Baptism in the Spirit Traced in the Book of Acts

 

In June of this year I did a blog series on Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14. I wrote, “What is the doorway that leads to experiencing the gifts? I believe an essential step is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I admit this is not stated in chapters 12-14, this is another study in the Book of Acts.”

Then I did a Facebook series on The Fruit of the Spirit (which is now on my blog) the week of August 26-30 in which I linked being baptized with the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. So what is this baptism in the Holy Spirit? This is that promised study on the baptism which I originally posted on Facebook. I am posting it on my blog to make it easier to access, which means you don't have to read it all in one sitting.

I plan several posts under two parts: Part 1 My Testimony / Part 2 Traced in the Book of Acts

My Testimony

I was born again on a Sunday afternoon in 1973. A few months later, also on a Sunday afternoon, I was baptized in the Spirit. I remember the experience well. It had been a very trying Friday and Saturday, and I was distressed. I spent much of Sunday afternoon in prayer, even face down on the bedroom floor. It was time for Training Union (this was a meeting on Sunday night before the evening service in Baptist circles), so I got up off the floor and headed to the church building. On the way I was listening to Christian radio and they played Were You There. You probably know the song, Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble...

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

This time they added another line, one I had never heard before

Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Ohm sometimes it causes me to shout glory, glory, glory...

I tell you, when they said glory, glory fell from heaven and the love of God was shed abroad in my heart!! I knew that Jesus loved me, and that if I’d been the only sinner on earth he would have died for me. I was laughing and crying as I drove down Donelson Pike in Nashville! I knew something had happened, but I didn’t know what it was called.

I was attending First Baptist Church Donelson when all this took place. Sometime after that, during a Sunday night service, Bro Harris (Pastor) preached on the Holy Spirit. I don’t remember the sermon, but I do remember he recommended a book for further study, The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does by R.A. Torrey.

I bought and read that book. At least half of the book is devoted to the baptism in the Spirit. I began praying, “Lord, baptize me with your Spirit.” And one day the Lord spoke to me, “I have”, and I remembered that Sunday afternoon. There were no spiritual gifts that afternoon, just His love shed abroad in my heart, the gifts came later.

I went off to college, The University of Tennessee at Martin, and began attending Campus Fellowship, and was introduced to the charismatic renewal.

I learned about spiritual gifts through Campus Fellowship, and later, Maranatha Ministries. I met Mary at UTM, we got married, and when she graduated we moved to Memphis so she could work and I could go to Mid-South Bible College. We attended Cherry Rd Baptist and found a circle of Spirit-filled believers. Mrs. Lynn Stebbins introduced me to Derek Prince and through his ministry I really began to grow in the Lord. Somewhere along the way I found Watchman Nee and his book The Normal Christian Life. I was attending a Bible College that did not teach a second blessing, but I was reading Prince and Nee who did. And T.J. McCrossan; and Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel; and F.B. Meyer; and J. Sidlow Baxter; and John R. Church. I was immersed in this line of teaching!

Sadly, this led to my having to leave the Baptist Church, they weren’t too pleased with me for teaching the baptism in the Spirit. Where do I go now? I found the Christian & Missionary Alliance. They believed in being filled with the Spirit and were open to the gifts. I discovered A.B. Simpson, the founder of the C&MA, and he was completely sold on the baptism of the Spirit. He is credited with creating the phrase, full gospel (in 1887). Holy Spirit baptism, sanctification, deeper life all come together in the Four-Fold Gospel: Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Glorious Lord and Coming King.

This is all good, but is it biblical?

Tracing The Baptism in the Spirit in the Book of Acts

I plan to look at 6 passages in Acts: 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 2:37-38, 8:15-17, 10, 19:1-6 My explanation of each one will be brief and concise.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

4 wait for the promise of the Father – In Luke 24:49 Jesus said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Tarry / wait “until”. This is something you will know when you receive it. The condition mentioned in Acts 1 & Luke 24 is wait. They had to wait because there were some things that had to happen which were out of their control. All they could do was tarry. After Pentecost there is no required tarrying, we receive the promise by a definite act of appropriating faith.

4 the promise of the Father - We find this promise of the Spirit several times in the Old Testament prophets. Jesus spoke of this in John 14-16.

5 ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit – promise of the Father / baptism with the Spirit. We will find there are several phrases used interchangeably for this.

8 ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you – As Chuck Smith pointed out, our relationship with the Holy Spirit is explained using three prepositions: with, in, upon. He is “with us” when He is convicting us of sin. When we are born again he is “in us”. He comes “upon us” when we are baptized with the Spirit. Wasn’t Pentecost the day the Holy Spirit began to dwell within them? No. In John 20:22 we read, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit. At this point, the disciples were full New Testament believers: they believed in the resurrected Christ and they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was something else; something more.

