The Fruit Of Redemption

                                                               Sunday School Lesson
                                                                   February 26,2012
Lesson Focus:
When you live by the
spirit your life bears fruit
Lesson Scripture:
Galatians 5:22-6:10

Introduction:

Christians should walk in the power of the Spirit,developing Christlike characteristics that show the fruit of His Spirit.What does that look like? Love is what Christ did for us on the cross.His love was sacrificial,serving,caring for another without any conditions.That love manifests itself in the fruit of His Spirit.The attitude of Joy says, regardless of the circumstances,I can see God working and I'm glad.Peace is harmony and tranquility with one's self and others,knowing God is in control.Patience is enduring,steadfast under difficult circumstances,without anger toward irritating people.kindness, goodness,and gentleness are ther centered,so weare ready to do the best for the other person with a gracious,sweet disposition.Faithfulness is the quality of loyalty,keeping commitments and promises. The goal of any christian should be having a loving harmony in relationship with God and each other.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-26,KJV

 ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

   ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
   ²⁴And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
   ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

   ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Footnotes:
Having just highlighted the loathsome works of the flesh(vs.19-21),Paul went on to contrast them with the righteous,holy work of the spirit and the fruit He produces in the lives of the believers who walk in Him.That "fruit" is singular suggests the various aspects of the Spirit's fruit develop and grow together and not as separate pieces of fruit existing independently.Love is listed first, and highlights its prominence among the other aspects of the fruit.Those who love with God's kind of love can also experience joy, peace, longsuffering(patience), gentleness(kindness), goodness,faith (faithfulness), meekness(gentleness), and temperance(self control) in their lives.Against the fruit of the Spirit "there is no law"(Vs.23).Those who are in Christ can do what the non-believer cannot: Live in a manner that glorifies the one who was crucified for sin.Sin no longer has rule over the believer, because on the cross, Jesus broke sin's power.By coming to the cross in faith,believers are made alive by the Spirit and therefore are admonished to also walk with Him.Sadly, however this is not always the case.Chapter 5 closes with examples of what failure to walk in the Spirit can look like,pride,wanting to be first,antagonizing others,and envying what they have.

The Fruit of Grace

Galatians 6:1-6KJV

¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

   ²Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
   ³For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
   ⁴But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
   ⁵For every man shall bear his own burden.
   ⁶Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Footnotes:

Having laid the groundwork regarding what the fruit of the spirit is and also what it is not,Paul then gave an example of walking in the Spirit.The term here for"caught"means to suprise or ambush,and "sin"refers to trespass or deviation from uprightness.At times temptation can surprise believers or catch them off guard that they may fall into sin,even if they know what they are doing is wrong. Spiritually mature believers can discern whether someone has been ambushed by sin, or is in outright open rebellion against God. When the former is the case, the mature believers will deal meekly and gently with the transgressor because they realize that ,apart from God's grace, they too could be caught off guard by temptation.Helping others in times of need fulfills the law of Christ, which is to love one another as he loves us.We must help and not look down on those who have stumbled in their spiritual walk, lifting them and even carrying them until they can walk on their own. 

The Fruit of Our Actions

Galatians 6:7-10,KJV

 ⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

   ⁸For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
   ⁹And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
   ¹⁰As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Footnotes:

Paul admonished his readers to live and be who they are in Christ.Believers have God's Word and Spirit to guide and enable them to live in a manner that glorifies Him.To do other wise is an attempt to mock God,who will not be mocked.You will reap what you sow.Actions have consequences.Sinful acts will reap destruction; God pleasing acts will reap eternal blessings.Sometimes doing right will bring on attacks from the evil doers,but we believers have been equipped to do what is right,and we do so with the power of God's indwelling Spirit and the hope of reaping a bountiful harvest of blessings if we faithfully press on.We are compelled by love for Christ and those He died for to do good to eryone,with special priority given to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.When we walk in the Spirit we do not conform to the lust of the flesh