Galatians 5:22, The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Galatians 5:22

Love (noun) (26) (agape) is unconditional, sacrificial love which is ultimately reflects the very essence of God Himself as John explains writing that . . . .

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

A. Love for God

1. How natural this should be

2. The great commandment

(Matthew 22:37, 38) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.

3. Evidences that people do not love God

a. Use of His name in vain

b. Lack of appreciation for His blessings

c. Lives given to the works of the flesh

4. The change when conversion takes place

a. A new awareness of God’s love

b. “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19)

5. A believer’s love for God may cool (Revelation 2:1-5)

6. What is the temperature of your love for God?

B. Love for the Family of God

1. We are born into God’s family by faith in Christ

a. A whole company of brothers and sisters

b. A unique new relationship

2. Proofs of new life

a. “Love one another” (John 13:34-35) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

b. “We love the brethren” (1 John 3:14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

3. The lack of love shown in many churches

4. The Galatians had once loved one another

a. When legalism came, love left

b. Now they were destroying on another (5:15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

5. Paul longed to see love flowing through them again

C. Love for the Lost

1. The Holy Spirit causes us to be like Jesus

2. The Lord and His love for sinners

a. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

b. He was criticized for loving sinners (Luke 15:2) And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

c. His death for sinners proved His Love (Roman 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Spirit-filled people love sinners and minister to them