THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Often the above passage is used as an exhortation (or weapon?) to bring about change in another person. If you’re feeling down one day, you might hear, “The fruit of the Spirit is joy!” Unintentional or not, the implication is that you are not “walking in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). You’re certainly not “filled with the Spirit . . . . . . singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord!” (Ephesians 5:18, 19). So now you can add to your blues the guilt of spiritual failure!

In my sixty-one years of being a Christian, and my nearly forty-seven years in the ministry,  I have not noticed people being changed because they were told they fall short of the fruit of the Spirit. In fact, it seems highly unlikely that any Christian fully manifests every character quality of the fruit of the Spirit at any given time. Paul is simply pointing out that these good things come from the Spirit of God, while the bad things are “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21). And the Christian life is always a warfare, “so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Gal. 5:17) (See also Romans 7:18-21)

Since I have been in the Philippines, however, I have seen how the fruit of the Spirit has worked to change people’s lives—including my own. The Christians here have treated me with love, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, and gentleness, and that has brought out better things in me.

I have seen that “the fruit of the Spirit” can indeed be an agent of change. It is through manifesting those spiritual qualities toward others, especially those most irritating. After all, how can we show “longsuffering (patience)” except to those who try our patience? Christians struggling with stubborn sins, need love and gentleness. They need to see goodness in action.

So the agent of change in others is not the imposing of the fruit of the Spirit on them, but the modeling of the fruit of the Spirit in ourselves.

WITH JESUS IN PARADISE

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

What Jesus promised the repentant thief is wonderful in several particulars.

First, the thief, recognizing that Jesus was the King, the promised Messiah, asked to be remembered when Jesus assumed the throne of that kingdom. He could hardly have expected that it would be soon since the King was on a cross! But he must have believed also in the resurrection. Jesus honored the man’s repentance and faith and made him a promise he did not expect: “Today, you shall be with me in paradise.” This very day!

Paradise is a Persian word that means “a walled garden, a place of pleasure.” The word occurs three times in the New Testament, where it always refers to heaven. (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7). The word is also used eleven times in the Greek version of the Old Testament, where it refers to the Garden of Eden.

I’ve seen some lovely gardens in my life, from London, England, to Hanover, Germany, to Baguio City, Philippines. In all their well-tended beauty, they are but faint hints of what God’s Garden is like. Our cursed ground bears thorns and thistles and weeds. Insects destroy our loveliest blossoms. But in “The Garden of God” all is unblemished beauty.

Heaven is a place of pleasure, greater than any we can imagine here. Some writers on heaven have diminished the richness of heavenly pleasures by imposing our limited earthly experiences on the heavenly. If we are to use our imagination, as one popular writer urges, why can’t we imagine that God will so transform and elevate our sense of pleasure to a spiritual level we have never before experienced?

As king, David indulged in earthly pleasures—to his sorrow and disgrace. But the contemplative shepherd David knew that, “in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) Alister McGrath points out that to see God is the greatest hope of every godly person:

“To speak of heaven is to affirm that the human longing to see God will one day be fulfilled—that we shall finally be able to gaze upon . . . the most wondrous sight anyone can hope to behold.” (A Short History of Heaven, Alister McGrath)

Yet the greatest part of the promise Jesus made to the thief was this: “you will be with Me!” Ponder that thought! In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side” (a place of comfort). But Jesus, dying on a cross, promises this thief His own glorious presence as they both pass into paradise!

In this life, at home in the body yet absent from the Lord, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). But when God calls us home, surely the greatest joy will His presence:

“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have Jesus’s promise, “You will be with Me in paradise.” There is a home for us.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3)

THE CLOSED THE DOOR

And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in. (Genesis 7:15-16 NKJV)

We usually think of closed doors in a negative way. But there was one closed door that saved humanity from extinction. Dr. Charles Shaw, my godly Genesis professor, in discussing the Noahic flood, concluded with a subtle smile, “If the LORD had not closed the door, I wouldn’t believe a word of it!” We Bible college students, somber, serious, and deadly literal as we were, had to think about that for a while.

There is a great deal of typology in the recorded history of Noah and the flood. The flood waters foreshadow the coming judgment of this earth—by fire next time! The apostle Peter connects the Noahic flood with that final conflagration:

“For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:5-7 ESV)

Noah is a type of Christ who through his obedience provides salvation for all who will come to him. The ark itself pictures salvation for the family of God (pictured in Noah’s family), as well as for all of creation.

