The Fruit of the Spirit

Introduction

The Bible often presents, by way of contrast, two very different ways of living. On one side, it is the life of desire and temptation that leads to sin. This path should be avoided because it leads to death.

Another path that is presented is the way of truth and godliness. It is not free from temptation, but it is a path that secures love, joy, peace, and goodness in our life.

Paul contrasted these two paths in Galatians 5 with the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Christians are to be led by the Spirit and live by the Spirit because we belong to Christ, having crucified and put to death the works of the flesh - Galatians 5:18, 24-25

Fruit is the evidence of spiritual life and a commitment we have made to following Christ Jesus!

We will benefit in all aspects of our life, if we will pause and meditate on the fruit of the Spirit and ensuring that our lives are truly manifesting the reality that God expects from each one of us...

Fruit Has Life From the Vine

Paul uses the metaphor of fruit because Galatians, at its heart, is an explanation and defense of the true gospel. Fruit comes from the vine and the seed.

Fruit is to be borne from what is sown - Gal 6:8

The seed that is planted is the gospel. It is the teaching that is revealed from the Holy Spirit - Gal 3:2-5

Did you receive the Spirit…by hearing with faith? - v 2

Having begun by the Spirit…? - v 3

He who provides you with the Spirit…by hearing with faith? - v 5

The Spirit is not referring to a miraculous manifestation or indwelling of the Holy Spirit apart from the gospel of Christ.

Jesus is also the vine with which we must be connected - John 15:1-8

Jesus is the vine - John 15:1

The Father is the vinedresser and He cuts off the branches that do not bear good fruit or any fruit - John 15:2

Abiding in Christ means that He is the source of life - John 15:4

The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is the signal that we have heard the gospel, responded in faith, and have been obedient to the law of Christ, therefore we bear good fruit that is rooted and grounded in the Spirit and Christ.

Our Fruit Is the Manifestation of Our Heart

The fruit we bear reveals what is in our hearts - Matthew 7:15-20

False teachers will be identified by their fruit - Matthew 7:15-16

Thorns choke out life; false teachers choke out life in the church - Matthew 7:16

While we are warned about judging people unfairly and with hypocritical judgment, we are told to become “fruit inspectors” by Jesus - Matthew 7:17-20

Disciples of Christ are to bear good fruit because they have been transformed by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The heart of the Christian should reveal what is good and right…which is what Paul tells us the fruit of the Spirit actually is.

The Fruit of the Spirit Is...

Gal 5:22-23

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

Displaying the Fruit of the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit needs to be seen in our FAMILIES

Husbands are the head of their wives, but headship is not dictatorship and barking out orders. Headship is godly leadership, molded in the attitude and mind of Christ - Ephesians 5:23, 25

Wives are to be submissive to their husbands in a way that treats their husband with love, kindness, and faithfulness, just as the church is to be submissive to Christ - Ephesians 5:22, 24

Children are to obey their parents because that is what pleases the Lord - Ephesians 6:1

When a wife only causes strife and turmoil, or when a husband becomes embittered against his wife or children and provokes them, or when children are in rebellion to their parents, it is evidence that the fruit of the Spirit is not growing in that family.

When resentment and anger are harbored against a family member, it shows that we are not concerned with allowing the gospel to truly transform us in our closest relationships on the earth.

When peace and patience with is never shared in the family and only strife is seen, it is clear that the works of the flesh (and not fruit of the Spirit) has taken root.

If we do not make a concerted effort to show the fruit of the Spirit in our family (towards our husband, wife, or children), then how do we think we will be able to show the fruit of the Spirit to anyone else?

The fruit of the Spirit needs to be seen in our WORK ETHIC

The Scriptures show us the importance of working hard - Proverbs 6:6-11

Laziness is foolish and sinful. Hard work is the evidence of wisdom - Proverbs 6:6

Work ethic demands careful planning, foreward thinking, and planning for times when things may be difficult - Proverbs 6:8

One of the reasons that we work is to share with others who may not be as fortunate - Ephesians 4:28; Acts 4:34-37

Simple acts of kindness show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Being on time and working hard — even if it’s a job that we just do not love — shows faithfulness and loyalty, as God expects from the Christian who has been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit needs to be seen in the LORD’S CHURCH

Christians are the chosen people of God. We are to show compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience - Colossians 3:12

This manifests itself through bearing with each other, forgiving each other, just as Christ bears with us and forgives us - Colossians 3:13

Bearing with one another means to literally “put up with” someone else.

It’s not difficult to “put up” with someone who is kind to us, but it is difficult to put up with someone when we disagree, or who complains about us, and gripes about what we have done.

Bearing with each other should lead us to be willing to forgive each other in the same way Christ forgave those who were crucifying Him on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Unity and peace are to be ruling in the body of Christ - Colossians 3:14-15

How does unity and peace express itself? Through singing - Colossians 3:16

We sing “to God” - Colossians 3:16

We speak/sing “to one another” - Ephesians 5:19

When we are unable to sing together and to each other, it is no wonder we will not feel as strong and as unified as we once did.

There is something about being with our brothers and sisters in Christ, hearing their voices, and saying “Amen” together with the prayers that are led.

Unity and peace require us being together.

Conclusion

The fruit of the Spirit needs to be evident in the Lord’s church, in our work, and in our families.

If the fruit of the Spirit can grow in all of these places, then it will mold us and transform us into what we ought to be for Christ.

Bearing good fruit is what we must do since we have life in Christ.

But we must also remember that if we quit bearing fruit or our fruit is rotten God will cut us off and we will not found to have eternal life with God. The axe will cut us off and we will be thrown into the fire - Matthew 3:10

Bear good fruit for the Lord. Bear the fruit of the Spirit.