8 ye shall receive power - The baptism with the Spirit results in power, power to witness, to walk with the Lord; to work for the Lord; to worship the Lord. The gifts of the Spirit are power; the fruit of the Spirit is power; He helps us pray. Power.

This is the promise of the Father, it is His delight to pour out His Spirit upon us.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Ah, Pentecost! This is a special day on God’s calendar, that’s why they had to wait. Now we don’t need to tarry – the Comforter has come! While waiting on the Lord in prayer and being of one accord are often a tremendous help, we receive the Spirit by faith.

they were all filled with the Holy Spirit - The Spirit comes upon us and we are filled within. Filled with what? Jesus! “We are not filled with an influence; we are not filled with a sensation; we are not filled with a set of ideas and truths; we are not filled with a blessing, but we are filled with a Person.” (A.B. Simpson) The blessing is the Blesser!!

What a rich experience!

But what about “they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”? Or to put it bluntly, Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled? A friend told me once, You don’t ‘have to’, you ‘get to.’ Ah, I’m only at the second passage and already I’m up to my neck in hot water! Listen, speaking in tongues is good and I’m all for it. I’m also pretty sure it will happen quite often, but is it necessary? In my final post I will deal with this question, Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled? But for now I will say, “When you are looking for a particular experience, then the tendency is to put your faith in the experience rather than in the promise of the Word of God.” (Chuck Smith)

What we learn from Pentecost: (1) Baptism with the Spirit is a definite experience; (2) You will know when you have received it; (3) It’s all about Jesus.

Have you been filled with the Spirit? “What He did for those people at Pentecost He will do for you. Plunge in today and claim the promise just now.” (John Church)

Acts 2:38 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. 39 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.

Acts 2:38-39 is the conclusion of Peter’s Pentecost sermon. This will irk some people, but this is the normal call to Christ and the expected response, Repent and be baptized.

And these are the normal conditions for both blessings mentioned here, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (yet another phrase for the baptism with the Spirit).

“Four things are mentioned in this passage: Repentance, Baptism, Forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit. The first two are conditions, the second two are gifts. What are the conditions to be fulfilled if we are to have forgiveness of sins? According to the Word they are two: repentance and baptism.

Here then are two divinely appointed conditions of forgiveness—repentance, and faith publicly expressed. Have you repented? Have you testified publicly to your union with your Lord? Then have you received remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost? You say you have only received the first gift, not the second. But, my friend, God offered you two things if you fulfilled two conditions! Why have you only taken one?

If you have fulfilled the conditions you are entitled to two gifts, not just one. You have already taken the one; why not just come and take the other now? Say to the Lord, ‘Lord, I have complied with the conditions for receiving remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, but I have foolishly only taken the former. Now I have come back to take the gift of the Holy Ghost, and I praise Thee for it.’ ” (Watchman Nee)

“Some of you may say: I agree with all this, but I have no experience of it. Am I to sit down smugly and say I have everything, when I know perfectly well I have nothing? No, we must never rest content with objective facts alone. We need subjective experience also; but that experience will only come as we rest upon Divine facts. God’s facts are the basis of our experience.

If we lack the experience, we must ask God for a revelation of the eternal fact of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the gift of the exalted Lord to His Church. When we have seen that, faith will spring up in our hearts, and as we believe, experience will follow.” (Nee)

The promise is unto ... as many as the Lord our God shall call.

“In v 33 Peter states that the Lord Jesus was exalted “at the right hand of God”. What was the result? He “received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost”. And what followed? Pentecost! This verse makes it absolutely clear that the Holy Spirit was poured out because the Lord Jesus was exalted.” (Watchman Nee)

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

A summary of an exceptionally clear passage: Philip preached the gospel and many believed and were baptized. Peter and John came down and prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit, laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.

Chrysostom said, “And (yet) great signs had been done: how then had they not received the Spirit? They had received the Spirit, namely, of remission of sins: but the Spirit of miracles they had not received.” This is his way of saying what R.A. Torrey said,

“We see clearly that these regenerate men had not been baptized with the Holy Ghost, though they had been properly ‘baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.’ They were regenerate men but they were not baptized with the Holy Spirit. So it is as clear as language can possibly make it, that it is one thing to be born again and something further, something additional to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Peter didn’t preach to them, he prayed for them. And a specific prayer, That they might receive the Holy Spirit. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Spirit.

In this passage we find two new phrases used for the baptism, fallen upon and received. Also, they received the Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands. Their response was appropriating faith.

