The expression “the fruit of the Spirit” is found twice in our KJV Bible, but in a more accurate translation it is found only once, in Galatians 5:2222But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22). When we understand the error that was being taught among the Galatian assemblies, we can see why Paul emphasizes the Spirit of God. It appears that some among the Galatians were teaching that while lost souls needed to be saved only through faith in Christ, yet subsequently they had to live the Christian life by a rule of law. In writing the epistle, Paul had no word of commendation at all for them, but rather pointed out that they were being taught “another gospel” that really took them off the ground of grace. He points out the various ramifications of what perhaps seemed to be “a little leaven” (Gal. 5:99A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9)), showing that many bad things resulted from it.
The seriousness of being under a rule of law is that it exalts man, for every false doctrine takes away from the glory of God and exalts man. A rule of law makes man himself responsible for his own development as a Christian and gives the natural man some shreds of dignity and respect. It also promotes a legal atmosphere among believers, resulting in a lack of love and causing Christians to “bite and devour one another” (Gal. 5:1515But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Galatians 5:15)).
The Offence of the Cross
A rule of law also takes away “the offence of the cross” (Gal. 5:1111And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. (Galatians 5:11)), for a law in the life of the believer supposes that practical righteousness in his walk can come from a legal standard. This ignores the plain statement that “if righteousness is by law, then Christ has died for nothing” (Gal. 2:22And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. (Galatians 2:2)1 JnD). What then is the offence of the cross? It is the reproach of the world that comes to those who, admitting that their old sinful self is totally evil, trust for their salvation in a Savior who died on a Roman cross, just like a common criminal. Ordinances and legalism do not bring persecution and suffering. The natural man can appreciate them, and when those who bear the Lord’s name sink to this level, the world and themselves are agreed and can walk together. It is significant that it was the religious leaders of the Jews — those who gloried in the law—who condemned the Lord Jesus and insisted that He be crucified. And what was the crux of their hatred? The Lord Jesus said, “Me it [the world] hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:77The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. (John 7:7)). But true Christianity means following a rejected Christ and bearing the world’s scorn and reproach.
The Works of the Flesh
In this way, we see a strange paradox: Not only does a rule of law appeal to the flesh, but it also brings out what Paul calls “the works of the flesh.” Man likes to live by a rule, yet that very rule causes his natural self to rebel against it. Then those works of the flesh (and they are “works”!) come out, and the list given in Galatians 5:19-2119Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19‑21) is sad indeed. Human energy may keep them under control to some extent, but under law they will come out, just as water under pressure will find its way out of the smallest aperture. What is the solution?
As we learn so well from Romans 6-8, fighting against the flesh does not work. If we do that, we find ourselves “in flesh,” and then we find that “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)). Just as the activity of the flesh is called “the works of the flesh,” so it is work to fight against the flesh, and it is a battle that we cannot win. Rather, we need to live “in the Spirit” (Rom. 8:99But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)), for that is where God has placed us positionally. When we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and recognized the value of His work on the cross, the Holy Spirit came down and dwelt in each of us. Now God views us as being “in Spirit” before Him; no longer are we viewed as being “in flesh.” When once we are indwelt with the Spirit of God, we find that the Spirit uses that new life that we have in Christ to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Just as it is not “work” for a fruit tree to bear its characteristic fruit, so it is not “work” for the Spirit of God to bear the fruit that is characteristic of the Spirit. That fruit is natural to the Spirit of God, just as fruit is natural to a fruit tree. Nine characteristics of that fruit are listed for us in the Word of God — “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23 JnD). We notice that this list is not referred to as the “fruits” of the Spirit; rather, the singular noun is used, for all those various features are one fruit. They are all produced by the same Spirit. We all like to see those things in others, and we desire them for ourselves too. Why then do they not appear more readily in us?
We get a few of the reasons in the same chapter (Gal. 5), and earlier in this article we have already alluded to one of them. As we have said, the natural man likes a rule of law, because it gives the old nature some credit and takes away that “offence of the cross” in this world. But there are other reasons.
The Flesh Grieves the Spirit
We read in Galatians 5:2424And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24) that those who belong to Christ “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” That word “crucified” is a good word that the Spirit of God uses here, for it well describes how painful it is to keep the old nature in the place of death. We like ourselves too much and do not want to crucify the flesh. Then, as we read in verse 17, “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” The activity of the flesh grieves the Spirit, and the fruit ceases to be produced. We need constant diligence to crucify the flesh, even though positionally we have already done so.
Then, in verse 26, we are told not to be “desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” We might wonder why these bad traits would come to the surface, but they too are the product of the flesh, incited by a legal standard. In spite of their being constantly in the Lord’s company, we know that several times the disciples disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. We have to admit that often we are no better than they were. Once again, the allowance of this in our lives curtails the fruit of the Spirit.
Fruit
In summary, the fruit of the Spirit can be produced by God in all of us, but we will find that self-judgment is inseparable from a walk in fellowship with God. If we want to see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, we must constantly be on guard to judge the activity of the flesh. But if we are willing to do so, we will reap a rich harvest!
Before leaving the subject of the fruit of the Spirit, we might say a word about the same expression in Ephesians 5:9: “The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” However, this expression is better rendered in the JND translation as “the fruit of the light.” The Spirit of God is certainly a light, for the golden candlestick in the tabernacle was emblematic of the Spirit of God. However, the word “light” as it is used here in Ephesians 5 is a general word, referring to the light of God’s presence into which we are brought when we are saved. We are brought into relationship with the Lord, and through His Word we are enlightened as to what is suitable to God. The fruit of that light is indeed in goodness, righteousness and truth, in contrast to “the unfruitful works of darkness,” spoken of in verse 11.
W. J. Prost