KINGDOM CHARACTER: Kindness & Goodness

THE Law is a schoolmaster, disciplinarian…The Fruit of the Spirit is the production of Christ-honoring righteousness in our lives. The school master (teacher) will never hinder the student from doing what the goal of the teaching is. [SO…you wanna know how to stay out of trouble with God?]

THE SAME?

Closely related but not ‘the same.’

KINDNESS

Gracious treatment of others.

Whether ‘deserved’ or ‘not.’

Colossians 3:12–13 “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”

GOODNESS

Benevolent service to others.

Ephesians 5:8–10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—testing what is pleasing to the Lord.”

KINDNESS. [Luke 22.31-34 & John 21.15-19]

Jesus with Peter

Luke 22:31–34 ““Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.””

John 21:15–19 “When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.””

Graciousness and extending grace!

GOODNESS [2 Corinthians 8.1-5]

The Macedonian Church & The Jerusalem Collection

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 “We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.”

Certainly we recognize goodness as describing the characteristic of moral uprightness (the opposite of badness). [Notice how that shows up in the Macedonian example!]

CONCL—

The kindness & goodness of God...

Romans 2:4 “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

Ephesians 2:4–7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

INVITATION:

Salvation

Ministry Service

Kindness & Goodness

Galatians 5:23 CSB

gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

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