What happened when they received the Spirit? “And when Simon saw - there must have been some sensible manifestation.” (Chrysostom) I think most agree they most likely spoke in tongues, but whatever happened, they knew, and Simon knew, they had received the Holy Spirit. “One thing is sure, that each one upon who the Spirit of God falls will unfailingly know it.” (Watchman Nee)

Have you received the baptism with the Spirit? “The baptism with the Spirit is the birth-right of every believer in Jesus Christ.” (Torrey)

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

85% of the verses (66 out of 78) that make up chapters 10 & 11, are devoted to the conversion of Cornelius the God-fearer (a Gentile who embraced most of Judaism). This is an important chapter in Acts - the Gospel is reaching out beyond Israel to the Gentile world.

Cornelius is right in the middle of this. He was instructed by an angel to send for Peter, “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” (11:14). Peter came and preached the crucified, resurrected, exalted Jesus; “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (10:43) And while he was speaking these words, “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” Just a few observations:

+ This is baptism with the Spirit; Peter said so in 11:16

+ Everybody’s apple-cart is overturned! They were filled before they confessed faith, before water baptism; no one prayed for them, or laid hands on them.

+ They were baptized with the Spirit the minute they believed in Jesus.

+ “The baptism with the Spirit is a definite experience of which one may whether he has received it or not.” (Torrey) This is still absolutely true; this passage just shows that it is possible to receive the Spirit the moment you are born again.

+ According to 45-46 Peter and the men who accompanied him knew “the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also - For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” Pretty good sign!

If this is what happened when you were born again, Praise God! If you received the Spirit right after water baptism, Praise the Lord! If the Holy Spirit came upon you when someone prayed for you and laid hands on you, Hallelujah! If the Spirit fell upon you while you were alone in your bedroom or in the car, glory to God! If, however, you have not yet been filled with the Spirit, the gift is for you; open you heart today and ask the Lord to baptize you in his Spirit.

"The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father's promise given."

 

Acts 19:1-7
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.

This is the last passage we will look at and the one that requires the most explanation.

1 Paul . . . came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples – what is his first question?

2 Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? – Oh man, you can start a fire with this question today, yet Paul asked it. Every modern version translates it, “Did you receive…when you believed?” And everybody thinks that is their escape. BUT: (1) Literally this reads, “Having believed…have you received?” (2) When or since, makes no difference, it still calls for a definite Yes or a definite No.

2 Their answer was in fact, No. We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. What they meant was not if there was a Holy Spirit, but whether He was given or available.

3 Unto what then were ye baptized? – Baptism is a testimony of embracing a certain faith. 

Unto John’s - his message was, Messiah is coming. Paul’s message is, He has come.

3-5 Paul explained the gospel and they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Whatever their status before, they are clearly born again folk now.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied – Praise the Lord! Amen! May this happen in our baptismal services today!!

This is one more testimony to this truth, It is one thing to be born again and something further, something additional, something more, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Received is a common word in Acts for baptized / filled with the Spirit. We receive, claim, experience the promised Spirit; He comes upon us and we are filled within!

Why is this so important? The epistles speak of a vibrant life in the Spirit, and Jesus said this upon baptism gives us this power. Power for what? Power to witness; to walk with the Lord; to work for the Lord; to worship the Lord. The gifts of the Spirit are power; the fruit of the Spirit is power; help in prayer. Power to be holy; to walk in the Spirit; to be led of the Spirit. Power in my marriage, in my family; to honor the Lord at work and play. Power to stand fast in trials and temptations. Is this not what we need to live for Jesus?

Having believed, have you received the Spirit?

“Being filled with the Spirit effects a penetrating renewal in the fully yielded believer. This is the spiritual “Canaan” which all in Christ may know!” (J. Sidlow Baxter)

 

Is speaking in tongues the initial evidence of the baptism with the Spirit?

As we saw in the book of Acts, many of the accounts included speaking in tongues. This leads us naturally to ask, Is speaking in tongues the initial evidence of baptism in the Spirit? Or more crudely, Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled with the Spirit?

I believe the short answer is, No. It may be common, and it is a sign of the fulness of the Spirit, as are all gifts, but it is not the “initial evidence” of being filled with the Spirit. Even (some) Pentecostal leaders say this.

