What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Good Fruit or Bad Fruit
17 Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7: 17-20)
15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” (Mark 7: 15)
5 “I [Jesus Christ] am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15: 5)
Our behaviors are based on what is happening inside of us. Our thoughts and feelings influence our behaviors. When our thoughts are sinful, our actions are sinful. That’s just human nature.
When God’s Holy Spirit indwells a person, there will be evidence of the Holy Spirit in that person’s life. A Spirit-filled person will demonstrate the presence of God’s Holy Spirit – it will be evidenced by their actions. Instead of behaviors that indulge in the flesh (bad fruit), there will be behaviors that glorify God (good fruit).
Everything good comes from God. Therefore, good fruit can only happen when God is involved. Jesus Christ is the vine from which good fruit is produced. Good fruit (Spiritual fruit) is evidence of God’s Holy Spirit in a person’s life.
Freedom in Christ
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5: 13-14)
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10: 23-24)
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8: 9)
The freedom that comes with Jesus Christ does not give us the right to indulge in the flesh or become a stumbling block to others. Instead, we are to do what is beneficial and constructive, love our neighbors as ourselves, serve one another humbly in love, and seek the good of others.
Walk by the Spirit
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5: 16-18)
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26: 41)
What the Spirit desires is contrary to what the flesh desires. When we walk by the Spirit, we are not to gratify the desires of the flesh. We are not to give into temptation or worry about things of the flesh.
Avoid acts of the Flesh
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5: 19-21)
As a result of events in the garden of Eden, human nature is fallen and sinful. The desires of the flesh are diametrically opposed to what God desires for us. Those who live sinfully in the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God (they will be condemned by God).
Acts of the flesh are sinful in God’s eyes: sexual immorality; impurity; debauchery; idolatry; witchcraft; hatred; discord; jealousy; fits of rage; selfish ambition; dissensions; factions and envy; drunkenness; and orgies (etc).
Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5: 22-23)
How can we demonstrate love toward someone who is acting in an unloving way? How can there be joy amid sorrow? How can we patiently endure suffering? How can we be kind toward someone who has been unkind or disrespectful? How can we do anything good when we are sinful by nature? How can we be faithful when we are facing uncertain times? How can we be gentle toward someone who has treated us harshly? How can we have self control when our flesh demands to be satisfied?
Without God’s help, humans are incapable of consistently demonstrating those admirable traits – especially when we face deeply challenging circumstances.
The fruit of the Spirit is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God’s Holy Spirit within us.
Live by the Spirit
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5: 24-26)
God’s Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to rise above our sinful nature. It is important to remember that we are not achieving that behavior under our own power. The glory belongs to God (not us). We are not to become conceited. Neither are we to provoke or envy each other. Instead, we are to live by the Spirit.
Just as Jesus Christ offered his flesh to be crucified on the cross, the passions and desires of our flesh are to be crucified with Christ. We choose to follow Christ instead of the sinful desires of the flesh. When we choose Jesus Christ, we are set free from our sins.
Against such things there is no law.
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