SUB-TOPIC: The Basic Doctrines Of Jesus Christ Bequeathed To His Church.
John 14:26; 1 John 2:27.
We are continuing with the fifth ( and thereafter the sixth) doctrinal teaching of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, under the title: The Ministry Of The Holy Ghost, where we had earlier finished exploring the first of the three points outlined for consideration, which is THE HOLY GHOST BAPTISM.
Having said so much under that point (almost delving deeply into the following two points), we shall now briefly teach on the remaining points under this fifth doctrinal teaching of Christ, which are:
- The Fruit Of The Holy Spirit.
- The Spiritual Gifts By The Holy Spirit.
THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
When we talk about the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we mostly shift our focus to the nine individual attributes named above and, thus, consider them as the ‘fruit’ being discussed in that scriptural context. However, if that were so, we should expect the writer to present the word in its plural form (fruits), since there are nine of them.
But that is not the intention. The word ‘fruit’ in that scripture denotes the character of a being, which, in this case, is that of the Holy Spirit of God. It follows, then, that the nine words that follow thereafter are either nouns, verbs, or adjectives that describe how the character (or fruit) of the Holy Spirit can become recognisable.
Some other scriptures wherein the word ‘fruits’ denotes character are as follows:
- Matthew 7:15, 16, 20:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
- Luke 3:7-9:
“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Having established that Galatians 5:22-23 talks about one character (fruit) of the Holy Spirit, made recognisable by nine attributes, we can paraphrase that scriptural context in the following way without altering its true meaning:
“But the CHARACTER of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…”
Now, we need to understand this concept because so many false teachings have sprung up from a misunderstanding of it, and this has led many people astray.
No one can manifest the character of the Holy Spirit unless He is ACTIVELY living inside them. However, Christians can have one or more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit because, as a child of God, the Holy Spirit is WITH them but not necessarily living IN them.
Perhaps you may ask what makes the difference here. I say to you, everything does! The Holy Spirit is given to be with anyone who is born again, but He can live in them when they pursue a daily holy life.
This is what Jesus Christ, our Saviour, meant when He said in John 14:16-17:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide WITH you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you.”
Repenting of one’s sins and accepting Jesus Christ into one’s life as Lord and Saviour qualify that person to have the Holy Spirit live with them. See Acts 2:38-39:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
However, to be acquainted with the Holy Spirit to such an extent that we begin to manifest His character (or fruit), we must have Him dwelling within us, and this can be made possible only by living a consistent life of holiness. This latter experience is what is termed the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Now, let us conclude by taking on the third point.
THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Corinthians 12:4-11:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are simply what they are implied to be in verse 7: they are presents from the Holy Spirit to the Christian to help them become “profitably” engaged in working for God’s Kingdom by serving in the Body of Christ.
They are not the same as the character (or fruit) of the Holy Spirit. The gifts become our identity as Christians. They are like talents, with the exception that we were not born with them but receive them from the Holy Spirit to help us become useful to the Church and the world at large by helping them know God and His Son, Jesus Christ, through the services we render.
THE SIXTH DOCTRINAL TEACHING
We shall now advance to the sixth doctrinal teaching of the Christian faith under the title:
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND FELLOWSHIP. Hebrews 10:22-25; Ephesians 5:15-33.
The three doctrines that come under Christian Life and Fellowship are as follows:
- The Doctrine Of The Lord’s Supper.
- The Doctrine Of Personal (or Group) Evangelism.
- The Doctrine Of Christian Marriage.
Before we discuss each of the above doctrines, we shall do well to have an overview of the title ‘The Christian Life And Fellowship’, which provides a broad view of the three doctrines themselves.
There is a life that God expects anyone who professes faith in Him to live throughout their lifetime.
The central theme of Christianity is love. God’s plan of redemption for sinful mankind is based on His supreme love for them. The Holy Bible says in Romans 5:8:
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
After our salvation and adoption into the family of God, He expects us to live by the same love that brought us into that undeserved union with Him. We are to learn to love and submit to others according to God’s will, even when doing so is contrary to our personal feelings or expectations. This is what love is all about: it places the interests of others above self.
It is wrong for a Christian to insist on having their way over an issue, even when it is obvious that a fellow Christian is at a disadvantage.
Romans 12:10 says:
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;”
This same principle of love must govern our evangelistic outreach, our practice of the Lord’s Supper, and our marriage relationships. If selfless love is not the motive behind any of the foregoing, then it will neither be acceptable before God nor profitable to anyone.
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
Ephesians 5:21.
