What qualifies someone for a task? There is a story of the testing of a candidate for missions work:
One snowy morning at 5:00 a.m., a missionary candidate rang the bell at a missionary examiner’s home. Ushered into the office, he sat three hours past his appointment time waiting for his interview. At 8:00 A.M. a retired missionary appeared and began his questioning. “Can you spell?”
Rather mystified, the candidate answered, “Yes, sir.”
All right, spell “baker.”
“B-A-K-E-R.”
“Fine. Now, do you know anything about numbers?” the examiner continued.
“Yes, sir, something.”
“Please add two plus two.”
“Four,” replied the candidate.
“That’s fine,” said the examiner. “I believe you have passed. I’ll tell the board tomorrow.”
At the board meeting, the examiner reported on the interview. “He has all the qualifications for a fine missionary. First, I tested him on self-denial, making him arrive at my home at five in the morning. He left a warm bed on a snowy morning without any complaint. Second, I tested him on promptness. He arrived on time. Third, I examined him on patience. I made him wait three hours to see me. Fourth, I tested him on temper. He failed to show any anger or aggravation. Fifth, I tried his humility by asking him questions that a seven-year-old child could answer, and he showed no indignation. So you see, I believe the candidate meets the requirements. He will make the fine missionary we need.”
Spirit-given abilities are needed, but Spirit-produced fruit is more significant.
(Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Biblical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989)
It is one thing to overcome the flesh and not do evil things, but quite something else to do good things. The legalist, like the Judaizers, might be able to boast that they are not outwardly guilty of adultery or murder (but see Matt. 5:21–32), but can anyone see the beautiful graces of the Spirit in his life? Negative goodness is not enough in a life; there must be positive qualities as well.
• This message of fruit would have spoke to the Galatians because it represented attitudes that control and dictate actions, rather than the actions themselves. Thus the believer’s manner of life flows from a genuine inner principle, not from adherence to an external law (Edgar H. Andrews: Free in Christ: The Message of Galatians. Evangelical Press. 1996, p. 298)
The spiritual behavior of walking by the Spirit (v. 16) has the negative effect of causing the believer to put away the habitual, ongoing evil deeds of the flesh and positively causes a believer to bear the good fruit produced by the Spirit.
Contrasted with the deeds of the flesh is the fruit of the Spirit. Deeds of the flesh are done by a person’s own efforts, whether they are saved or unsaved. The fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, is produced by God’s own Spirit and only in the lives of those who belong to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
The first contrast between the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit is that the products of the flesh are plural, whereas the product of the Spirit is singular. Although Paul does not mention the truth here, there is also a contrast between the degrees to which the deeds and the fruit are produced. Of the deeds of the flesh, a given person could only habitually practice some, perhaps one or two, or perhaps a half dozen, of the sins Paul mentions here. But it would be practically impossible for one person to be habitually active in all of them. The fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, is always produced completely in every believer, no matter how faintly evidenced its various manifestations may be.
Please turn to John 15
Illustration: A machine in a factory works, and turns out a product, but it could never manufacture fruit. Fruit must grow out of life, and, in the case of the believer, it is the life of the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). When you think of “works” you think of effort, labor, strain, and toil; when you think of “fruit” you think of beauty, quietness, the unfolding of life. The flesh produces “dead works” (Heb. 9:14), but the Spirit produces living fruit. Fruit has in it the seed for still more fruit (Gen. 1:11) (Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ga 5:22):
John 15:1-8 [15:1]"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2]Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3]Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4]Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5]I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6]If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7]If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8]By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)
• When the Spirit produces fruit, God gets the glory and the Christian is not conscious of their spirituality; but when the flesh is at work, the person is inwardly proud of themselves and is pleased when others compliment them. The work of the Spirit is to make us more like Christ for His glory, not for the praise of others.
Illustration: The Spirit’s provision of fruit might be compared to a man standing on a ladder in an orchard, picking the fruit and dropping it into a basket held by a helper below. No matter how much fruit is picked and dropped, the helper will not receive any unless he is standing under the ladder with his basket ready.
