Fruit of Holy Spirit

God expects his people to bear spiritual fruit

Isaiah 5:4 ESV

What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?

See also Mt 7:12–20 “fruit” is a term used to indicate the produce or outcome of a person’s life; Jn 15:8

The fruit of the Spirit leads to believers becoming Christlike

The gift of the Spirit begins this lifelong process

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Christlike qualities are contrasted with sinful ones

Galatians 5:16–17 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

See also Ro 8:5–14; 1 Co 12:7; Ga 6:8; Eph 5:8–16; Col 3:1–17

The fruit of Spirit-filled living

Ga 5:22–23 “fruit” is singular, emphasising that these qualities are mutually dependent aspects of Christian living.

See also Eph 5:9

Examples of the fruit of the Spirit

Love

Ro 5:5; 1 Co 13:1–13

Joy

Php 1:18–19; 1 Th 1:6

Peace

Ro 8:6; Ro 14:17

Patience

Heb 6:12; Jas 5:7–11

Kindness

2 Co 6:6; Col 3:12; 2 Pe 1:7

Goodness

Ro 15:14; 2 Pe 1:5

Faithfulness

1 Co 10:13 God’s faithfulness is also here presented as the reason for faithfulness; 3 Jn 3

Gentleness

Mt 11:29–30 Jesus Christ displays such gentleness; 1 Th 2:7

Self-control

2 Ti 3:3; 2 Pe 1:6

Other evidence of the Holy Spirit’s activity

Ro 14:17 righteousness

Hope:

Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5

Eph 1:17 wisdom; Eph 5:18 temperance

The evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is a result of divine activity, not of human effort

1 Co 3:9; 1 Co 3:16; Ga 2:20