Bearing the Fruit of The Spirit

[Christsfreeservant]

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26 NASB’95)​

The Scriptures speak much on the subject of the necessity of Christians bearing much fruit for the kingdom of God as proof or as evidence that genuine God-persuaded and God-gifted faith is really in their lives. So, what is meant by this “fruit”, and what is meant by “the fruit of the Spirit?”

Fruit: [Matthew 3:8-10; Matthew 7:15-20; Matthew 12:33; Matthew 21:43; Mark 4:20; John 4:35-37; John 12:24; John 15:1-8,16; Romans 1:13; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:8-10; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:5-6,9-11; Hebrews 12:11; etc.]

The word “fruit” has to do with our deeds, actions, results, etc. Our deeds, done in obedience to our Lord, in the power of the Spirit, give evidence of our faith. The Greek word is “karpós," figuratively speaking, has to do with “everything done in true partnership with Christ, i.e. a believer (a branch) lives in union with Christ (the Vine). By definition, fruit (2590 /karpós) results from two life-streams – the Lord living His life through ours – to yield what is eternal (cf. 1 Jn 4:17).” (Source: Bible Hub Interlinear)

So, if the faith that we have in Jesus Christ is genuine God-persuaded and God-gifted faith, which is not of our own doing, not of the will nor of the flesh of humans, but of God, and of his Spirit, then our actions and our behaviors and the results of such faith should mirror the fruit of the Spirit. And it doesn’t mean we will be perfect in all these areas at all times, but that the fruit of the Spirit should be what is predominant in our lives, i.e. what we live by, what we practice, which gives evidence to our faith being real.

For let’s look at the context of the passage of Scripture in which we are taught about the fruit of the Spirit. What preceded this was a list of the deeds (the fruit) of the flesh, such things as immorality, sensuality, idolatry, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. And the warning for us who are believers in Jesus Christ is that those who are practicing such things, i.e. who deliberately and habitually sin against God and against other humans, they will not inherit the kingdom of God, regardless of what they profess.

So, in contrast to the fruit of the flesh, we then have a list of the fruit of the Spirit, i.e. what kinds of attitudes, thinking, speaking and habits should be evident in the life of one who calls himself a believer in Jesus Christ. We should be people who demonstrate the love of God to others, to love like God loves us, which is based in moral purity and uprightness, and not in human flesh. And we should be kind, but not by the world’s standards, but by God’s standards of kindness which speaks truth, in love, and not lies.

And all of this is opposite of (in contrast to) what the flesh produces, which is sin of any kind, but particularly addictive (habitual) sin. For, as this Scripture points out for us, if sin is what we practice, we will not inherit the kingdom of God, regardless of what our lips profess. But if righteousness, godliness, moral purity, uprightness, honesty and faithfulness to God and to his commands are our practice, then we have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. And this is NOT works salvation. This is obedience.

For Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that that cross to put our sins to death with him so that by faith in him, which comes from God, we will now die with Christ to sin and live for him and for his righteousness in walks of obedience to our Lord’s New Covenant commands, in holy living. But if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness, and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God. Jesus taught it. Paul taught it. The other apostles taught it, too.

Therefore, the fruit (results, evidence, actions) of one who is of genuine biblical faith in the Lord Jesus should be that we have died with Christ to sin, that sin is no longer our practice (habit), but that we are now walking (in conduct) by (according to) the Spirit and his fruit, and in his holiness and righteousness, in the power of God, by the grace of God, and in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands. But if our fruit is addictive sin and persistent disobedience to our Lord, we do not have eternal life.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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Bearing the Fruit of The Spirit
An Original Work / March 19, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love