Please turn to Matthew 16
The fruit of the Spirit is the outward indicator of salvation. A believer’s sonship to God and citizenship in His kingdom (cf. v. 21) are manifested by the fruit the Spirit produces in his life. Jesus Said:
Matthew 7:16-18 [16]You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17]So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. [18]A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. (ESV)
In Galatians 5:22–23 Paul lists nine representative characteristics of the godly fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. These are multiple characteristics of but one fruit and are therefore inextricably related to one another. They are not produced nor can they be manifested in isolation from each other.
If one wants to see a pattern, it would seem that three groups of three virtues yield a workable scheme. The first three, “love, joy, peace,” are inner qualities that reflect our Christian relationship to God. The next three, “patience, kindness, goodness,” show themselves in the Christian’s attitude and actions toward his neighbor. The last three, “faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” reflect how a Christian would conduct themselves in view of the duties, opportunities, and obligations that come to them in their Christian calling (Panning, Armin J.: Galatians, Ephesians. Milwaukee, Wis. : Northwestern Pub. House, 1997 (The People’s Bible), S. 100).
• Although you can see that the first three qualities express the Godward aspect of the Christian life. The next three express the manward aspect of the Christian life and the final three qualities are selfward: faith (Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ga 5:22)
o They all apply to each of these three spheres of life.
Rather paradoxically, all of the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit are also commanded of believers in the New Testament. Also in every case, Jesus can be seen to be the supreme example and the Holy Spirit to be the source.
Jesus Christ is the supreme example of each of these virtues. If we were spending a week on each fruit, I would illustrate from the personal of Christ how he exhibited each of these.
This look at all nine of the fruit today is an overview, focusing on the general principle with application considerations.
The first three virtues can be considered habits of mind which find their source in God (Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 2:608)
1) Love. The first characteristic of spiritual fruit is love, the supreme virtue of Christian living (1 Cor. 13:13). Some commentators insist that in this context love is a synonym for fruit and therefore encompasses the other characteristics in the list. In any case, love is clearly dominant. As Paul has just declared, “the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:14; cf. Rom. 13:10).
Agapç love is the form of love that most reflects personal choice, referring not simply to pleasant emotions or good feelings but to willing, self-giving service. True agapç love is a sure mark of salvation.
1 John 3:14 [14]We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. (ESV)
1 John 4:7 [7]Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)
• By the same token, as John repeatedly makes clear throughout the same letter, having a habitually unloving spirit toward fellow Christians is reason for a person to question his salvation (see e.g., 2:9, 11; 3:15; 4:8, 20).
For believers, love is not an option but a command. “Walk in love,” Paul declared, “just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:2). Yet the command cannot be fulfilled apart from the Holy Spirit, the source of this and all the other manifestations of spiritual fruit.
• “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us,” Paul explained to Roman believers (Rom. 5:5).
2) Joy. The second manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. Chara (joy) is used some 70 times in the New Testament, always to signify a feeling of happiness that is based on spiritual realities. Joy is the deep-down sense of well-being that abides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and the Lord. It is not an experience that comes from favorable circumstances or even a human emotion that is divinely stimulated. It is God’s gift to believers. As Nehemiah declared, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). Joy is a part of God’s own nature and Spirit that He manifests in His children. Joy is the inevitable overflow of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and of the believer’s knowing His continuing presence (1 Pet. 1:8).
Please turn to John 16
Joy not only does not come from favorable human circumstances but is sometimes greatest when those circumstances are the most painful and severe. Shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples:
John 16:20-24 [20]Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. [21]When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. [22]So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. [23]In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. [24]Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (ESV)
• God’s joy is full, complete in every way. Nothing human or circumstantial can add to it or detract from it. But it is not fulfilled in a believer’s life except through reliance on and obedience to the Lord.
• One of John’s motivations in writing his first epistle was that his joy might “be made complete” (1 John 1:4).
Although joy is a gift of God through His Spirit to those who belong to Christ, like love, it is also commanded of them “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Paul commands (Phil. 4:4; cf. 3:1). Because joy comes as a gift from Him, the command obviously is not for believers to manufacture or try to imitate it. The command is to gratefully accept and revel in this great blessing they already possess. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
3) Peace. Joy speaks of the exhilaration of heart that comes from being right with God, then peace (eirçnç) refers to the tranquility of mind that comes from that saving relationship. The verb form has to do with binding together and is reflected in the modern expression “having it all together.” Everything is in place and as it ought to be. Like joy, peace has no relationship to circumstances.