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21 ESV)

And then there is the closed door! It was not Noah who closed the door, thus securing the salvation of all inside the ark. It was the LORD God Himself! We are secure within the ark of salvation because God closed the door! And that door will not be opened until the dove returns with a fresh olive branch from the new earth. (Genesis 8:11)

Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9) The salvation of all who have heard the Savior’s voice and entered the sheepfold by faith is certain:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29 NKJV)

Those inside the ark of salvation are safe because God closed the door!

MYSTERY OF THE TWO WITNESSES, LESS MYSTERIOUS

 The last month of 2022, I spent a lot of time studying the Book of Revelation in greater depth than ever before. Actually, I don’t know if “in depth” is the best description of my study. It has been more like stepping back to get a broader view in light of the whole of Scripture, particularly the Old Testament Prophets. It also involved turning the theological kaleidoscope to see a different pattern than the one through which I viewed God’s redemptive plan in Bible college and seminary. As a result, the glorious message of the Revelation has become clearer than ever before. The mystery has become less mysterious.

One chapter in particular lit up brighter and more glorious to me than the most spectacular New Years fireworks: Chapter 11: The ministry, death, resurrection, and catching up to heaven of the two witnesses. My formal theological training applied mathematical logic to deduce that the two witnesses were two individuals who had not, up to that point died. And since “it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27), they must come back and suffer death for their witness. Also, they must be Old Testament persons since everything in the Book of Revelation after 4:1 pertains to God’s dealings with Israel—not the church. Or so the theory goes.

Based on this logical and literal approach, it was deduced that the two witnesses had to be Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) since those two were caught up to heaven without dying. But there was some disagreement in that camp about Enoch. Since Enoch was not part of Israel, and most of Revelation is about Israel, so the theory goes, Moses was suggested as being one of the two witnesses. Supporting that argument was the fact that the miracles the two witnesses perform are like those God did through Elijah and Moses. (Revelation 11:6) Never mind the fact that Moses doesn’t fit the first criterion for being one of the two: Moses died once! So we’re left with a mystery. Yet it’s a mystery of only intellectual interest. It has no practical spiritual application to anyone living today—or in John’s day, for that matter.

The mystery becomes much less mysterious when we recognize that the Book of Revelation is filled with symbols, and those symbols picture spiritual truths as applicable today as they were in John’s day. The Book of Revelation was written for “the churches” from beginning to end (1:4; 22:16). Jesus is encouraging His church as it goes through the trials and persecution of this age. John’s visions are all to that end.

So who are the two witnesses? They are a symbolic representation of the Church. I know this is a shock to those who, like I, were taught otherwise, but there are solid reasons for seeing the Church as symbolized in the two witnesses.

First, the beast “makes war” with the witnesses (Rev. 11:7). It would hardly be necessary for this wicked world ruler to make war with two individuals! He could simply arrest them and execute them (as is depicted in Stephen King’s novel and mini-series, The Stand). The truth is, this evil world system is at war with God’s people. It resents the testimony of the church against its sins. The followers of the beast will not be content until they have silenced once and for all this witness against them!

But why two? All truth has to be established by at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28). The Holy Spirit, through the testimony of the Church, “convict[s] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8. See also Acts 24:25) The two witnesses are given “authority” from God to preach His truth, that is, to prophesy. (Rev. 11:3 cf. Matthew 28:18-20). They do so in sackcloth, a symbol of mourning and repentance. They are calling the world to repentance and they mourn for the condition of the lost. (Compare Ezekiel 9:4)

It is also significant that of the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2 & 3, only two were completely faithful, and they were persecuted for it. Christ encourages the faithful churches and the Church as a whole to remain “faithful unto death” (2:10) because a better world is coming. Christ’s victory is certain!

The real clincher for me came as I was collating my chapter summaries for the Book of Revelation. How would I succinctly summarize the contents of Revelation 11?

“Two Witnesses and Last Trumpet”

Does that sound familiar?

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

My decades long journey to understand this final book of the Bible, this final message of Christ to His churches, has encouraged me to press on with my witness for Christ and to look expectantly for His triumphant return. 

