A common phrase in Christianity appears in Galatians 5: the fruit of the Spirit. It’s a way of describing attributes that God works within us to develop.
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“Fruit of the Spirit”
Galatians 5:22-26
- There’s a common phrase in Christianity
- The fruit of the Spirit
- This phrase originates in the passage we’ll examine today
- It’s a way of describing attributes that God works within us to develop
- He provides the tools we need to grow
- And He tells us what maturity looks like
- So we can be confident He is accomplishing His purposes in us
- We have the privilege of looking at five verses in Galatians today
- On the “Fruit of the Spirit”
- We should ask ourselves a key question before we get started in Galatians 5
- What is required before we can have the fruit of the Spirit?
- Salvation – by faith in Jesus Christ alone
- It is only by faith that we can have the Spirit of God dwelling within us
- In fact, the second part of Romans 8:9 says…
“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
- The phrase that makes up our theme today gives us the answer
- It is the fruit of the “Spirit”
- It’s not our fruit
- Not fruit that we can work hard to obtain
- It’s fruit that the Spirit works within us to reveal
- Really, a reflection of His attributes
- A reflection of Christ
- So, we should start by acknowledging what a privilege it is to know He does this
- That we are capable of being more like Him because of the Spirit’s work
- With this in mind, let’s review our text…
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
- We know the source of this fruit, but must also know what this fruit looks like
- We’ll go through each description one at a time
- Beginning with love
- We know that we are commanded to love
- We know that God’s love is our model
- If we reflect this kind of love, what does it mean?
- It is a concern for others
- It is an awareness of their needs
- Having their best interest at heart
- And therefore giving
- Making sacrifice on their behalf
- Taking action on their behalf
- But we must also talk about joy
- This is a gladness that comes from within
- It has a source outside ourselves
- (Of course we know that source to be Christ)
- It is not circumstance-based
- Because circumstances change
- But this gladness is not subject to change
- It is foundational
- It remains despite circumstances
- We must talk about peace
- This is a tranquil state of soul
- It is both a peace with God
- And the peace of God
- Peace with God, where used to exist a state of war
- The peace of God, even in the midst of battle
- We also see the description: longsuffering
- There are words we can use as synonyms
- Patience
- Endurance
- Constancy
- Steadfastness
- Perseverance
- Wonderful words that tell us something about who we are
- They are words that describe a person of deep character
- Someone who is well-changed
- Changed for the better
- Gentleness is a moral goodness
- We’re talking about a gentle soul
- A person of integrity and kindness
- Also goodness
- An uprightness of heart and life
- It is pictured as a posture
- Someone who will “stand up and be counted”
- They can be regarded is good
- God’s goodness showing through
- The fruit of the Spirit is faith
- This is a conviction about the truth of anything
- For the believer
- The one being changed by the Spirit
- It is most certainly faith in God
- A conviction that He is truth
- And what He says is truth
- Also meekness
- This is a mildness
- But it is not the negative mildness we may picture
- It can rather be described as a strength under control
- It is the power to stay in control
- When there is every temptation and every likelihood
- We will not remain in control
- Then there is temperance
- Another wonderful word
- This is a self-control
- It is the virtue of a person who masters his desires and passions
- He is not mastered by them
- Rather, the Spirit has worked
- And lusts that dwell in his flesh do not control him
- He is controlling them
- What does this person look like?
- The one who exhibits (reflects) the fruit of the Spirit?
- How are they walking?
- I like how the ESV phrases verse 25
- It helps us picture it…
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
- We are not merely altered to the point where we exhibit this fruit
- We continually must exhibit it
- In a very much ongoing way
- Keeping in step with Christ
- With His Spirit
- Knowing His word
- Loving it
- With a commitment to it
- And to obedience
- This fruit is not our own – it is the Spirit’s
- But He exhibits it through us
- As we are used by and for Him
- In a way that allows us to have a part in eternal ministry
- Ministry that is worth something eternal