do?
"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all
sins." Prov. 10:12. "Have fervent charity among
yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of
sins." 1 Peter 4:8.
8. Of what does the kingdom of God
consist?
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost." Rom. 14:17.
NOTE.-It is
the Christian's privilege to have righteousness, peace,
and joy,-a righteousness which is of God by faith (Rom.
3:21,22); a peace that passeth understanding (Phil.
4:7), which the world can neither give nor take away;
and a joy that rejoices evermore (1 Thess. 5:16; Phil.
4:4).
9. In what way does love manifest itself?
"Love suffereth long; and is kind; love envieth not;
love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not
behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not
provoked, taketh not account of evil." 1 Cor. 13:4,5,
R.V.
10. What does God's gentleness do for us?
"Thy gentleness hath made me great." Ps. 18:35.
11. What spirit should we show toward others?
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men." 2 Tim. 2:24.
12. What does the goodness of God do?
"Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and
forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Rom.
2:4.
13. How should we treat those who have wronged us?
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but
rather give place unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap
coals of fire on his head." Rom. 12:19,20.
14. How does faith determine our
standing with God?
"But without faith it is impossible to
please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6.
15. How does God regard the meek
and quiet spirit?
"Whose adorning. . . let it be the hidden man
of the heart, . . . even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great
price." 1 Peter 3:3,4.
16. In our Christian growth and experience, what is
to accompany faith, courage, and knowledge?
"Add to your faith virtue [courage]; and to virtue
knowledge; and to knowledge temperance." 2 Peter
1:5,6.
NOTE.-One
of the briefest and best definitions of temperance is self-control.
The word in the text means much more
than mere abstinence from intoxicating drinks,-the
limited sense now frequently given to it. It means
control, strength, power, or ascendency over exciting
and evil passions of all kinds. It denotes the self-ru1e
which the over-comer or converted man has over the evil
propensities of his nature. Commenting on this passage,
Dr. Albert Barnes says: "The influences of the Holy
Spirit on the heart make a man moderate in all
indulgences; teach him to restrain his passions, and to
govern himself."
17. How highly is he commended who controls his
spirit?
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and
he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a
city." Prov. 16:32.
18. What is said of all these different virtues?
"Against such there is no law." Gal. 5:23, last clause.
NOTE.-The
law condemns sin. But all these things, being virtues,
are in harmony with the law. They are produced by the
Spirit; and the law, which is spiritual, cannot,
therefore, condemn them.
19. From what condemnation does
Spirit-leading save us?
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the
law." Verse 18.
20. To what unity are Christians exhorted?
"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace." Eph. 4:3.
Spirit of
life, and light, and love,
Thy heavenly influence give;
Quicken our souls, our guilt remove,
That we in Christ may live.
His love
within us shed abroad,
Life's ever-springing well;
Till God in us, and we in God,
In love eternal dwell.
THOMAS HAWEIS.
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