A day-old child is as human as a ninety-year-old adult; but there’re characteristics of the human life that are yet to be developed in the child. Likewise, when you were born again, you were born with all the unique and distinct features of the recreated human spirit listed in our opening verse. Which means there’s love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance in your spirit.

 

As you study and live out the Word, these spiritual characteristics that are already in you will come to the fore; you’ll manifest them in greater measure. The forces of life are domiciled in your spirit, but you’ve got to cultivate them! God’s life, character, and nature are already in your spirit; but you must spend time to cultivate and nurture your spirit by learning and meditating on the Word. 1 Peter 2:2 says that you should desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.

 

Real spiritual maturity means that you’re bearing fruits of righteousness, and your fruits abide. It means the works of righteousness are being manifested in your words and actions. Train yourself to walk in love. Manifest and express joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness.

 

Notice that the Bible says, “…against such there is no law.” There’s no law or culture that’s against walking in love; love is generally accepted by all peoples of the earth. Likewise, there’s no law that says you shouldn’t be joyful, peaceful, patient, gentle, or kind. There’s no law that forbids faith, meekness or self-restraint. These are intrinsic features of the recreated human spirit; the unregenerate man doesn’t have them. Therefore, be free to lavishly express and manifest the characteristics of your new nature in Christ.