Derrek Prince (1915-2003), a Pentecostal / Charismatic teacher:

"The distinctive seal of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking with tongues. Some people call it the evidence. Actually, I prefer myself to call it the culmination of the baptism. It’s not the immersion, it’s not the infilling but what is it? It’s the outflow. Now, you can stop short of the outflow. Lots of people have been filled with the Spirit but they never have the outflow. But why stop short of the outflow?" (How To Receive The Holy Spirit)

George Jeffreys (1889–1962), founder of Elim Pentecostal Church, England:

"There are three main schools of thought. First, every person who receives the gift of the Holy Spirit will have the sign of speaking in tongues; Second, everyone who receives should have some definite supernatural manifestation of the Spirit, not necessarily speaking in tongues; Third, the reception of the Spirit is by faith without any outward physical sign. The second view is the scriptural one; it safeguards against the possibility of a seeker after the gift of the Spirit missing the blessing, and also against the extravagances that might be entailed by a mere reaching out for an initial sign of speaking in tongues, which the Scriptures do not warrant." (Pentecostal Rays)

Chuck Smith (1927-2013; founder of Calvary Chapel)

"I’m not on a speaking in tongues kick. I thank God for what it means to me, but I don’t go around saying, “Oh you have to speak in tongues.” You don’t have to speak in tongues; you can know the fulness of God and the fulness of His love without it." (The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit)

So, speaking in tongues is not the sign of being filled with the Spirit. Seek Jesus. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, and let your heart be open to receive whatever the Holy Spirit wants to give you. “But you ask: ‘How shall I know that the Holy Spirit is come upon me?’ I cannot tell how you will know, but you *will* know. (Watchman Nee)

As Pastor Chuck said, “I believe the only true evidence of the filling of the Spirit is Agape love.”

“But you ask: ‘How shall I know that the Holy Spirit is come upon me?’ I cannot tell *how* you will know, but you *will* know. No description has been given us of the personal sensations and emotions of the disciples at Pentecost. We do not know exactly how they felt, but we do know that their feelings and behaviour were somewhat abnormal, because people seeing them said they were intoxicated. When the Holy Spirit falls upon God’s people there will be some things which the world cannot account for. There will be supernatural accompaniments of some kind, though it be no more than an overwhelming sense of the Divine Presence. We cannot and we must not stipulate what particular form such outward expressions will take in any given case, but one thing is sure, that each one upon whom the Spirit of God falls will know it.” Watchman Nee

T.J. McCrossan: “Correct Bible teaching on this subject of tongues has given Principal George Jeffreys in England, Ireland, and Scotland the very greatest soul-winning work, perhaps, in all the world today. Thousands are being saved and baptized with the Spirit in his churches every year, and the greatest majority of those baptized do speak in tongues; yet there is very little, if any, fanaticism. Why? Because all are taught to seek the Spirit Himself, and let Him give each one whatever gift He desires.”

“This promise is unto you. If you do not have the baptism with the Holy Spirit then it is for you. God wants you to have it.” John Church

“Father, we thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Lord, we recognize how desperately we need that power of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, how our hearts long to be empowered by Your Spirit. And so, Lord, whatever it is that is holding back our lives from Your fullness, we pray that Your Spirit will reveal it. And Lord, we pray that we might see that sovereign work of Your Holy Spirit, dividing to each man severally at He wills, of the gifts of the Spirit. May we be open and may we receive, even in this moment, that we might be empowered to be Your witness in these last days. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.” (Chuck Smith)

The Fruit of the Spirit

 

For many years now I have tried to have a special Bible study during my week of vacation. This year was no exception – I studied the fruit of the Spirit. I was blessed and wanted to share some of that blessing. My plan is simple, even though I will take all week 😁: (Mon) What is meant by the “fruit" of the Spirit? / (Tue) Why “fruit” and not “fruits” ? / (Wed-Fri) The fruit of the Spirit: a brief explanation of each.

This is Monday so this must be: What is meant by the “fruit” of the Spirit?

The “fruit of the Spirit” is that which originates or comes from the Holy Spirit, it is the result or produce of the life of the Spirit. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are born again and the Holy Spirit gives us life. Then, when we receive the baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit, as A.B. Simpson put it, “To be filled with the Spirit will bring us the fullness of Jesus.” He went on to say, “Be filled with the Spirit. Let the heavenly water flow into every channel of irrigation and by every garden bed and plant, until all the graces of our Christian life shall be replenished by His grace, and bloom like the garden of the Lord. Only abide in Him and have His abiding, and you shall bring forth all the fruit of the Spirit.” He explained, “This, by a simple figure [of a garden], is Christ's theory of a deeper life. Our being is the soil, He is the seed, His Holy Spirit is the Fountain of living Waters, and "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."” *

This idea of fruit as” that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result” (Strong’s Concordance) runs throughout the New Testament.

Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Romans 6:21-22 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Ephesians 5:8-9 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The “fruit of the Spirit” then is simply but gloriously, that which originates or comes from the Holy Spirit.

*(A.B. Simpson, The Holy Spirit or Power From On High, vol 2; Chapter 9 - Filled with the Spirit)

Why “fruit” and not “fruits”?

