The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness

1. Read: Galatians 5:22-23

2. About the Text:

1) Different words translated “kindness” in the New Testament

a. “philanthropia,” means love of mankind.

b. “Philadelphia,” means brotherly love.

c. “chrestotes,” means goodness, honestly, uprightness, good heartedness.

2) In the Old Testament, it is often the word “chesed” and means covenant faithfulness, loving kindness, steadfast love, and sometimes mercy.

3. An important distinction.

1) Being “nice” and being “kind” are not the same.

a. Niceties come from politeness, etiquette, or manners – social customs.

b. Kindness is rooted in moral goodness, love, and mercy.

c. It’s not nice for a doctor to stick your baby with a needle, but it is kind.

2) Let’s not confuse the two.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God is abundant in Kindness

1) “But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:17).

2) “For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever” (Psalm 117:2).

2. God’s Kindness is for comfort.

1) “Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant” (Psalm 119:76).

3. God’s Kindness does not depart from His people.

1) “For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:10).

4. God’s Kindness is a reason to repent of sin.

1) “So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:13).

5. God was kind in sending Jesus Christ.

1) “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

6. God’s chosen must be kind.

1) “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12).

1. It is one of the qualities of loving people.

1) “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

2. Part of loving our enemies.

1) “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Luke 6:35).

2) Difference between kindness and enabling bad behavior.

3. Associated with forgiveness.

1) “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

4. Illness and Sorrow is a time to show kindness.

1) “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty” (Job 6:14).

5. Kind to Correct People

1) “Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it” (Psalm 141:5).

6. Caring for Strangers

1) “And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold” (Acts 28:2).

7. Kind to respect the dead.

1) “So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him” (2 Samuel 2:5).

8. As Ministers of God

1) “by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love” (2 Corinthians 6:6).

1. Boaz to Ruth and Ruth to Boaz

1) “Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!’ And Naomi said to her, ‘This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.’” (Ruth 2:20).

2) “Then he said, ‘Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.’” (Ruth 3:10).

2. David

1) “Now David said, ‘Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’” (2 Samuel 9:1).

3. The Worthy Woman

1) “She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26).

4. Paul was Kind

1) “by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love” (2 Corinthians 6:6).

5. Jesus was Kind – His work of Salvation was kindness – “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

1. Kindness comes from God and His Spirit as the Bible reveals . . .

1) Divine Kindness

2) Definitions of Kindness

3) Demonstrations of Kindness

2. Invitation