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

NOT LIKE ALL THE NATIONS

 Ezekiel 25:8

This verse demonstrates the danger of thinking that Judah, and by extension, the Jewish people, are “like all the nations,” that God has no more concern for them than He has for any other people group. The Church is not a “replacement” for ethnic Israel but the fulfillment of the New Covenant promised to “the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31). At the same time, it is an error to think, as dispensationalists do, that God has a separate plan for the nation Israel apart from the Church, which was founded by Israel’s Messiah. God’s plan is for the Jews to repent and be “grafted” back into the olive tree of blessing, since they are “the natural branches” (Romans 11:24) and are “beloved on account of the fathers” (Rom. 11:28). “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29). God’s reputation is at stake. He will not be seen as a failure in His purpose for Israel. Jesus’s words to the Samaritan woman are weighty: “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). 

Side note: It is the Roman Catholic Church that has usurped the Old Covenant relationship of Israel for themselves. They adopted candles, holy water, a special priesthood and hierarchy with priestly vestments, and repeated sacrifices (the mass). The RCC even adopted the OT restriction against lending money on interest to “your brother.” Ironically, since the Jews of Europe were not considered “brethren,” they were allowed to conduct necessary bank financing! Thus the Jews became the principle bankers of Europe, for which they were unjustly condemned in the 1930’s. 

It should not be surprising, then, that Protestant denominations that believe the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan have moved ever closer to Roman Catholic practices in worship. Still, I was appalled when I witnessed a Christian Reformed pastor elevate the bread at communion and say, “The body of Christ,” and then elevate the cup and say, “The blood of Christ.”

WHO’S COUNTING?

If You, LORD, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, So that You may be revered. (Psalm 130:3-4 NASB)

The saying is true: “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” Ever since the Fall of mankind into sin, there is NO ONE who is free from that curse. Everyone sins. And one of our ugliest sins is that of keeping strict account of other people’s sins and not our own! It’s that sin that brought Jesus’ denunciation: “You hypocrite!” (Matthew 7:5)

The Psalmist takes comfort in the fact that God is not concerned with keeping account of our sins. He is concerned about our hearts. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19) And only God can see the heart! “God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:5)

We can’t even see or know our own hearts unless God shines His light on it! That’s why David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV) David knew well how deceitful our own hearts can be! (cf. Jeremiah 17:9)

Our inability to see the heart is one reason we are warned against judging:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2 ESV)

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV)

“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12 ESV)

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” (Romans 2:1)

“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans14:4 ESV)

And so on.

Psalm 130:4 tells us that the only One who has the right and ability to judge is the same One with whom there is forgiveness! “But there is forgiveness with You, So that You may be revered.” (NASB) Other translations read, “be feared,” which is also a valid translation. Our ideas of fear and reverence may seem contradictory, but they unite in this thought: “My deepest desire is to honor and obey the one I revere, and my fear is that I might dishonor that one and bring his displeasure."

Our text says that God is to be feared and revered not because He has the right and ability to judge, but because there is forgiveness with Him! He is eager to forgive when we show even our feeblest expressions of remorse and repentance. (Note, for example, 1 Kings 21:29) Humans are prone to question the sincerity of a confession or statement of remorse. On the other hand, God, who knows the heart, is quick to forgive. “But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them." (Nehemiah 9:17 ESV)

God promised Israel, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) Can God forget? When it comes to sin, God is the only one who can forget! Only God can cast our sins into the depths of forgiveness (Micah 7:19) and never again hold them against us. That is what merits our reverence. That is the divine attribute we humans need to cultivate by God’s grace.

God is not counting iniquities. He is seeking our heart.

THE FINAL DAY OF ATONEMENT

 ‘For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I am going to engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of armies, ‘and I will remove the guilt of that land in one day. (Zechariah 3:9)

The Day of Atonement in the autumn of each year was when the high priest offered sacrifice for the sins of all the people. The fact that it had to be repeated every year proves that it was not a complete and permanent "removal" of sin and guilt. It did not make the worshiper perfect in the sight of God. (See Hebrews 10:1) 

But Zechariah prophesied of "one day" when God would remove the guilt of His people by means of the "Branch," the "Stone" which has "seven eyes," symbolizing omniscience. Can there be any doubt who that Person is or what day guilt was removed?  Sadly, medieval Jewish commentator Rashi can only say: 

“One day; I know not what that day is.”

Albert Barnes follows up with this comment:

 "Ask any Christian child, 'On what day was iniquity removed, not from the land only, but from all lands?' he would say, 'On the day when Jesus died.'”

The great and final Day of Atonement, as well as the final Passover, was that day when Jesus died to "take away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He bore the sin of the world, all the defilement since Adam's first disobedience, and opened the way of salvation for all who will believe. (John 1:12-13; 3:16)  Jesus's death on the cross fulfilled all sacrifices in "one day."