Fruit of the Spirit – Kindness

Galatians 5:22-23²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  

Luke 6:35³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind (chrestos) to ungrateful and evil men.  

Romans 2:4.⁴ Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness (chrestotetos) and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness (chreston) of God leads you to repentance?

Central Truth: Kindness is the strength to treat others better than they treat you.   

Titus 3:3-6³ For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness (chrestotetos) of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 

We are compelled to be mean.  We are called to be kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4⁴ Love is patient, love is kind (chresteuetai) and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant

Ephesians 4:32³² Be kind (chrestoi) to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:12-13¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness (chrestoteta), humility, gentleness and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  

APPLICATION – How do we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in producing greater kindness in us? 

1. Be kind at home. 

2. Be kind to the people we feel compelled to be mean to. 

3. Be kind in the way we speak. 

Ephesians 4:29-32 ²⁹ Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Proverbs 12:2525 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.