Please turn to Philippians 4
Christian can have peace, not because they are oblivious to circumstances, but because they have confidence in God, who “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). There is absolutely no reason for a believer to be anxious or afraid.
Philippians 4:6-9 [6]do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7]And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [8]Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9]What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (ESV)
• Unfortunately, the modern Christian is better known today for what they don’t do and in pessimistic disregard for reality. They more often are heard for doom and gloom prognosticating.
• We should be known as a people of confident peace in a world in chaos. When every other system of stability has fallen, the steadfastness of confidence trust in God and the message of peace can be a very powerful fruit of the Spirit.
4) Patience. Makrothumia (patience) has to do with tolerance and long-suffering that endure injuries inflicted by others, the calm willingness to accept situations that are irritating or painful.
God Himself is “slow to anger” (Ps. 86:15) and expects His children to be the same. Just as believers should never “think lightly of the riches of [God’s own] kindness and forbearance and patience” (Rom. 2:4), they should themselves manifest those attributes of their heavenly Father.
Please turn to Ephesians 4
It is because of God’s merciful patience that He forestalls Christ’s second coming and the accompanying judgment on unbelievers, “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
Believers are commanded to emulate their Lord’s patience.
Ephesians 4:1-7 [4:1]I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2]with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3]eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4]There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- [5]one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6]one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7]But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (ESV)
• Though the Holy Spirit, God’s grace has been given to us that we maintain unity by bearing with one another, which is patience.
5) Kindness. Chrçstotçs (kindness) The word derives from a verb meaning “to take into use” and has the basic sense of “excellent,” “serviceable,” or “useful.” It refers to something that is well suited for its purpose, such as a “worker” bee, an “orderly” house, or “healthy and tasty” food. When the word was applied to people it meant they were “worthy,” “decent,” “honest.” When a person is all that he is supposed to be—when a human is humane—he is decent, reliable, gentle, and kind. All of this is included in what our Bible calls “kindness.” It is not just a sweet disposition: it is a serving, productive trait as well (Boles, Kenneth L.: Galatians & Ephesians. Joplin, Mo. : College Press, 1993 (The College Press NIV Commentary), S. Ga 5:22)
Please turn to 2 Timothy 2
Some mistake kindness as just a good personal quality that will help people like you. It goes way beyond that. Possessing godly kindness makes the difference between useful or case aside:
2 Timothy 2:20-26 [20]Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. [21]Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. [22]So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. [23]Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. [24]And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, [25]correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, [26]and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)
• Kindness is not remaining silent in the face of error, but neither is it responding in hostility to error that promotes a quarrel.
• The ability to possess and deploy the fruit of kindness, even in the face of hostility, makes the difference between one who can be used of God and one who is cast aside because their hostility interferes in a presentation of truth that God will use.
6) Goodness. Agathos (goodness) has to do with moral and spiritual excellence that is known by its sweetness and active kindness. It represents beneficence, doing good to others. Barclay goes so far as to say that “the primary idea of agathôsynç is generosity,” especially the kind of generosity which gives a man what he never could have earned (Barclay, Flesh and Spirit, p. 106.).
The earlier commentators, however, found a more distinctive difference between kindness and goodness. “A man might display his agathôsynç his zeal for goodness and truth, in rebuking, correcting, chastising,” as when Christ drove the buyers and sellers from the temple, or when he pronounced woes against the scribes and Pharisees. This was the domain of goodness. Kindness, on the other hand, was what Christ showed to the sinful woman who wept at his feet (Luke 7:37).
• If the words are taken with the distinction maintained by the earlier commentators, kindness and goodness balance each other nicely. Kindness alone might be too ready to forgive failure; goodness alone might be too ready to condemn. Working together, as the virtues are found in the life of Christ, the divine balance is achieved (Boles, Kenneth L.: Galatians & Ephesians. Joplin, Mo. : College Press, 1993 (The College Press NIV Commentary), S. Ga 5:22).
