“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Galations 5:22 KJV
The first thing to notice about this verse is that it is singular. Fruit not Fruits. All of these listed traits are one fruit. You do not get to choose one and not another. The Holy Spirit brings them all together on one plate and not A La Carte. This Fruit or Trait is available for every believer if they will accept it.
What is missing from this list is also very important to understand. Preaching, Teaching, Spreading Doctrine are not a fruit of the Spirit. They are listed as Gifts of the Spirit in other bible verses. Gifts of the Spirit are only given to a few people and not to everyone. Gifts of the Spirit are given to certain people at the Holy Spirit’s discretion.
“Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life” James 3: 1-2 The Message.
There is a big distinction between Fruit of the Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit.
Scripture defines the fruit of the Spirit as internal character and relational virtues rather than verbal declarations and theological knowledge. The Fruit describes traits in a person’s inner transformation and how they treat others.
A person can memorize scripture, articulate perfect theology, and preach eloquently while lacking love, patience, or humility. Scripture warns that gifted speech or knowledge without love amounts to “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”.
The Holy Spirit equips some believers with gifts like communication and teaching to serve for the benefit of the glory of God, but the fruit is the evidence of the Spirit’s reshaping of human nature.
We are to focus on a relationship with Jesus and then take that relationship and show it in how we relate to every human being we encounter. The fruit of the Spirit is the natural overflow of abiding in Christ and letting His life work show through us.
We tend to focus on verse 22 and not look verses 23-25.
“The Spirit, however, produces in human life fruit such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control—and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centered in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit”. Galatians 5: 22-25 JB Phillips Translation
The Fruit of the Spirit only comes to those that have crucified their lives to Jesus. The old nature, old habits, old behaviors, old way of thinking, and control issues are put in the past and forgotten. You are a new creation in the Spirit and should be guided by the Spirit.
The most important trait missing from the list of fruit or gifts is the act of condemnation.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world”. John 3:17 KJV Condemnation in any format is the work of Satan and is not related to any gift from God.
Sinners would not have been transformed while eating and drinking with Jesus if he had condemned them over lunch. Condemnation is a fruit of the flesh and not a fruit of the Spirit.
God knows that the best way to accomplish His great commission is through one’s actions and relationships than through any words that you can utter. That is why the fruit of the Spirit is relational features and not preaching.
Today, show people what God has done for you by how you treat them. Your words are worthless if you do not show love and compassion for them and their lives.
Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.
Prayers and Love for all.
Larry