“The apostle compares people to trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good tree, bringing forth fruits of the most excellent kind.” (Adam Clarke)

OK, so how can these 9 “fruits of the most excellent kind” be referred to in the singular, “fruit”? I mean, Paul spoke of the 17 “works” of the flesh, but the 9 “fruit” of the Spirit.

I have encountered three explanations:

1) This was not an issue for the early church fathers. They sometimes referred to the “fruits” of the Spirit and would often quote a few as representing all: “Now the fruit of the Spirit is peace, love, joy, patience, goodness” / “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.”

“Why does he say, the fruit of the Spirit? He places first the root of these good things, and then proceeds to recount them…” Chrysostom

2) A.B. Simpson (1843-1919) expressed back then what is today a very common view, “These are not fruits, but fruit. It is all one fruit; for all these manifestations are but various forms of love.”

3) While John Wesley was inclined to #2, he also said, “Works are mentioned in the plural because they are distinct from, and often inconsistent with, each other. But "the fruit of the Spirit" is mentioned in the singular as being all consistent and connected together.”

I confess, I don’t know the answer to my own question! I like what Wesley said, and it’s similar to what Augustine said, the nine fruit of the Spirit “forms one unity in a kind of wondrous cluster.”

The Fruit Of The Spirit

LOVE

This is agape, this is the chief virtue of the gospel and as such there are plenty of verses in the NT (occurs in every book of the NT except for two). This makes brevity difficult, but I shall try!

1 Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren…  The new birth

Rom 5:5 …the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us. The baptism with the Holy Spirit.

The love of God – we know we are loved by the Father and we then love others with that love. Praise God! What wonderful fruit!

But also this:

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

1 Pet 1:22  …see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

JOY

This is the joy of the Lord – both His joy over us & our gladness in Him.

John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…

1 Thess 1:6 …with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Pet 1:8 …ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

He gives joy and we

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

PEACE

There is the peace with God, being right with God, and the peace of God, which is having the same attitude God has toward our circumstances. What a wonderful grace!

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing

Phil 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Even here we are not mere automatons: “let not your hearts be troubled” / “let your requests be made known unto him” / “whose mind is stayed on him”

LONGSUFFERING

This “is the self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong; opposed to wrath or revenge” (J.B. Lightfoot)  “A man is longsuffering, who having power to avenge himself, yet refrains from the exercise of this power.” (Chrysostom) This is what I call “people patience”. longsuffering expresses it beautifully.

We see this first and best in God, Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Rom 2:4) What an example we have in this love of God!

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. This must be granted to us, given to us.

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Then we put it on by faith.

GENTLENESS

Gentleness is a good word and a good character quality, but ‘kindness’ seems to be the intent.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Replace ‘goodness’ with ‘kindness’ and what a picture!!

Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.

If this is the fruit of the Spirit, what a transforming work it is!!

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Put it on, Wow! Start acting in kindness and trust the Spirit to bear the fruit.

GOODNESS

“Uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness” “A man might display his ‘goodness’, his zeal for goodness and truth, in rebuking, correcting, chastising. As Christ did when He drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple; or when He uttered all those terrible words against the Scribes and Pharisees; but we could not say that his ‘kindness’ was shown in these acts of a righteous indignation. ‘Kindness’ was rather displayed in his reception of the penitent woman.” (Trench, Synonyms of the NT)

2 Thess 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. This is powerful! God’s ‘goodness’ led Him to action, rescuing us from sin!

Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Goodness leads us to admonish our brethren when needed.

Eph 5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

Goodness, righteousness, and truth walk hand in hand. When we have this fruit of goodness, we are not mamby pamby, we stand for truth and righteousness, but oh how we need to mix it with kindness!

FAITH

The Greek word is the regular word for “faith", but this is not faith to be saved, or filled, or for prayer; nor is it the spiritual gift of faith. When you are filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, He creates an attitude of trust in the Lord, cultivates and strengthens our faith in Christ. Most modern translations translate it ‘faithfulness’, but I believe it is faith.

Martin Luther had an interesting take on this: Paul means “faith in men. Such faith is not suspicious of people but believes the best. Naturally the possessor of such faith will be deceived, but he lets it pass. Where this virtue is lacking men are suspicious, forward, and wayward and will believe nothing nor yield to anybody. Such faith in people therefore, is quite necessary. What kind of life would this be if one person could not believe another person?” (Commentary on Galatians)

While what he said is true, I still think it is faith in Christ.

MEEKNESS

Gentleness of attitude and behavior, in contrast with harshness in one’s dealings with others. Gentleness, meekness, mildness, humility. Truly a life transforming fruit!

