- Love (agape) — impersonal, unconditional love for all mankind, characteristic of the believer with a relaxed mental attitude in his dealings with his fellow man.
- Joy (chara) — inner happiness derived from the filling of the Holy Spirit and doctrine.
- Peace (eirene) — includes overt prosperity as well as inner peace, which means that the believer is content with whatever circumstances he finds himself in.
- Patience (makrothumia) — forbearance and perseverance, which creates a gracious and lenient attitude toward others. It is building one’s thought patterns and behavior patterns on something positive (Bible doctrine), rather than emphasizing the negative.
- Kindness (chrestotes) — generosity and graciousness toward others, being sensitive to their feelings and wishes. It includes thoughtfulness of others and respect for their privacy, property and rights. True kindness seeks to understand others and is mindful of their problems, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
- Goodness (agathosune) — uprightness, generosity, and integrity. It means giving with no strings attached, expecting nothing in return.
- Faithfulness (pistis) — doctrinal confidence, the ability to learn doctrine and apply it to life.
- Gentleness (praotes) — humility, thoughtfulness, and courtesy. This means the believer functions in the grace policy of God, orienting himself to God’s plan as it relates to his attitude toward God and man.
- Self-control (enkrateia) — self-discipline, based upon humility and integrity. It means organizing your life based on the right priorities. It is the organized person who is persistent and consistent in the pursuit of doctrine.
An organized life is based upon having the right priorities, which means having a time for everything! Bible doctrine will give you the capacity to organize your life and have inner happiness with the right priorities. It is the organized person who is persistent and consistent in the perception of doctrine. Sooner or later you have to get organized.
You will never make it until you learn to organize your life! Under the doctrine of election, you have no excuses. You have 24 hours in a day like everyone else. The doctrine of election teaches equal privilege and equal opportunity for all. You have the same opportunity as anyone else to advance to spiritual maturity, if you so choose. If you have the wrong priorities you will never make it. Self-control is taught in many passages, such as PRO 16:32.
PRO 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
JAM 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect [mature] man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
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