The Fruit of the Spirit

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 8
In Gal. 5:2222But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22), the fruit of the Spirit is brought before us in the singular instead of the plural. These graces are not the product of self; they do not belong to us by nature; this is the inward work of grace reproduced by the Holy Spirit. We are reminded in Hos. 14:88Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. (Hosea 14:8) "From Me is thy fruit found." Again in that memorable discourse by our Lord in John 15:55I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5) we read: "Without Me ye can do nothing.”
These nine lovely graces begin with love, joy and peace-the characteristics of our inward state. Long-suffering, gentleness and goodness mark our outward character before our fellowmen. While faith, meekness and temperance [self-control] distinguish our attitude upward toward God. Our Lord was the only One on earth who displayed these graces with faultless and unerring perfection.
Love is the first fruit of the Spirit. This is not a human sentiment, but it is the "love of God... shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." Rom. 5:55And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5). The matchless love has drawn us to Himself, the Lover of our souls, and the love of Christ constraineth us-that we should not henceforth live unto ourselves but unto Him who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:14, 1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15).) This love is the badge of our discipleship. The Lord Jesus reminds us in John 13:3535By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35): "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:1010Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10).
Joy, another characteristic, is the second fruit of the Spirit. We recall His sweet promise "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:1111These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11). Again, "Your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:2222And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (John 16:22). Our joy is in the Lord Himself "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8). A fullness of joy is the result of our fellowship with the Father and with His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, and truly "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh. 8:1010Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).
Peace is the third of these graces. Our Lord Jesus spoke of this peace to His disciples in the upper room: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." John 14:2727Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27). "Having made peace through the blood of His cross." Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20). So we may, even in this restless, changing world, experience the tranquility of soul for "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee." Isa. 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3).
Long-suffering, the fourth, is a wonderful attribute of our gracious God, and how much we need to cultivate this fruit of the Spirit in a hostile world and toward one another. "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." Col. 1:1111Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11). The Apostle Paul, in his testimony, declares, "That in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering; for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." 1 Tim. 1:1616Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16).
Gentleness is the fifth of the graces of the Holy Spirit. "Thy gentleness hath made me great." 2 Sam. 22:3636Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. (2 Samuel 22:36). Our Lord Jesus was the perfect example of this lovely grace. We are reminded in 2 Tim. 2:2424And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2 Timothy 2:24) and 25, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." (see also James 3:1717But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17).)
Goodness is the sixth grace. This is not any goodness of our own, but as we fix our earnest gaze upon Him who went about doing good, others may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13;10:3813Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)). It is unselfishness towards others in our forbearance and in our manner of lire. We are exhorted to do good to all men and especially to them who are of the household of faith.
Faith is the seventh of the graces and distinguishes our attitude towards God in our daily walk here. We read in 1 Cor. 4:22Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2): "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." May we seek to be faithful in the little things. "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." Luke 16:1010He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10). We would remind our hearts of the Lord's own commendation to the faithful servant: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matt. 25:2121His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21).
Meekness is the eighth grace, and we always need to remind ourselves of the Lord's gracious invitation in Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29): "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Meekness is not weakness, but strength held under control. It is a humility that surrenders the will to the Lord. It is the ornament which is in the sight of God of great price (1 Peter 3:44But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:4)). The Apostle Paul appeals to the believers in Corinth to manifest (show forth, display) the meekness of Christ.
Temperance [self-control] is the last but not the least of the graces. We have here the need for the Spirit-controlled life. In 2 Peter 1:5, 65And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (2 Peter 1:5‑6), we have added to faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control. If we live in the Spirit, we are also to walk in the Spirit. All believers live in the Spirit, being born again by the Holy Spirit as we are exhorted in verse 16 of Gal. 5 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust [evil desires] of the flesh.”
May these graces become increasingly evident in each of our lives to His glory. H. Spence