The Fruit Of The Spirit – Kindness

Kindness (Chrēstotēs)

Introduction

• Today we will Discuss Kindness.
• Definitions
  • KJV translates it as “gentleness;” NIV, et.al., “kindness.”
  • Greek – Chrēstotēs, “kindness”
  • “The sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at ease, and shrinks from giving pain” -Plummer.
  • In the Greek Old Testament it is used most commonly for God; it is often translated as “good” (Ps 106:1; 25:7).

I.  God Is Kind. He Expresses His Kindness…

• In Nature (Ps 85:12; Ps 65:9-13; Ps 104:27-28)
• In the Events of History (Ps 145:4-9)
• In His Instruction (Ps 119:65-68; 25:8)
• In Affliction (Na 1:7; Ps 34:8)
• In Poverty (Ps 68:10)
• In Forbearance (Ro 2:4)
• To Everyone – even the Ungrateful & Wicked (Lu 6:35)
• In Salvation (Ti 3:5)

II.  God’s Kindness Motivates Humans to Be Kind.

• Kindness is Not a Part of the Sinful Nature (Ps 14:1-3; 53:3).
• Kindness Can be Corrupted through Bad Company (1 Co 15:33).
• Kindness is Commanded (Ps 37:3; Co 3:12).
• Kindness is Possible Because of God’s Kindness (Ep 4:32).

Applications:

• Kindness Reflects a Quality of Character (Ez 27:22, “precious stones”; Je 24:1-5, “good figs”) – valued, useful, precious.
• Kindness Reflect a Mellow Graciousness of Character Contrasted with Harshness and Roughness (Luke 5:39, “old wine is better”).
• Kindness Means Treating Others the Way God Treats Us.

Psalm 14:1-3  The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.  ² The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  ³ All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

In Psalm 14, fool refers to the morally deficient person (as opposed to mentally deficient). The Psalmist is describing humanity in their sinful nature.  The description continues, “there is no one who does good.”  In the LXX (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), good is translated as chrēstotē (kindness), “there is no one doing kindness.”  My point here is that kindness is a defining characteristic of the regenerated nature (new birth, new creation, humanity 2.0). Children of God are kind. The Spirit is responsible for developing this trait in our lives, but we must cooperate.  Plummer describes kindness as “The sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at ease, and shrinks from giving pain.”

Are you kind?  Is God living in you?  I’ll say more in my lesson!

Have a Great Week!  Joey