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

TEMPERANCE

Basically it means self-control, as most modern translations render it, but it’s more than moderation, y’know, turning down that second piece of pie. This is the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites. The Latin New Testament, as seen in the Douay-Rheims translation, has 12 fruits of the Spirit, partly because it has three words for temperance, “the fruit of the Spirit is … modesty, continency, chastity”, but these three words capture the meaning better than simply ‘self-control.’

“Christians are to lead sober and chaste lives. They should not be adulterers, fornicators, or sensualists. They should not be quarrelers or drunkards. In the first and second chapters of the Epistle to Titus, the Apostle admonishes bishops, young women, and married folks to be chaste and pure.” (Martin Luther)

Acts 24:25 Paul’s message to Felix, And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come

2 Peter 1:6 And add to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness

A Bird's-eye view of the New Testament Part 4

 A Bird's-eye view of the New Testament

I was born again in 1973; filled with the Spirit in ’74; married in ’75. Mary graduated in ’76 and we moved to Memphis so Mary could work and I could attend Mid-South Bible College. I was growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Beginning of that summer I tried to read Hebrews; had to put it down because I didn’t understand it. End of that summer I picked it back up, and in the words of a song popular back in the day, “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.”

This epistle was written to a group of Jewish believers who, facing strong persecution, were apparently considering going back to Judaism. It was written to encourage them to continue in the faith of Jesus Christ, and to warn them of the consequences of falling away. The theme of the epistle is, "Jesus is better."

I believe Paul wrote this epistle, but to be fair, it doesn’t say. Some say it reads like a sermon. Works for me!

 

 

The Epistle of James

This is the first of what used to be called “catholic epistles” (James-Jude), meaning they were not sent to a particular (or known) church. James addresses his letter “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” or “the twelve tribes in the diaspora.” In other words, Jewish believers in Jesus Christ.

James has been described as the New Testament book of Proverbs – there doesn’t seem to be a central theme, rather a series of exhortations and encouragements.

Who is James? He says of himself, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Many have thought it was the Lord’s brother, the bishop of Jerusalem (Acts 15)

The Epistle of 1 Peter

Written by “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” Truly a catholic epistle! This is a wonderful, practical, forceful epistle, one of my favorite books in the Bible!

“This Epistle of S. Peter is to be accounted among the most excellent books of the New Testament, and is the true and pure Gospel, inasmuch as the Apostle herein teaches nothing else… than sincere faith, and that Christ is freely given unto us, who having taken away our sins, is our only Saviour.”
Martin Luther, introduction to 1 Peter

The Epistle of 2 Peter

Written by “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” He wrote this to remind them of the truth, warn them against false teachers, and so they might “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

 

1 John

Written by the apostle John, but we don’t know to what church. Four times he said, “These things have I written to you”, but the best one is, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” He offeres three tests, which he repeats throughout the letter, by which we can know we have eternal life. We:

+ believe the right thing about Jesus
+ live the right way
+ love the right folks

2 John

“The elder unto the elect lady and her children.” The elder is traditionally understood to be the apostle John. The elect lady is a different story, either an individual or a church.

3 John

“The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius.” This is clearly written to an individual.

Jude

Written by “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.” He told us precisely why he wrote the letter, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

 

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a difficult book and is very different from the rest of the New Testament. I have often heard people say they are afraid of the book. After all, it is full of symbolic language (“How am I supposed to understand it?”) and has a rather frightening message (judgment and the wrath of God).

The book begins: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. This is not so much a catalog of future events as it is a revelation of the glory and power and victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The Bible opens with the creation of the world and mankind, then the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, and the promise of a Savior – rescue and restoration. The book of Revelation is a fitting end of the Bible – it shows us the fulfilment of the plan of God in the new heaven and new earth, where:

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

A Bird's-eye view of the New Testament Part 3

 A Bird's-eye view of the New Testament

There is no mention of Colosse in the Book of Acts, so we don’t know who first preached the gospel here. But we do know that during Paul’s two years in Ephesus, “all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” This surely included Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Epaphras, who was from Colosse and a co-worker with Paul, may have been the one to preach the gospel to them and been their pastor.

Epaphras had come to consult with Paul about false teachers causing problems in the Colossian church. Whatever the heresy was, it was clearly depriving Jesus of his glory and our completeness in him!

