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"'. . . that He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.'
For from Zion will go forth the Law
Even the Word of God from Jerusalem."
Micah 4:2
The Argument:
Some Christians say we are not obligated to obey the Laws of the Old Testament, we are
only obligated (no . . . not "obligated," but "it would be better if we
decided to") bring forth the "Fruit of the Spirit" mentioned in Galatians
5. But by refusing to listen to the Words the unchanging Spirit authored before Christ,
the "Fruit of the Spirit" is distorted. The only way to bring forth the Fruit of
the Spirit is to obey God's Law.
All of the Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5 are commanded by the Law of God in the Old Testament. Paul had nothing less in mind than obedience to the Scriptures.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When
the LORD says that He is "longsuffering and abundant in goodness"[97] He is telling us that we also should be abundant in goodness.[98]The same Greek word used in Galatians 5:22 for "goodness" is used in the Greek Old Testament. "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again, but the righteous sheweth goodness, and giveth."[99] It is the unrighteous man who "lovest evil more than goodness."[100] God rewards goodness, as pointed out in Jotham's parable.[101]
Jehoiada was a good king. He was buried in the city of David because he manifested the fruit of the Spirit - goodness - in Israel.[102]
Josiah was also a good king. Some of the history of his reign can be found in the book of 2 Chronicles. But "the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness which was according to that written in the Law of the LORD, and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah."[103] Goodness is written in the Law of the LORD, which was authored by the Spirit, and endorsed by Christ.
The 20th century is the Age of Secularism. We have outgrown the "primitive codes" of ancient Israel. Has the decline in Law-obedience brought more goodness to the world? The triumph of Humanism has seen a greater percentage of the human race deliberately killed (with the sanction of the State) than in any previous century in human history: around two hundred million people. "My goodness!"
Shouldn't the Christian be a defender of God's Law?[104]
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
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(97)
Exodus 34:6.(102) 2 Chronicles 24:16 (LXX).
(104) The sounds of the overthrow of the Old World Order are not the sounds of clashing swords and exploding bombs, but rather the sounds of goodness, in every relationship, in every household, in every area of life.