Monday, June 09, 2014

Person (11) Put Offs Put Ons

The New Testament lists various attitudes, motives and behaviour that we should “put off” and a matching list that we should “put on”. Our goal is to build the Put Ons into our character.

Attitudes

Put Offs

Put Ons

Gal 5:19-20


Sinful nature


Fruit of the Spirit

Hatred

contention

jealousy

selfish ambition

envy

conceited





Patience

kindness

faithfulness

gentleness

self-control

peace

love
 

Eph 4

Hardened
hearts

covetousness

ignorance

bitterness

malice

greed

Compassion

honest

forgiving

kindness

tender

righteous

Col 3

Malice

anger

range

lust

greed

covetousness

lying





Compassion

kindness

humility

gentleness

meekness

patience

forgiving

thankful

(Love binds all these together)


James 3 13f

Envy

selfish

selfish ambition













Thankful

pure

peace-loving

considerate

gentle

submissive

merciful

impartial

sincere

1 Tim 3

Maliciousness

conceit




Temperate

controlled

gentle


Heb 6:12

Heb 4:11

Lazy

Diligence

Many of these attitudes are fruit of the Spirit. We can change our attitudes by rejecting the negative ones and deciding on the positive ones, but that will only take us so far. If we let the Holy Spirit work in our lives that better attitudes will emerge more easily and gradually become part of who we are.

The Holy Spirit judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12).

2 comments:

Hugh Roberts said...

I am just wondering why being ambitious is considered part of the sinful nature? Can you expand on that?

Love all your writings and just soaking it up.

Ron McK said...

Good point Hugh. It depends what the ambition is for. James 3:14 and Galatians 5:20 both list “selfish ambition” on the negative side. I should have put the adjective selfish on to be clear (edited). The Greek word is “erithia”. It has the sense of self-seeking rivalry. It is sometimes translated as faction.