Please turn to 2 Thessalonians 1
We will see in the “one another” directives in Galatians 6, the manifestation of goodness, but preceding the action of goodness, should be the desire and prayer for goodness.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 [11]To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, [12]so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
• The exercise of goodness is not that we may be regarded as good people, but that the grace of God may be seen as evident in our lives and He would receive the praise and glory for fulfilling our prayed for and resolve for good.
Reflecting these last three fruits, the Christian who is patient/long-suffering will not avenge themselves or wish difficulties on those who oppose him. They will be kind and gentle, even with the most offensive, and will sow goodness where others sow evil. Human nature can never do this on its own; only the Holy Spirit can (Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ga 5:22).
7) Faithfulness. Pistis (faithfulness) is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit that pertains to loyalty and trustworthiness. Jeremiah declared that “the Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22).
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 [4:1]This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2]Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. (ESV)
That one’s life would so embody this fruit, it is an element of assurance of eternal life:
Revelation 2:10 [10]Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)
8) Gentleness. Prautçs includes the idea of gentleness, but is usually better translated meekness.
Quote: In his helpful volume Synonyms of the New Testament, R. C. Trench writes that prautçs does not consist in a person’s “outward behavior only; nor yet in his relations to his fellow-men; as little in his mere natural disposition. Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting” (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1953).
• It is that humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, while being free of any desire for revenge or retribution.
Please turn to 1 Timothy 6
Of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, this one and the one following do not apply to God as God. The Old Testament never refers to God as being meek, and in the New Testament only the Son is spoken of as meek, and that only in His incarnation.
Like their Lord, believers are to
1 Timothy 6:11-14 [11]But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. [12]Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [13]I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, [14]to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, (ESV)
• As can be seen from the description of gentleness, this is no passive restraint. It means battling those things that would
Colossians 3 details those deeds of the flesh to battle and how gentleness has a godly regard for others that we would embody as if wearing it like a garment (Col. 3:12). Gentleness means forgiving others as the Lord has forgiven us (Col. 3:13). When the previous fruit are evident in our lives we can embody gentleness with one another.
9) Self-control.
Please turn to 2 Peter 1
Enkrateia (self-control) has reference to restraining passions and appetites. As with meekness, however, this grace does not apply to God, who obviously does not need to restrain Himself. Perfect holiness possesses perfect control.
Perhaps now coming to the end of this list of Fruit of the Spirit, it seems so basic. Failure to develop these qualities however, prevent many from being effective in the Kingdom of God:
2 Peter 1:3-15 [3]His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4]by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. [5]For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6]and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7]and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [8]For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9]For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. [10]Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. [11]For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [12]Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. [13]I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, [14]since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. [15]And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (ESV)
We need to be reminded of such things that even non-Christians would know as good:
Against such things there is no law, Paul says. Even unbelievers do not make laws against such things as those which the fruit of the Spirit produces. The world does not make laws against such behavior, but generally prizes it. Even if some consider such things to be signs of weakness, they cannot escape recognizing that they are never harmful.
• Those who live in a righteous manner, live in such a way that they have no need of any law to admonish or constrain them, but willingly do what the law requires (See 1 Timothy 1:9–10.) (Luther, Martin: Galatians. Wheaton, Ill. : Crossway Books, 1998 (The Crossway Classic Commentaries), S. 282)
• The law exists for restraint, but there is nothing to restrain in these qualities (Arichea, Daniel C. ; Nida, Eugene Albert: A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. New York : United Bible Societies, 1993 (UBS Handbook Series; Helps for Translators), S. 141).
Paul here is using a figure of speech called a litotes. In a litotes the writer uses a major understatement to make an important point. Not only is there no law against the good Christian virtues Paul enumerates, but these virtues are highly desirable! They are what God wants. Such attitudes and actions in the Christian conform completely to God’s holy will (Panning, Armin J.: Galatians, Ephesians. Milwaukee, Wis. : Northwestern Pub. House, 1997 (The People’s Bible), S. 100).
• The believer who walks in the Spirit and manifests fruit does not need a system of law to produce the right attitudes and behavior for they rise from within.
