But the Fruit of the Spirit is

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 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 keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26 ESV)

Questions:

• What is meant by the word “fruit” in “fruit of the Spirit”?

• What is the intended result of us belonging to Christ Jesus?

• What does it mean for us to “live by the Spirit”?

• What does it mean for us to “keep in step with the Spirit”?

In context, Paul was addressing the issue of the Judaizers trying to convince the Christians that they had to add on to their salvation some of the Old Covenant ceremonial and liturgical and dietary laws, including the requirement of circumcision of all males. So Paul refuted what the Judaizers were teaching by explaining that through Jesus’ sacrifice on that cross for our sins that we who believe in him are not subject to those Old Covenant liturgical requirements. But this did not remove God’s moral laws.

For then he went on to explain that, although they were free from all those Old Covenant ceremonial laws, they were not to use their freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love (agape love) they were to serve one another. And this love, which is of God, prefers what God prefers, which is for us to live through Christ, obeying his choices in his power. For what God prefers is all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to God and to his New Covenant commands.

Now the fruit (outgrowth, result) of the Spirit living within us, by genuine God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in our Lord Jesus, should be seen in our lives in these various character traits, which are of the Spirit, and which should be reflected by us who are of the Spirit and who are no longer surrendering our lives to the sinful passions of the flesh (see 2 Peter 1:5-11). And this is not saying that we will be perfect in all these areas, but they should be evident in our lives and increasing, not decreasing.

Therefore, we are to be followers of Jesus Christ who exemplify agape love, which prefers and lives by what God prefers, in his power, which is what is holy, obedient, and righteous, etc. We should have the joy of the Lord in our hearts, even in difficult times, for this joy has to do with rejoicing because of God’s grace to us. And this peace is peace of mind, a spiritual wholeness which is gifted to us by God, so this is peace (not enmity) with God.

Now I think patience is a difficult one for all human beings. But patience is possible, by the grace of God and in his power, as we yield control of our circumstances over to the Lord and as we endeavor to not control them ourselves. And the result of this should be steadfastness of spirit and staying-power in our difficult circumstances while we wait upon the Lord to intervene in our trials and in our tribulations. 

And kindness is not saying to people what they want to hear so that they will like us and not hate and reject us. It is not ever kind to lie to people to make them feel better. For kindness is uprightness and goodness and excellence, so not lies. And it refers to meeting real needs in God’s way, not in the way of the flesh. So it is kind to speak the truth in love to people, the truth that they need to hear which they may not be receptive to, and which may lead them to hate and reject us, and to not want anything to do with us.

And goodness is not based in human thinking and reasoning, but it is based solely in the goodness of God, which has to do with moral purity, honesty, uprightness, faithfulness, and obedience to our Lord. And if we are faithful, we are full of biblical faith in the Lord Jesus which dies with him to sin and lives to his righteousness. And we are trustworthy and dependable with regard to our Lord and to his requirements for our lives, and in our marriage relationships with regard to fidelity in our unions with our spouses.

And gentleness is meekness, but meekness is not weakness. Jesus was meek but he was not weak. He never compromised his faith or convictions or the truth or righteousness so that others would consider him “gentle.” For he was the one who overturned tables in the temple courts and who drove out the moneychangers with whips. And he was the one who called out the hypocrites and publicly derided them for their hypocrisy. So gentleness is reserved strength which expresses power with a level of reserve.

And self-control is not all about self and us saying to God “Me Do It,” like how some people operate. Self-control is the ability to control our own behaviors and to not allow ourselves to be out-of-control, living in riotous and immoral behaviors. But for the believer in Jesus Christ this falls under Holy Spirit control, as we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ to do his will, and as we resist Satan and flee temptation and draw near to God to do his will. For if we are in Christ Jesus, by faith in him, we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

So, if we are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we are to be those who are also living by the Spirit, walking (in conduct) according to the ways of the Lord and no longer according to the ways of our sinful flesh. This does not mean we will be perfect in every way (1 John 2:1-2), but that sin is no longer to be what we practice, but now righteousness and obedience to our Lord and to his commands are to be what we practice. For if sin is what we practice, and not obeying our Lord, we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Songs in the Night  

An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

https://vimeo.com/379484387