Exploring Goodness and Faith as Fruits of the Spirit

 

Summary

In this session, we explored the profound concepts of goodness and faith as fruits of the Spirit. We began by acknowledging that all goodness originates from God, and without Him, we lack the capacity for true goodness. The Apostle Paul’s assertion that "no one does good" challenges us to consider the nature of goodness from a biblical perspective. Goodness, in God's eyes, is not merely about external actions but also about the internal motivation to please Him. This understanding reveals that fallen humanity is incapable of genuine goodness, as our actions often lack the desire to honor God. However, through the regeneration and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are granted a new capacity for goodness, enabling us to perform acts of righteousness with a heart inclined towards God.

Goodness as a fruit of the Spirit also encompasses an appreciation for excellence and beauty, reflecting God's own character. This appreciation is evident in the biblical emphasis on aesthetics, such as the detailed craftsmanship of the tabernacle and the lyrical beauty of the Psalms. Historically, the church has valued the use of beauty to communicate God's excellence, though this appreciation has waned in some modern contexts.

Faith, another fruit of the Spirit, is both a gift and a fruit, encompassing trust in God. It is one thing to believe in God, but another to believe God. Our struggle with sin often stems from a lack of trust in God's promises and wisdom. Sin entices us with the false promise of happiness, yet it ultimately leads to destruction and misery. True happiness is found in obedience to God's law, which reflects His holiness, benevolence, and wisdom. As our faith grows, so does our capacity to trust God, impacting our struggle with sin and enhancing our interpersonal relationships. The Holy Spirit fosters a trusting disposition, encouraging us to be trustworthy and faithful in our commitments.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Nature of Goodness: True goodness is defined by both external conformity to God's law and internal motivation to please Him. Without the Holy Spirit, our actions lack the genuine desire to honor God, rendering them incomplete in His eyes. Through regeneration, believers gain a new capacity for goodness, allowing us to perform righteous acts with a heart inclined towards God. [04:41]

2. Appreciation for Excellence: Goodness includes an appreciation for beauty and excellence, reflecting God's character. This appreciation is evident in the biblical emphasis on aesthetics, such as the craftsmanship of the tabernacle and the beauty of the Psalms. Recognizing and valuing beauty in creation and art can deepen our understanding of God's nature. [08:46]

3. Faith as Trust: Faith is not only belief in God but also trust in His promises and wisdom. Our struggle with sin often reveals a lack of trust in God's goodness and wisdom. As our faith grows, we learn to trust God more deeply, impacting our choices and leading us towards true happiness found in obedience to His law. [17:24]

4. The Deceptive Nature of Sin: Sin entices us with the promise of pleasure but ultimately leads to destruction and misery. True happiness and fulfillment are found in obedience to God's law, which reflects His holiness, benevolence, and wisdom. Recognizing the distinction between pleasure and happiness can help us resist the allure of sin. [23:56]

5. Trust in Interpersonal Relationships: The fruit of faith includes a trusting disposition towards others, fostering trustworthiness and fidelity. The Holy Spirit encourages us to give others the benefit of the doubt and to be faithful in our commitments. This trust extends to our relationships, enhancing our ability to love and serve others. [26:53]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Opening Prayer
- [01:21] - Radical Statement on Goodness
- [02:18] - Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
- [03:24] - Defining Goodness
- [04:41] - Theological Understanding of Goodness
- [06:05] - New Capacity for Goodness
- [07:21] - Appreciation for Excellence
- [08:46] - Aesthetics in the Christian Community
- [10:19] - Beauty in Worship and History
- [12:30] - Bach and the Enlightenment
- [14:00] - God's Aesthetic Judgment
- [15:23] - Integrity and Generosity
- [16:45] - Faith as Trust
- [18:27] - Sin and Happiness
- [20:12] - God's Law and Wisdom
- [23:56] - Pleasure vs. Happiness
- [26:11] - Trust in Relationships

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Romans 3:10-12 - "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.'"
2. Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
3. Psalm 19:1 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, how does the Apostle Paul describe the nature of humanity's goodness in Romans 3? [01:21]
2. What is the significance of Jesus' response to the rich young ruler regarding goodness? [02:18]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the Holy Spirit and our capacity for goodness? [06:05]
4. What role does beauty and excellence play in the biblical understanding of goodness, as discussed in the sermon? [08:46]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the difference between external acts of goodness and true goodness in God's eyes? [04:05]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that an appreciation for beauty and excellence can deepen our understanding of God's character? [08:46]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and trust in God, and how does this impact our struggle with sin? [17:24]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the deceptive nature of sin and its promises of happiness? [23:56]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you performed an act of goodness. What was your internal motivation, and how might it align with the sermon’s description of true goodness? [04:05]
2. Consider the role of beauty and excellence in your spiritual life. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for these aspects as reflections of God's character? [08:46]
3. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God's promises. What steps can you take to strengthen your faith in this area? [17:24]
4. Think about a recent decision you made that was influenced by the allure of sin. How can you distinguish between temporary pleasure and true happiness in future decisions? [23:56]
5. In your interpersonal relationships, how can you foster a spirit of trust and faithfulness, as encouraged by the Holy Spirit? [26:53]
6. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it in your daily interactions? [06:05]
7. Reflect on a relationship where trust has been broken. What steps can you take to rebuild trust and demonstrate faithfulness in that relationship? [26:53]

