The Spiritual Life
“Christian character is not mere moral or legal correctness, but the possession
and manifestation of nine graces: love, joy, peace – character as an inward state;
(growth)* longsuffering, gentleness, goodness – character in expression toward
man;(ministry)* faith, meekness, temperance – character in expression toward
God. (worship)*
Taken together they present a moral portrait of Christ, and may be taken as the
apostle’s explanation of Gal. 2:20, ‘Not I, but Christ,’ and as a definition of fruit in
John 15:1-8. This character is possible because of the believer’s vital union to
Christ (John 15:5; I Cor. 12:12, 13), and is wholly the fruit of the Spirit in those
believers who are yielded to Him (Gal. 5:22, 23)” Dr. C. I. Scofield – Scofield
Reference Bible
*Not in original quote, but supplemented for this study
The spiritual life is not simply a life of suppression (the monk in the monastery),
in which the primary motive is the overcoming of evil (world, flesh, devil). This is
the negative (not in a bad sense, but in the character of the work in its act of
suppression) aspect of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer; but the spiritual
life is also a life of expression – expression toward self, toward others, and toward
God -- of personal growth, of personal (individual) and corporate (body)
ministry, and of worship.
Everything that the Holy Spirit produces in the believer (fruit– good works) is
rooted in worship, else it is human good and will be rejected of God (stubble –
fire). From prayer to witnessing to giving to growth – all are an outflow of the
worship of the believer toward God - the gratitude of the Believer in response to
the grace of God.
Worship
Expression
Toward God
Spiritual Growth
Ministry
Expression
Toward Self
Expression
Toward Man
25