“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”
Now we move to a striking contrast from the works of the flesh (5:19-21) to the fruit of the Spirit with its nine characteristics. There is a contrast between the “works” of the flesh (5:19) and the “fruit” of the Spirit (5:22).
The nine characteristic qualities of the Spirit form three triads:
1) fruit directed toward self internally: love, joy, peace
2) fruit directed toward others horizontally: longsuffering, kindness, goodness
3) fruit directed towards God vertically: faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
But the fruit of the Spirit is
Fruit is something produced by living organisms such as trees or vines. Human beings can produce living organisms called children. Metaphorically, the Bible uses “fruit” for character or deeds, such as giving God praise. The character of the fruit comes from the organism that produced it.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20).
Walking in fellowship with the Spirit yields the fruit of the Spirit. The Christian does not produce this fruit. He is not the source of the fruit but the Holy Spirit Himself.
The singular form of “fruit” suggests that the Holy Spirit produces a package of character. Love, joy, and peace do not stand alone, but in relation to each other. All nine manifestations of fruit stand in relation to each other. The works of the flesh are mutually antagonistic to each other, but the fruit of the Spirit is the natural, coalescing result of the Holy Spirit controlling our lives.
The Spirit-filled believer always manifests a unity of nine character qualities. He does not love at the exclusion of inner peace. He carries all of these qualities when he is Spirit filled. It is possible to practice two or three fruit of the Spirit, but the Spirit-filled believer produces all of them. Carnal Christians can produce some of these qualities, but only a Spirit-filled believer produces all of them.
The idea here is one of complete submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There are nine divine grapes hanging together in one cluster that come from the Spirit filled life.
Principle:
The Holy Spirit is the source of the fruit of the Spirit.
Application:
Romans and Galatians are parallel books but with different emphases. Romans is the work of the Son of God for us, and Galatians is the work of the Spirit of God in us. After God places enormous credit of His own righteousness to our account, He then piles further blessing on our souls by giving us operating assets to live the Christian life day by day.
Sin “works” in our sin capacity, but fruit comes from the Spirit. He produces the fruit, not us. Fruit comes from the root; qualities of the Spirit come from the Holy Spirit. It is the product of divine energy, the living Holy Spirit. This is a power that comes from within, not without, like the works of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and comes to indwell each believer at the point of salvation. Then the Spirit goes to work immediately changing the believer. Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell each believer. He worked around them but not in them. Since Pentecost, we have a close, intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
The moment we yield ourselves to the Spirit of God, this triggers a process of dynamic Christian living. By this, the Spirit progressively molds us into the image of Christ and, in turn, reproduces the character of Christ in us – the fruit of the Spirit. The purpose of sanctification is that we might become more accurate representatives of His character. God will finish this work when we meet Him face to face.
The Christian who walks in the Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit. The flesh demands certain activity but the fruit of the Spirit naturally produces the character of Christ. The flesh is self-assertive and self-indulgent, but the fruit of the Spirit reaches out to others. The one is human manipulation, but the other is divine production.
The Holy Spirit does not produce some of the fruit of the Spirit in isolation from others. We cannot separate them for our convenience. We cannot isolate one characteristic from another. The Holy Spirit does not first produce love in us and then begins to work on joy at some later point. If that were the case, none of us would live long enough to finish the list!
This website was indeed a blessing to me in my studying the Fruits of the Spirit
Thank You
Thank you Martha
I’ve read where the triads are mentioned and the first triad refers to our relationship with God and the third is self. Any clarification would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Greg, these classifications are not absolute, however, it is the nature of the fruit that determines its direction. It is difficult for me to see “peace” as directed toward God, for example.
Hi Grant;
Understanding that these triads are not absolute, I would venture to say that the first triad suggests the first expressions of our foundation of our relationship with God…when my fruit shows love, joy, peace–these express my position in Christ: Love through His death, Joy in my salvation, and peace walking in His provision. The third triad suggests the maturity we gain, seen in our continued faithfulness, growing gentleness and increased self-control. What do you think?
Respectfully submitted,
Lori
Lori, great to hear from you.
I agree with you that these triads are not absolute and that it a matter of strict interpretation of how we attribute their categorizations. However, the context must play a very important emphasis here and context deals with the spirit-filled life and this particular verse is the “fruit” or results of that life. Because of this, I would hesitate to make the last three reference to maturity, which is an entirely different dimension of Christian living.
Dr. Richison,
I was looking through your post in preparation for some teaching I would be doing on the Fruit of the Spirit and I noticed that the reference listed for Matthew is incorrect. I just wanted to let you know, it should be Matthew 7:15-20 instead of chapter 6.
Kale
Kale, the correction is made–thank you for your help.
Really thoughtful.
Thank you, Dr.Richson, this has been of tremendous help in my assignment.
You have explained so well, God bless you for the good work,you’re doing.
Thank you so much. It has help me so much to understand the word. may you grow more and more in the knowledge of Jesus an dcontinue to be a blessing.
Dr. Richison,
Past few days I was exploring meaning of "fruit of the Spirit" – I sincely thank you for your insight, it really helped!
Anthony
I am concerned that you do not indicate continued need for the Christian's responsibility to becoming more Christlike. Your words seem to imply that this transformation occurs automatically.
Dian, I don't know if you read the context beginning at 5:16, however, the fruit of the Spirit requires our submission to the Holy Spirit and "walk in the Spirit."
Flow of God’s love within ,is felt.Thanks a lot!
Thanks for the piece am indeed happy to read this. Please clarify me on who a canal christian I’d. How would you know it’s God talking to you.
Nelly, a carnal Christian is someone who has unconfessed sin in his or her life.
I am not sure what you mean about “God talking to you.” The only way God talks to us is in the Word of God and in natural revelation such as creation.
long before I ever got saved, God spoke to me. I was between 5 to 6 years old. He told me that I was a good little girl and he asked if I wanted my heart to shine, then he showed me his face and I knew who it was. He said you must always try your bless to be good! Because when you get older people is going to change your ways, but I want you to know I’LL never leave you’ nor forsake you, I’ll always be there til the very end. Then he lefted. As I got older, and trouble came, well so did jesus and he begin to talk with me and led me out of my troubles’ and he never stop talking to me since! I’m filled with the holyghost and been baptize in jesus name. Why jesus chose to talk to me’ he just did. I wasent yet saved. Maybe he knew I needed some great talking to; in order to be saved. And to trust him and come!
Gal.5:22,23. These are the CHARACTER TRAITS of the Spirit of God. They are imparted individually according to our obedience to Gods’ word in each area. We begin at the BOTTOM of the list where SELF CONTROL is first and MANDATORY. When we “let go” and allow Gods way, MEEKNESS begins to develop. Each fruit builds upon the latter as we mature in righteousness. The top 3 are Kingdom of God living, that the MATURED Christian lives in. Sadly, modern versions have changed the sequence and even wording, eg: (kindness, faithfulness),both of which lose their true meanings.
Thanks for the illumination in the word
I have never understood this chapter in the way that you have explained! Very clear!! Thank you !!!