Devotional

Day 1: True Goodness Originates from God
True goodness is not merely about external actions but is deeply rooted in the internal motivation to please God. According to the biblical perspective, all goodness originates from God, and without Him, humanity lacks the capacity for true goodness. The Apostle Paul’s assertion that "no one does good" challenges us to consider the nature of goodness beyond mere actions. It is through the regeneration and indwelling of the Holy Spirit that believers are granted a new capacity for goodness, enabling them to perform acts of righteousness with a heart inclined towards God. This transformation allows believers to align their actions with God's will, reflecting His character in their lives. [04:41]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform your motivations, so your actions reflect true goodness that pleases God?


Day 2: Beauty and Excellence Reflect God's Character
Goodness as a fruit of the Spirit encompasses an appreciation for excellence and beauty, reflecting God's own character. This appreciation is evident in the biblical emphasis on aesthetics, such as the detailed craftsmanship of the tabernacle and the lyrical beauty of the Psalms. Historically, the church has valued the use of beauty to communicate God's excellence, though this appreciation has waned in some modern contexts. Recognizing and valuing beauty in creation and art can deepen our understanding of God's nature and inspire us to reflect His excellence in our own lives. [08:46]

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." (Psalm 27:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate an appreciation for beauty and excellence in your daily life to reflect God's character?


Day 3: Faith as Trust in God's Promises
Faith, as a fruit of the Spirit, is not only belief in God but also trust in His promises and wisdom. Our struggle with sin often reveals a lack of trust in God's goodness and wisdom. Sin entices us with the false promise of happiness, yet it ultimately leads to destruction and misery. True happiness is found in obedience to God's law, which reflects His holiness, benevolence, and wisdom. As our faith grows, so does our capacity to trust God, impacting our choices and leading us towards true happiness found in obedience to His law. [17:24]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's promises? How can you take a step of faith to trust Him more deeply today?


Day 4: The Deceptive Nature of Sin
Sin entices us with the promise of pleasure but ultimately leads to destruction and misery. True happiness and fulfillment are found in obedience to God's law, which reflects His holiness, benevolence, and wisdom. Recognizing the distinction between pleasure and happiness can help us resist the allure of sin. By understanding that true joy is found in aligning our lives with God's will, we can make choices that lead to lasting fulfillment rather than temporary satisfaction. [23:56]

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a temptation in your life that promises pleasure but leads to negative consequences. How can you choose obedience to God's law instead?


Day 5: Trust in Interpersonal Relationships
The fruit of faith includes a trusting disposition towards others, fostering trustworthiness and fidelity. The Holy Spirit encourages us to give others the benefit of the doubt and to be faithful in our commitments. This trust extends to our relationships, enhancing our ability to love and serve others. By cultivating trust in our interactions, we reflect God's faithfulness and build stronger, more meaningful connections with those around us. [26:53]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where trust has been broken. What steps can you take to rebuild trust and demonstrate faithfulness in that relationship?

Quotes

Certainly one of the most radical statements that we find in the New Testament from the pen of the Apostle Paul is actually a quotation from the Psalms when he writes in the third chapter of Romans of the extent of the fallenness of man and the extent of our corruption with that passage I'm sure you're familiar with, that, "There is none righteous, no not one. There is none who doeth" -- what? "Good." I mean, think of that for a minute! The statement -- it sounds on the surface that it's outrageous -- that no one does good. [00:01:21]

Paul was describing fallen man. We are baffled at times by the fact that from all outward appearances, it seems, in many cases, that people who aren't Christians at all, make no claims of a Christian profession, in many ways outstrip professing Christians with respect to external acts, at least, of goodness -- great, heroic acts of sacrifice, of honesty, of diligence, and so on -- the practice of virtue that shames many of us, and we say, "How can the Bible say, 'No one does good?'" Isn't that hyperbole? [00:02:37]

Well, of course, part of the problem we're working with is that 'goodness' as a word is a relative term -- not that ethics are relative ultimately, but the term 'goodness' or 'good' has to be determined according to a standard; and we also understand from a biblical perspective that when God evaluates virtue, when God evaluates performance, He's concerned not only with conformity to external demands of the law, but also is concerned very much with the internal motivation. [00:03:24]

