#34 Top 40 New Testament Passages: The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
This verse is one that I struggle to commit to memory. My daughter, Erika, learned a church camp song that helped her retain the list of the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love and love's many expressions. Nine fruit are listed, but Galatians 5:22-23 isn't meant to be a complete list of all the fruit that love can bear in your life.
Paul had a hand in starting and nurturing the churches in the region of Galtaia, that is now central Turkey. Paul experienced severe resistance to the gospel in towns like Lystra, Derbe, Lycaonia and Iconium. Paul bled for the sake of Christ in this region. (Acts 14:19) Paul writes to the churches in Galatia about the Jewish Christians who were confusing them about their new life in Christ. (Galatians 1:7) These men told the Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised if they would be followers of Jesus Messiah.
Paul, a former Pharisee, spoke against the Gentiles submitting to circumcision, because it was a sign of belonging to the covenant under Moses, a covenant no longer binding because of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. Law observance had its purpose for a time. That time had passed.
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.
Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.
Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. (Galatians 3:19-26)
Paul says more clearly in his letter to the Romans that the Law of Moses functions for the purpose of exposing the power of sin at work in us. In the above cited passage from Galatians 3, Paul makes the same argument. The law's purpose makes us aware of what pleases God and what does not. And because we experience sinful temptation to do what does not please God, we know we need a savior. The law exposes sin at work in us and makes our need for Christ apparent.
But Christ has appeared and completed God's redemptive mission in the cross. Forgiveness is offered freely through the cross of Jesus Christ. New life is shared in His resurrection. All who hope in Christ for salvation live in newness of life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul urges the Church to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18)
Those who put confidence in their own abilities, apart from the grace of the Lord, must struggle continually with their sinful limitations. But those who live by the Spirit of Christ, the presence of their resurrected Lord, do not fall to sins power. They live in victory over sin through the spiritual power of Christ.
Paul contrasts the two ways. Those who try to attain righteousness by law observance will suffer sin's insidious disturbance in life. They will know the battle day in and day out.
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. (Romans 7:15-19)
We all fall short because of sin. Some of us will dive headlong into sinful behavior, while others will fight it daily without divine assistance.
I see myself in this list of sinful behaviors. From simple things like angry outbursts when I drop something on the floor, to the rebellious choices of youth, I know the battle inside to do right. I join Paul in exclaiming "Who will rescue me from this body of death?!" (Romans 7:24) Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ! (Romans 7:25)
Rescue comes through faith in Christ. Those who hope in Christ receive the Spirit of Christ to give them power greater than sin by which to live. We call that sin-defeating, death-defying power, grace. Grace is the work of the Holy Spirit making us more and more like Jesus. It is God's love poured into our hearts through the Spirit. God's love at work in us will bear fruit in our lives. Paul contrasts the fruit the Spirit will bear in our lives to the works of sin-enslaved flesh.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
Where there had been a temporary high through drunkenness and fornication, now there is natural heavenly joy. Where there had been anger, quarreling and division, now there is patience, peace and kindness. Where we once sought to control the world through sorcery and other manipulative methods, now there is faithful dependency upon Christ. In Christ we have died to the old self harassed by sin. Now in Christ's victory we rise into newness of life in His resurrection power. We live by the Spirit and the Spirit bears the fruit of love in our lives.
An excellent book of the subject of the fruit of the Spirit is Philip Kenneson's Life on the Vine.
Kenneson recommends that if we want the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, we need to do what it takes to cultivate and nurture the fruit to an abundant harvest in our souls. If you want the fruit of patience, then practice patience at every opportunity. Rely on the grace of God to enable you to wait with hope. If you need self-control, then practice self-control. Anyone who's ever tried a diet will know how difficult practicing self-control can be. But lean on the everlasting arms of God and you will bear the fruit of self-mastery. Generally speaking, all you need is love! Listen to your heart's desire for God. Meditate on love. Lean into His love for you. Love God is full-hearted worship. Let love rule! Instead of craving sweets, juicy cheeseburgers, ice cream, or a bag of salty chips, know that what your body really needs is God's love. The Spirit will help you in your pursuit. God will reward those who seek Him with their whole heart.
I need to embrace Christ's Spirit within me, if I am to bear the fruit of the Spirit. I know that God will complete the good work He began in me. (Philippians 1:6) He will do the same in your life when you live by the Spirit.
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