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:
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.
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.
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