And so theologically we define a good deed as a deed, which externally, outwardly conforms to the demands of the law of God but inwardly is motivated by a genuine desire to please God. Now, the fallen man, the unbelieving person who is estranged from God, may do acts that Calvin called "civic virtue, civil righteousness, external conformity to the law," but he's doing it out of his own self-interest or his own humanitarian values without any particular desire to please his Creator; and so the lack of the internal motivation, the lack of the disposition of the heart is what vitiates the final verdict of goodness. [00:03:57]

Some theologians point to this, that as a result of our regeneration, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, because of God's power working in us and changing the disposition of the heart, that one of the most dramatic changes that comes about through conversion is that now we have a radically new possibility for goodness -- for doing the good, because now we do have the possibility of desiring to please God. [00:05:33]

And so in the first instance, our understanding of goodness as a fruit is the understanding of this new ability to perform acts of righteousness and obedience out of a new disposition of our heart. Now, we could go on and explore that more finely and talk about the degree to which even in redeemed man our best deeds are tainted by that pound of flesh that is carried over from the old life; but I'll leave that aside for now and just remind you that now, as a fruit of the Spirit, we have a growing capacity for goodness, which we lacked in terms of moral power before we possessed the Spirit of God. [00:06:14]

Edwards, for example, points out that the fruit of goodness carries with it a new ability to appreciate excellence -- that that's contained in the broad concept of goodness in the Bible. Now, of course, there are few terms in the Bible that are more abstract than the word 'agathos,' or 'goodness' because goodness covers so many, many things, and we're left with the same problem with this fruit as we've had with some of the others and that is trying to see if there's any specified dimension of goodness that is in view here with respect to the fruit of the Spirit, or must we canvas the whole general meaning of 'goodness'? [00:07:21]

But one of the dimensions in biblical terms is, as I say, an ability to appreciate excellence. In the opening prayer, I mentioned in that prayer that we have been born again to an ability to appreciate the good, the true, and the beautiful. I mentioned that because I think part of our growth in sanctification is an ability to appreciate excellence wherever it manifests itself -- that we have an ability to appreciate beauty for what it means to us as it, in a sense, mirrors and reflects the order and the harmony of the character of God Himself. [00:08:09]

I think that one of the things that is sadly lacking in the Christian community today is a deep and profound appreciation for aesthetics. If you go back, for example, and think of how God ordered the building of His tabernacle and how men and women were craftsmen who were endowed charismatically by the Holy Spirit for the artwork that was a part of the building and the construction of the tabernacle and later the temple -- that the temple, even though this was -- or the tabernacle -- even though it was an edifice built from the meager possessions of a pilgrim people who had just come from slavery, was a majestically, beautiful edifice whose architect was God Himself who set down in Holy Scripture exact, precise, detailed instructions for its construction; and of course, part of what the tabernacle's construction was about was to communicate symbolically and graphically truth, but there was also a dimension of the beautiful. [00:09:08]

I think in terms of our own church history that there was a time in the past where the church really put a premium on using beautiful forms to communicate the excellence of God. I don't know -- the church degenerated at a time to a cold, dead formalism, an empty liturgy that provoked a revolt and, indeed, a reformation, and the Reformation involved architectural and liturgical reform as well, in order to get away from getting caught up in liturgy -- so much so that Protestantism today tends to be very bland from an aesthetic perspective -- liturgically, architecturally. [00:10:53]

Here again, faith is determined both as a gift and as a fruit, and here we're faced again with one of those words that is voluminous in scope. There is that faith by which we are justified and by which we are brought into a salvific relationship with Christ, but the basic meaning of faith, biblically -- basic meaning of the Greek verb 'to believe' means 'to trust,' and I think that one of the fruits of the Spirit has to do, again, with our relationship to God, that we have a growing trust for God. [00:15:58]

Now, I've often made this distinction: It is one thing to believe in God. It is another thing to believe God. It can be all the difference in the world, and you realize that in our struggle with sin, there is a very certain -- a very real sense in which one of our deepest problems is that we fundamentally don't believe God. Let me say it again. We fundamentally, in our basic, root nature, do not believe God. We may believe in God but we don't believe God because if we believed God -- really believed God -- why would we ever sin? [00:16:45]

What is it about sin that entices us to risk the displeasure of God, to act against God by choosing it? Well, you say, "Well, we desire it, and we have such a desire for sin that we get caught up in that desire, and so we choose sin." But why do we desire it? Why does sin have such an appeal to us? Because we believe that if we commit the sin we will be more happy than if we don't commit this sin. It's that simple, isn't it, when it gets right down to the rock bottom? We sin because we want to, we want to because we're looking for an increase in our happiness, and we figure, "If I do it the way God says, I am going to be somehow cheated or deprived out of personal happiness." [00:17:48]

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Transcript
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