The Root of the Fruit
Main Point: Before fruit grows, the tree must be healthy. Spiritual fruit grows when we walk in the Spirit.
How do I remain healthy?
A. Every fruit/deed is good fruit (Gal 5:17, 19-21)
The Spirit strives against the flesh and its evil influence; the flesh against the Spirit and His good influence, so that neither the one nor the other can be fully carried out into action. “But” (
manifest—The hidden fleshly principle betrays itself palpably by its works, so that these are not hard to discover, and leave no doubt that they come not from the Spirit.
5:17 the flesh desires against the Spirit The Spirit and the flesh are not in a stalemate. The flesh does not frustrate the desires of the Spirit; rather, the Spirit frustrates the desires of the flesh.
5:19 deeds of the flesh Refers to the sinful actions of human beings who put their own selfish needs ahead of others.
19-21. The works of the flesh can be expected to spawn freely in the atmosphere of legalism. A flash of irony is detectable here in the reference to works—“Look at the accomplishments of the flesh!”
The works of the flesh include, but go well beyond, the destructive contentions and jealousies portrayed in v. 15. Where there is such behavior, it is positive proof that the person is not living in the power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 16, 18, 22, 23) but is being energized by Satan and his hosts (
5:19–21. The works the Judaizers proclaim only seem to be good. In reality legalism produces bad works, the works of the flesh. Paul has similar vice lists, with similar warnings, in
19. Works of the flesh. That is, the deeds that result from the unrestricted operation of human passions, feelings, and desires. See on v. 16. Paul gives a partial list of these “works” in vs. 19–21.
5:19 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident” Many commentators see several distinct categories in this list of sins. However, there is a unity here based primarily on pagan worship excesses. People reveal their true selves in their actions and motives (cf.
B. Fruit is birthed from our walk with God (Gal 5:16, 25)
Walk in the Spirit—Greek, “By (the rule of) the (Holy) Spirit.”
Compare
Let our life in practice correspond to the ideal inner principle of our spiritual life, namely, our standing by faith as dead to, and severed from, sin, and the condemnation of the law. “Life by (or ‘in’) the Spirit” is not an occasional influence of the Spirit, but an abiding state, wherein we are continually alive, though sometimes sleeping and inactive.
By the Spirit let us also walk (πνευματι και στοιχωμεν [pneumati kai stoichōmen]). Present subjunctive (volitive) of στοιχεω [stoicheō], “Let us also go on walking by the Spirit.” Let us make our steps by the help and guidance of the Spirit.
5:16 live by the Spirit Refers to being under the Spirit’s direction and empowerment.
5:25 we must also follow the Spirit It is not enough to claim to have new life in Christ by the power of the Spirit (compare 3:3); believers must continually follow after the Spirit in the way they live while also resisting the flesh.
16, 17. Walk in (better, by) the Spirit. Only in this way can believers rise above the limitations of the flesh and avoid fulfilling its desires. The promise is emphatic—ye shall not at all fulfill.
The same tension between divine provision and human appropriation is found regarding the Spirit. We live in the Spirit by God’s arrangement, by means of the gift of the Spirit at conversion. But we walk in the Spirit as a matter of personal volition, taking each step in dependence upon him. If one is walking thus, he will not be desirous of vainglory—ambitious for self and frustrated when unsuccessful.
The verb peripateite is a present imperative and is literally translated, “keep on walking.” As a believer walks through life he should depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit for guidance and power. But the Spirit does not operate automatically in a believer’s heart. He waits to be depended on.
“Keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25). Several similar phrases are found in this chapter: “live by the Spirit” (v. 16), “led by the Spirit” (v. 18), and again “live by the Spirit” (v. 25). These images make the same point. In our Christian life we are to live by faith, responsive to God’s Spirit as He guides our choices, showing our reliance on Him by confidently doing what we know is right. And we can tell if we’re in step with Him by noting whether our lives are marked by sinful acts—or by the Spirit’s fruit.
The only consistent way to overcome the sinful desires of our human nature (the flesh) is to live step-by-step in the power of the Holy Spirit as He works through our spirit (v. 25).
Walking each moment by faith in God’s word under the Spirit’s control assures absolute victory over the desires of our sinful nature.
Walk in the Spirit means to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. A believer following the Spirit’s lead (v. 16) will not become conceited, provoke others, or envy others.
To walk in the Spirit means to “live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself for me” (2:20). It is the opposite of living “under the law” (e.g., v 18 below).
The key to victory over the lust [or desire] of the flesh is by walking in a spiritual manner, by faith. Walking in a legalistic manner indulges the flesh.
When Scripture talks about our “walk,” it’s talking about the conduct of our lives. To “carry out the desire of the flesh” is to live life based on a sinful human viewpoint. To “walk by the Spirit” is to discover God’s view on a matter, decide to act on that divine perspective, and depend on the Holy Spirit to empower your obedience. Notice that walking by the Spirit doesn’t mean resting while the Spirit does all the work. We’re not to be passive but active. We are called to walk while trusting in the Spirit’s empowerment. Walking by the Spirit is obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit by the power of the life of Christ, which he infuses into his people as they trust him to overcome the trials and temptations of life.
It’s much like walking on a moving sidewalk at the airport. You are walking in dependence on a power at work underneath you.
The Spirit bears fruit in your life when you keep in step with him (5:25). The verb for “keep in step” is different from the word for “walk” in 5:16. It means to march in step with your commander so that he can lead you, step-by-step. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be included in every move we make if we truly want him to lead us.
