Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
In this series we are going to look at the “fruit of the Spirit”. The “fruit of the Spirit” is a term that describes the nine visible attributes of the life of a believer listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
This “fruit of the Spirit” is what the Holy Spirit is producing in us as our lives are transformed. I often think of the “fruit of the Spirit” as the currency of the Kingdom of God. Before we dive into our look at each of the fruits developed by the Spirit in us let’s get some context.
Galatians 5:13-18 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
In Galatians 5 we are challenged to live by the Spirit. When Adam and Eve sinned they died spiritually.
Genesis 2:17 (NIV)
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
This was a condition they passed on to all of us.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But in Christ we are made alive.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.
This life in Christ is made possible by grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Works (the law) couldn’t do it. We are to live this life in Christ by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The Holy Spirit lives in us and leads and guides us into real life. We are to yield to Him, to cooperate with Him so that the “fruit of the Spirit” is fully developed in us. This allows us to experience true freedom. Understanding that we are no longer under the law does not mean that we can now go and do whatever we feel like doing to try and satisfy our old sin nature.
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
This freedom allows us to experience real life by serving others in love and in so doing to transform the world. As we learn to yield to Him the “fruit of the Spirit” is there. When we are not yielded to Him, our sinful nature is running things and the fruit is not there.
I always talk about driving, but think about it, when my sin nature is engaged I am all about me. I have no patience for people. No kindness. But when I am yielded to the Spirit it is natural to be patient and kind.
This life in Christ, by the Spirit, empowers and frees us to act in love, to know and share joy, to experience His peace and all the other blessings of the “fruit of the Spirit”.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
