Bringing the message of hope and redemption to a lost nation.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)
Goodness, as it is in this verse, comes from the Greek word “agathosune”, which comes directly from the Greek word “agathos”, or goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence. The word beneficence is the one that really stands out to me. Virtue is something almost expected, and truthfully should be expected, of Christians. Virtue is simply being morally good, or having admirable qualities. This is something we should all strive for, to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God to the point that others see something in us they want for themselves. While this is still a fruit of the spirit, I don’t think this is the meaning implied in Fruits of the Spirit. Virtue could just as easily be included in with gentleness, love, longsuffering, temperance or even meekness. Beneficence is something entirely different, it is something that stands alone in the fruits. Beneficence is the very root of what keeps the church alive and well some 2,000 years after its founding. Just look at the definitions:
Popular Messages