To experience victory we must live or walk (KJV) by the Spirit. As we live our lives in dependence on, and obedience to, the Holy Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (see “Deeper Discoveries”).
16. Walk in the Spirit. Literally, “walk in Spirit,” that is, in harmony with spiritual ideals (see on
25. If we live. If we make a profession of accepting the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us actually follow this out in our daily lives.
5:16 “walk by the Spirit” A PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE, Paul urged the Galatians to live a life supernaturally and continuously controlled by the Spirit of God (cf.
To ‘walk by the Spirit’ means to be under the constant moment by moment direction, control, and guidance of the Spirit [NIC]. To ‘walk in the Spirit’ means to go where the Spirit is going, to listen to his voice, to discern his will, to follow his guidance [NAC].
‘Walking’ requires a constant application while ‘living’ requires an abiding fellowship. The practical application of this new life requires perseverance just as a child who is learning to walk needs persistence. The same Spirit who gives life gives both strength and guidance throughout life’s journey [NCBC]. This phrase deals with the Spirit as the regulative principle of believers’ conduct [NIC]. The verb στοιχέω ‘to follow’ has the sense of walking in a straight line and so of conducting oneself appropriately [ICC, NIBC, TH]. In this sense the expression in this phrase is synonymous with the expression in 5:18 [TH].
C. The Spirit produces what we cannot (Gal. 5:22-23)
The fruit of the Spirit (ὁ καρπος του πνευματος [ho karpos tou pneumatos]). Paul changes the figure from works (ἐργα [erga]) in verse 19 to fruit as the normal out-cropping of the Holy Spirit in us.
5:19–21 More than half of the works of the flesh listed here denote forms of possible conflict among people. While this list is not exhaustive, it adequately represents life apart from the Spirit.
5:22 the fruit of the Spirit This list (vv. 22–23), which contrasts with the works of the flesh (vv. 19–21), is not exhaustive but representative. These traits describe the desires and characteristics that God cultivates in believers through His living presence.
Those who “live by the Spirit” (v. 16) produce fruit reflecting the character of God that the law could not (3:21).
Everything here stands in contrast to the foregoing: fruit instead of works; the Spirit instead of the flesh; and a list of virtues altogether attractive and desirable in place of the ugly things just cited. The word fruit, being singular, as usual in Paul’s writings, tends to emphasize the unity and coherence of the life in the Spirit as opposed to the disorganization and instability of life under the dictates of the flesh.
It is possible, also, that the singular may be intended to point to the person of Christ, in whom all these things are seen in their perfection. The Spirit seeks to produce these by reproducing Christ in the believer (cf. 4:19).
It is important to observe that the fruit here described is not produced by a believer, but by the Holy Spirit working through a Christian who is in vital union with Christ (cf.
The word “fruit” is singular, indicating that these qualities constitute a unity, all of which should be found in a believer who lives under the control of the Spirit. In an ultimate sense this “fruit” is simply the life of Christ lived out in a Christian. It also points to the method whereby Christ is formed in a believer (cf.
The fruit analogy is reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching on the vine, branches, and fruitful harvest (
Since fruit is singular, it apparently sees the following characteristics (love … self-control) as a harmonious unity. It is a multifaceted prism that displays its beauty in diverse but integrated ways. Thus, to the same extent that there is love, there will be self-control.
5:22. The Old Testament also uses the metaphor of God’s people bearing “fruit” (e.g.,
The word fruit suggests something that is natural. Thus the fruit of the Spirit is something that can and should characterize the life of every believer. Fruit is produced as the believer abides in Christ by faith.
In contrast to the works of the flesh is the fruit of the Spirit. Works are something that you do, motivated by your flesh. But fruit is something produced through you by the Spirit as you respond to his urging (see
And make no mistake: fruit always bears the character of the tree that produces it. Apple trees don’t produce oranges. You don’t display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (5:22–23) in your life without the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the life and character of Christ produced in us as we walk in fellowship with him.
22. Fruit of the Spirit. That which naturally develops in the life when the Spirit has control (cf. v. 18). The results of such control stand in marked contrast with the works of the flesh (vs. 19–21). The fruit of the Spirit is not the natural product of human nature, but of a power wholly outside of man.
Attention may be called to the fact that the word “fruit” is in the singular, whereas the word “works” (v. 19) is plural. There is but one “fruit of the Spirit,” and that one fruit includes all of the Christian graces enumerated in vs. 22, 23. In other words, all of these graces are to be present in the life of the Christian, and it cannot be said that he is bearing the “fruit of the Spirit” if any one is missing
5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is” Paul described human effort as works of the flesh, but he described the Christian life as the “fruit” or product of the Spirit. He thereby distinguished human-focused religion and supernatural-focused religion.
It is also interesting to note that fruit is SINGULAR in this verse. The use of the SINGULAR can be understood in two ways: (1) Love is the fruit of the Spirit, described by the varying terms that follow; or (2) it is a collective singular like “seed.”
QUESTION—What is significant about καρπός ‘fruit’ being in the singular?
Paul is not speaking about a series of fruits that would be shared so that one believer has one fruit and another believer has a different fruit. Instead, he is speaking about a cluster in which all of these qualities are to be manifested in each believer [Mor].
The singular serves to present all the experiences and elements of character in the following list as a unity which make up the result of living by the Spirit [ICC].