The fullness of God in Jesus Christ:
+his dear Son
+who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
+all things were created by him, and for him
+he is before all things, and by him all things consist
+he is the head of the body, the church
+who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead
+that in all things he might have the preeminence
+For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell
+In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
+For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily

We are complete in him:
+Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness
+and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
+In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
+And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
+And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power
+Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
+For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God
+When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory

Acts 17 tells us of Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica – it was brief and he was run out of town. He went on to Berea and the Jews of Thessalonica had him run out of that town as well! How brief was his stay in Thessalonica? We are told that he preached in the synagogue for three sabbaths or three weeks. But a church was started that seemed to be thriving and suffering. Paul wrote these epistles to encourage this young and suffering church. He mentioned the second coming in every chapter, and uses this hope to strengthen them in faith and holiness and comfort them in their suffering.

1 Thessalonians
1 Second Coming And Salvation
2 Second Coming And Christian Service
3 Second Coming And Sanctification
4 Second Coming And Them Which Are Asleep
5 Second Coming: Times And Seasons

2 Thessalonians
1 The Second Coming And Suffering For Jesus
2 The Second Coming And The Son Of Perdition
3 The Second Coming And Patient Waiting For Christ

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come
Some golden daybreak, battles all won
He’ll shout the vict'ry, break thro’ the blue
Some golden daybreak for me, for you
(Carl Blackmore)

Timothy and Titus were Paul’s co-workers in the gospel. Of Timothy we read, As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine (1 Tim 1:3). Concerning Titus, For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. (Tit 1:5)

Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus instructing them about church life and practice.

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Tim 3:14-16)

Philemon was a personal friend of Paul who was living in Colosse. He was encouraged by Paul to welcome Onesimus back, a runaway slave who had been converted by Paul.

A Bird's-eye view of the New Testament Part 2

A Bird's-eye view of the New Testament 

 The apostle Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, preaching the gospel and planting a church (Acts 18). The church in Corinth was a blessed church: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 1:4-8). Amen!

But they were also a troubled church. In 1 Corinthians Paul addressed matters he had heard about and answered questions from a letter they sent him.

1-4 (heard) Divisions in the Church
5 (heard) Unusual immorality
6 (heard) Taking each other to court
6 (heard) Immorality part II
7 (letter) Marriage & Divorce
7:25 (letter) Virgins / Marriage & Divorce part II
8-10 (letter) Things offered to idols (Christian liberty)
11 Veils for women
10 & 11 (heard) The Lord’s Supper
12-14 (letter) Spiritual Gifts
15 (heard) Resurrection of the Dead
16 (letter) Collection for the saints in Jerusalem
16 (letter) Our brother Apollos

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (16:22-24)

In 2 Corinthians Paul responded to attacks made on him and his ministry by false teachers, attacks which had distressed the Corinthians. He explained and defended his ministry and provided spiritual encouragement to them.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. (2 Cor 13:14)

 

 

Paul’s ministry in Galatia is described in Acts 13-14, where we read he preached the gospel in Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe; many believed and churches were planted. Sometime after he left Judaizers came and caused a disturbance, telling the believers they needed to become Jews if they really wanted to be saved (be circumcised and keep the feasts). Paul wrote this letter to provide comfort and assurance in the faith and to warn them of the consequences of pursuing this false teaching.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (3:26-29)

1-2 Paul’s testimony
3-4 The gospel explained. Again
5-6 Practical Application

“Having given the Argument of the Epistle, we now come to show what was the occasion St. Paul wrote it. He had planted the pure gospel, and the righteousness of faith among the Galatians, but after his departure false teachers crept in to overthrow all that he had truly taught. For the devil cannot but furiously impugn this doctrine, neither can he rest so long as any spark of it remaineth... For, by the preaching of it, the devil is overthrown, his kingdom destroyed, the law, sin, and death are wrested out of his hands, his prisoners are translated from the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of light and liberty.” Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians; translated by Erasmus Middleton

Paul’s first visit to Ephesus is found in Acts 19. He spent two years there, all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul. (Acts 19:10-11)

“Of all Paul’s epistles, it is in Ephesians that we find the highest spiritual truths concerning the Christian life. The letter abounds with spiritual riches, and yet at the same time it is intensely practical. The first half of the letter reveals our life in Christ to be one of union with Him in the highest heavens. The second half shows us in very practical terms how such a heavenly life is to be lived by us down here on the earth. In the first section of the letter, we note the word SIT (2:6), which is the key to that section and the secret of a true Christian experience. God has made us to sit with Christ in the heavenly places, and every Christian must begin his spiritual life from that place of rest. In the second part we select the word WALK (4:1) as expressive of our life in the world, which is its subject. And finally, in the third part we find the key to our attitude toward the enemy contained in the one word STAND (6:11), expressive of our place of triumph at the end.”
Sit Walk Stand: The Process of Christian Maturity, Watchman Nee

An important and recurring phrase is “in Christ” (in Christ 8x / in whom 7x)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

 

In Acts 16 we read that Paul had a vision in which a man said to him, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. (16:9) In obedience to the vision he went to Macedonia and stopped in Philippi. We read of Lydia of Thyatira, the first convert in Europe, and then of the Philippian jailer; neither of whom is mentioned in the epistle!

