Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Self-Control"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 5: Wednesday, March 3, 2010

 

Overview

The topic for today is the ‘race’ Paul describes in I Cor. 9:24-27.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (I Cor. 9:27 ESV).

We examined this earlier in the week. It is now time to come back and take deeper look. ‘Discipline’ and ‘self control’ certainly have parallel meanings.

 

Observations

Here are some points that were made earlier this week:

1. Those ‘of the flesh’ are controlled and disciplined by externals, which is one of the deadly consequences of yielding to Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden.
2. For those who live by the Spirit, Paul admonishes to ‘also walk by the Spirit’.
3. The wondrous paradox is that those who turn their lives over to Jesus Christ and are controlled by the Holy Spirit receive all of the fruits of the Spirit and will experience true self control.
4. Since salvation, the covering and removal of sins in our life, is a free gift for all those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ it becomes clear that Paul disciplines his body to win something far different.
5. The answer to Paul’s plea (for self control, victory over sinning) is centered on Jesus Christ and his gift of the Holy Spirit in his life. The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes that of ‘self control’ which is the only possible solution for doing what our sinful flesh cannot do.

What is this race Paul is talking about?

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (I Cor. 3:11-15 ESV).

You are not even in this race unless it is laid on a foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This means he is your personal Lord and Savior. Your works, the way you run this race, will be tested in fire. If your works do not survive the fire you will suffer loss, but not your salvation.

Back to the question; what is this race?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,…Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it (I Thess. 4:3-4;5:23-24 ESV).

 

Summary

1. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the source of our peace who produces self control through the process called sanctification. This is the race Paul is talking about.
2. Running the race that Paul describes is a growing process in the life of each and every believer and it is both through the will of God and by the power of God. Keep in mind that running this race is only possible through the righteousness of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. As we obey God and grow in sanctification never is there anything for us to personally boast in, for the will and power to do anything that can survive God’s test of righteousness can only come from him. For example, if we think we are humble, we just exposed our failure to be humble.
4. The source of self control, which is directly related to our growth in sanctification, is God control.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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