Apart from loving God and the Christian brotherhood, we must strive to always maintain a conscience free from accusations and guilt by avoiding sin, even in its slightest details. There is no better way to love God than by obeying His laws and commandments, and when we do so, it is we and society at large that benefit from it all!
In our effort to avoid living a life of sin, we must take this fight a step further beyond just inward purity. We must also practise outward purity by ensuring that our bodies (which are God’s holy temple) are free from the dirt and filth of worldly adornments championed by so-called beauty products. No Christian can please God through such vainglorious use of cosmetics and body accessories to enhance their looks. We are at our best the way God made us naturally!
1 Peter 3:3-4 says:
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
Our outward appearance is the true reflection of the thoughts and intents of our hearts!
We cannot claim to be pure inside while we are smeared with and clad in worldly and God-dishonouring beauty items of this world.
Our faith in God and our continued fellowship with Him and the brethren should be of utmost importance to us, rather than the fleeting things of this temporal life, if we are to reap the promises He has made to us, both in this life and in eternity.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says:
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
1.THE DOCTRINE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.
Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal which Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, has commanded us to observe regularly in remembrance of Him until He returns from heaven to take us home with Him, as He earlier promised in John 14:1-3.
This meal is no ordinary meal; it is a symbol of Jesus Christ’s love for those whose sins He died for. Therefore, all who partake of it must be those who have responded to His love and sacrifice by forsaking their sins and accepting Him into their lives.
It would be considered a mockery of His love and sacrifice if we ate this meal while still actively living a life of sin.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 says:
“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
The admonition above is not meant to scare anyone away from partaking in the Lord’s Supper, but rather to encourage them to do so with a true and pure heart.
The Lord’s Supper is a love meal; there should be no fear in partaking of it with brethren of like precious faith because, according to 1 John 4:18, there is no fear in true love.
The Lord’s Supper is supposed to be taken “as often as” we can. This is so because each time we are counted worthy to partake of it, we have the testimony within us that we are still faithfully walking in the ways of God’s Kingdom. This constant practice is meant to keep the Christian focused on living a life of preparedness for the return of Jesus Christ.
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
1 Corinthians 11:26.
2.THE DOCTRINE OF PERSONAL (OR GROUP) EVANGELISM.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:19-23.
Evangelism is the practice of reaching out to lost sinners with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaiming the good news that their sins can be forgiven because they have been atoned for by Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 puts it this way:
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Every Christian who is born again is expected to carry out this service of love to the lost, who are at great risk of eternal damnation in hellfire unless they turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation from their sins.
It is wrong for any Christian to shy away from this duty to the lost, having also benefited from God’s grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. God will consider it an act of grave wickedness!
Proverbs 24:11-12 warns:
“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”
Evangelism is solely for the purpose of helping sinners come to repentance and new life in Christ; it should not be motivated by any personal gain!
Some people say they want to win souls so that they can have stars, or jewels, in their crowns in heaven. That is not a good motive for soul-winning! Some are merely interested in adding more members to their congregations through evangelism. Even that is not the main reason for soul-winning. It is the Lord Himself who adds to the Church and also rewards us according to our works!
Our attitude towards God concerning soul-winning should reflect a master-servant relationship. We should be able to say, just as Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to say in Luke 17:10:
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
3.THE DOCTRINE OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE.
Genesis 2:20-24; 1 Corinthians 7:1-15; Romans 7:1-3.
God first instituted marriage between a man and a woman, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, and this institution has been practised by their descendants ever since.
Christian marriage is strictly between a mature male and a mature female who are both born again.
Young persons who are not ready for marital commitments are forbidden from initiating the process at all!
2 Timothy 2:22 says:
” Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Christian marriage is strictly monogamous; polygamy is unchristian.
In speaking about his right to be married, Apostle Paul clearly said this in 1 Corinthians 9:5:
“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”
She has to be A SISTER in Christ!
Similarly, when he spoke about the right of a sister to marry, he said this in 1 Corinthians 7:39:
“The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. “
He said that a sister is free to marry, but ONLY IN THE LORD, which means that her husband must be in the Lord; that is to say that he must be a child of God.
Christian marriage is meant to be a lifelong union, as we can also see from the scriptures below. There is no allowance for divorce.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 says:
“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”
Absolute purity must be maintained in the marriage relationship.
Hebrews 13:4 says:
“Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
Even though the world has corrupted God’s hallowed institution of marriage by going to such extremes as same-sex marriages and marriages between humans and animals, the true child of God is admonished to have nothing to do with such ungodly practices.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 says:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
TO BE CONTINUED.