Paul was very close to these saints, and they to him. They supported him financially - For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. (4:16) This epistle is essentially a thank you letter for their gift.

1 Paul’s current condition – prison
2 Beautiful explanation of the incarnation / Paul’s ministry is a drink offering
3 Warning against false teachers / Paul’s testimony

4 Written so we would have the chorus, “Rejoice in the Lord always” 😊

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (2:8-11) 

A Bird’s-eye view of the New Testament Part 1

 A Bird’s-eye view of the New Testament

 

The Four Gospels

While they all present Jesus as the Christ, the son of David, the Son of God, the Savior who was crucified and rose again, they each have a special emphasis:

MATTHEW – Christ the King of Israel. He begins, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” The emphasis is on the teaching of Jesus and his fulfilling the law and the prophets. The key phrase is, “that it might be fulfilled.”

MARK - Christ the suffering servant. There is no genealogy, it begins with a bang, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The key word in Mark in “straightway” and rightly so, for the faithful servant of the Lord immediately obeys.

 LUKE - Christ the Son of Man. His genealogy goes all the way back to Adam. Emphasizes prayer and the Holy Spirit. He begins, “It seemed good to me…to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

JOHN – Christ the Son of God. He opens with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In Exodus 3:14 God had said of Himself, I AM THAT I AM; Jesus says of himself, “Before Abraham was, I am.”

The Gospel in one verse:

"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.”

 

 

 The Book of the Acts of the Apostles

 The Gospel of Luke is “all that Jesus began both to do and teach” and the Book of Acts (also written by Luke) is what Jesus continued to do by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and the Church. It provides its own basic outline: “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” It opens in Jerusalem and closes in Rome. It is called the Acts of the Apostles, but focuses mainly on the ministries of Peter (1-12) and Paul (13-28).

1-7 The Gospel in Jerusalem and Judaea
8 The Gospel in Samaria
9 Paul converted
10-11 Cornelius, a Gentile god-fearer, believed
11:19-21 Scattered believers preached to Greeks in Antioch and many believed; Barnabas sent to Antioch to help the church; brought Paul in to help.
13 Barnabas and Paul called by the Holy Spirit and sent by the church
15 Council in Jerusalem about the salvation of the Gentiles
16 The Gospel came to Europe
21 Paul arrested in Jerusalem, sent to Rome

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (28:30-31)

 

The Epistle to the Romans

Written by Paul to the church in Rome to introduce himself and his message.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just by faith shall live.

1:18-3:18 All are under sin
3:19-5:23 Justification
6-8 Sanctification
9-11 Israel and The Gospel
12-16 Practical

“This Epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, and is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.”

Preface of Martin Luther's Commentary on Romans (1552). Translated by J. Theodore Meuller

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Romans 12 Clemency, Charismata, Character III

Romans 12 is largely controlled by the first two verses, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." I called this Clemency or the mercy of God. Next I looked at our reasonable worship through Charismata or the gifts. Today, the renewed mind and its impact on our character.

Romans 12:9-21 Character or Christian Virtues

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 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.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

In 9-21 he mentions several virtues that Christians are to have. Once again, this is terse and concise. They already know about all these virtues, so he simply states how they should live them. Here is a literal translation of this passage. There no verbs until v 19, so we have to supply words or phrases to make a full thought in English (Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good etc.). I like the energy of the literal translation. I have kept the articles (the love, the evil etc) to highlight his emphasis:

9        the love, sincere
          the evil, abhorring
          in the good, cleaving to
10      in the love of brethren, loving one another
          in the honor, preferring one another
11       in the earnestness, not lazy
          in the spirit, fervent
          in the Lord, serving
12      in the hope, rejoicing
          in the tribulation, enduring
          in the prayer, persevering
13      in the needs of the saints, participating
          the hospitality pursuing
14      bless those persecuting you
          bless, and curse not
15      rejoicing with those who rejoice
          and weeping with those who weep
16      have the same mind to one another
          not minding the high
          but associating with the low
          don’t be wise by yourselves 
17      to no one evil for evil giving
          think to do good before all men

18      if possible, from yourselves, with all men 
          be at peace

19      not avenging yourselves, beloved

          but rather give place unto wrath: 

          for it is written, Vengeance is mine; 

         I will repay, saith the Lord.

21      do not be overcome by the evil

          but overcome by the good, the evil
 

I don’t really know what to add to this except, Amen. Let’s be doers of the word, and not hearers only.