Pentecost 5, June 27, 2010
Galatians 5:1, 13-25 I thought it would be interesting to preach about the fruit of the spirit. So to prepare, I got out Martin Luther's Commentary on Galatians. It is a book of his lectures on Galatians that he gave in the year 1519. So today's sermon is like a book report.
The first thing that Luther said is that the word "spirit" does not mean "the Holy Spirit" but rather the spirit of the spiritual man. It is in contrast with the "works of the flesh." Flesh vs. spirit, the Old Adam vs. the New Person in Christ. It is like there are two trees in a person. The "flesh" is the evil tree that bears thorns and thistles, the "spirit" is the good tree that bears grapes and oranges and apples. The flesh produces works, the spirit produces fruit. The evil works can only do harm, the works or fruit of the spirit, however are profitable, and give enjoyment and do good.
Of course the good fruit of a person's life can only be good in the sight of God if the Holy Spirit is the power in a person's life. So, a person who is guided by the Holy Spirit will bear that fruit which shows that the Holy Spirit guides their inner self, their spirit. And so the "spiritual life" is different from the "carnal life of the flesh." Like the works of the flesh, the fruit of the spirit are not qualities that are hidden from the eye. The works of the flesh are manifestly evident: you can see this behavior: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. The fruit of the spirit is also manifestly evident. You can see this behavior, this activity in the life of the spiritual person: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
1. First, "love." Love is not just a feeling. It is action. If hate tries to destroy another person, then love tries to build up the other person. There is love for God and for the neighbor. The test of love is when there are problems. When God who even sent Jesus to suffer on the cross smites us and afflicts us, we still love God and praise Him. When the neighbor offends us and seems to deserve hatred, this is the time when love becomes an action with hope and faith. This love is the opposite of sexual immorality, impurity, and sensuality because it is not selfish and respects the other person.
2. The second fruit is "joy." Joy is also toward God and the neighbor. We are glad because of his divine mercy, and even in the midst of the world's storms, we praise and worship the Lord. It is the joy that Jonah discovered in the belly of the whale. It is the joy of the song of the three men, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego in the midst of the fiery furnace (Green Hymnal 18). Our joy is in the midst of our daily fiery furnaces. We have joy for the neighbor too. We are not envious of their goods or deeds, but wish them joy, happiness and success. Simple joy is so powerful that it overcomes a host of evil works. It is the opposite of those works of the flesh: enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, and rivalries.
3. The third fruit is "peace." Because we know the mercy of Christ, we have peace with God, we have a good conscience. At times this peace surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7) as when we do not see God directly in our lives. And yet we can put everything in God's hands and relax. I Peter 5:7, "Cast your cares on Christ for he cares for you." Luther says you can have peace with the neighbor only when you yield to their will. Luther says everyone wants to justify themselves, to protect, seek and demand their own advantage. People fight to keep their rights. But peace will happen if we give up our "rights." Luther reminds of what Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:40, we are to give up our coat to the enemy who takes it away, and even to throw in the undergarment. I would add that for the sake of peace, rather than to take our right to hit back at someone who hits us, we turn the other cheek. And that brings us to the next fruit.
4. "Long-suffering." Sometimes this is translated "patience" or "toleration." It is a persistent patience. A person bears adversity, insults and injury while at the same time waiting patiently for some improvement in those who have done the harm. There is hope.
5. "Kindness." We Christians are nice and gentle and sweet. We are not harsh and morose or moody. We are humane, affable, likeable and courteous; we overlook the mistakes of others and put the best construction on them.
6. "Goodness." We are benevolent. Because we are free in Christ, we are free to do good, to be generous, to lend to others, to help them.
7. "Faithfulness." This is not "the faith that believes in Jesus Christ as the Savior." Rather, because of that faith, we have faithfulness, truthfulness, and honesty. We keep our promises to God because we trust his promises to be faithful to us. And we keep our promises toward the neighbor and adhere to our agreements. This faithfulness is important for love, friendship, concord and peace. It is built on the hope and trust.
8. "Gentleness." We are not easily provoked to anger or revenge.
9. "Self-control." This is "temperance" in respect to chastity and to drink and food. It is the moderation that controls licentiousness and greed. To have this fruit of the spirit in our lives, we need to have the power of the Holy Spirit. And so we pray for self-control and all the other fruit of the spirit.
One time at a Bible study, I asked everyone which fruit of the spirit they need to pray for. Where do we need more fertilizer or more training or more growth? I think the two biggest ones were patience and self-control. Which one are you going to pray for today?
Our life is a constant struggle between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit. We cannot control our behavior by trying to keep the Ten Commandments. Rather, the Gospel must be free in our lives. This is what St. Paul says, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Or as one translation says, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." If you look at the action of God, you will see all the fruit of the spirit in what God has done and what he promises to do for us. In the saving work of Jesus you will see his acts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
