The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Order of Service

• Catechism — Westminster Shorter Catechism, Questions & Answers 19–20
• Hymn — Great Is Thy Faithfulness (#32)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:22–25
• Sermon
• Hymn — Go Labor On (#584)
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: Faithfulness and the Fruit of the Spirit

Scripture: Galatians 5:22–25

I. Faithfulness in the Character of God, Exemplified in the Person of Christ

A. God's faithfulness (trustworthiness) is one of his most repeated attributes throughout Scripture

1. God is a covenant-keeping God whose faithfulness flows from his unchanging character
2. The Covenant of Redemption — an eternal, intra-Trinitarian covenant made before creation, historically called the pactum salutis

B. Psalm 89:1–37 presents the eternal covenant between the Father and the Son

1. Wilhelmus à Brakel argues Psalm 89 is primarily about Christ, not David — David serves as a type
2. Titles in the psalm that apply most eminently to Christ: the Elect of God (Isaiah 42:1), the Holy One (Luke 1:35), the Firstborn (Hebrews 1:6), King of Kings (Revelation 19:16)
3. David's kingdom ended; Christ's kingdom endures as long as the sun and moon

C. God's faithfulness holds all creation together

1. Hebrews 1:1–4 — the Son upholds all things by the word of his power
2. Apart from God's faithfulness, all creation would dissolve into chaos

D. Christ is explicitly identified as faithful in Scripture

1. Isaiah 11:1–5 — the Branch from Jesse's root is clothed in faithfulness
2. Revelation 19:11 — Christ is called "Faithful and True," judges in righteousness, rules with a rod of iron
3. Matthew 3 — at his baptism the Father declares, "This is my beloved Son" — the greater David, God's Beloved

II. How the People of God Are to Cultivate Faithfulness in Daily Life

A. The surrounding culture is hostile to faithfulness

1. Entertainment and popular culture treat people as expendable and sexuality as a commodity
2. "You do you" — personal fulfillment has triumphed over faithfulness to promises and vows
3. None of us are immune; many have suffered or caused suffering through faithlessness

B. Vertical faithfulness — our faithfulness to God

1. Baptismal vows bind us to specific, serious promises before God
2. The three vows examined: acknowledging need of Christ's cleansing blood; claiming covenant promises in faith; dedicating oneself/one's child and promising to set a godly example, pray with and for them, teach the doctrines of the faith, and use all the means of grace
3. Particular application of the third vow: praying with spouses and children, reading Scripture together, regular Lord's Day attendance, training children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
4. Where we have fallen short, the Spirit brings us to repentance and humble reliance on divine grace

C. Horizontal faithfulness — our faithfulness toward our neighbors

1. Marriage — a lifelong covenant; husbands love your wives, wives submit to your husbands; keep the vows made before God through difficulty, confession, forgiveness, and renewal
2. Singleness — singleness affords freedom and mobility for generous service; single persons must glorify God in their bodies and give undivided devotion to Christ
3. Parenting — parents are bound before God to train children in the fear of the Lord, lovingly discipline them, and share the gospel with them; even when children stray, parents are to remain ever faithful, keeping the door open, mirroring the faithfulness of the heavenly Father
4. Vocation — Christians should be model employers and employees, known for reliability, honesty, and consistency; employers pay right wages; employees work diligently and honestly; our character in the workplace is a witness that woos others to Christ

D. How we grow in faithfulness

1. Acknowledge our own unfaithfulness — Psalm 19 — "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults"
2. Plead with the Lord to produce the fruit of faithfulness in increasing measure
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 — "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it"
4. William Grimshaw (quoted via J. C. Ryle): before God would allow his promises to fail, he would have to lay aside his divinity and un-god himself
5. Hebrews 13:8 — Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever; believers may rest in this truth even in their own unfaithfulness, knowing Christ bore their unfaithfulness and now empowers them by his Spirit to repent, believe, and live faithfully