GPP 61: Living As Jesus Taught

The Holy Spirit dwells in believers;
In a still, small voice, He guides their actions;
If heeded, they become gospel transceivers,
Broadcasting the good news to all factions!
In them, seven precious traits He instills:
Peace, patience, kindness, love, and self-control,
Gentleness, and joy*; the Christian who’s filled
With these shows how to live as Jesus told!
What style of living did Jesus come to teach?
Just opposite to what men want to do—
Love, not hate; joy, with what’s within your reach;
Self-control, not anger; patient and true!
Each new trait comes hard, uprooting an old;
Heed the Spirit, whatever you are told!

*Galatians 5:22-23

Promise Made: 2 Peter 1:5-8—“For this very reason [to escape corruption in the world caused by evil desires, as Peter had written in the preceding verse], make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge [by study of the Bible]; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

Comment: These seven character traits are listed with slightly difference names in Galatians 5:22-23. They are called “fruits of the Spirit”, because the Holy Spirit, indwelling each believer, tries to guide the Christian’s thoughts and actions from inside his mind, speaking to him like his conscience would (but the Christian’s conscience is perverted by the world, so he should not follow conscience). Every Christian still possesses the sinful flesh he had before he was saved; therefore, every Christian still commits sin. If he trains himself or herself to follow these seven traits, he will be less likely to sin, but he or she will never reach that goal while living on earth.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)