Introduction:

A. Text: Galatians 5:22-23

1. This text follows the works of the flesh and is a contrast to those ungodly things mankind participates in.  God shows us not to do the works of the flesh, but to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
2. Unlike the works of the flesh, these things are what pleases God as we learn how to do these things from the word of God.

B. The terms:

1. Fruit [karpos Strong’s # 2590]: “that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result, work, act, deed” – Thayer.

a. False brethren are identified through their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).
b. Our fruits are also used to note our repentance (Matthew 3:8).

2. Spirit [pneuma Strong’s # 4151]: “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son; sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the Holy Spirit); sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of Truth); never referred to as a depersonalised force” – Thayer.

a. The Holy Spirit gave us the word of God (John 16:13, I Corinthians 2:9-13, and II Peter 1:20-21).
b. In this context and many others we can realize that saying the fruit of the spirit is the same as saying the fruit of the word of God: Ephesians 5:18-19 / Colossians 3:16.

C. The misconception of the need of a personal indwelling to have the “Fruit of the Spirit”.

1. Logic declares that one can love, be happy, have peace, be longsuffering, be gentle, be good, have faith, be meek and temperate without even being a Christian – example a child.

a. Advocates of the personal indwelling argue that Acts 2:38 and Acts 5:32 shows that when one obeys the Gospel of Christ the Holy Spirit indwells them, thus enabling them to produce these fruits.
b. The Bible shows that men and women were baptized and did not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [gift cannot be the giver] until they had the laying on of Apostles hands (Acts 8:12-20 and Acts 19:1-7).

• Notice that the gift of God is what Simon thought he could purchase and how that gift was given – through the laying on of hands. That gift was of the Spiritual Gifts listed in I Corinthians 12:1-11 intended to confirm the word (Mark 16:20) for a period of time (I Corinthians 13:8ff.)

A. Love [agape Strong’s # 26]: “brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence” – Thayer.

1. One way to show the world that we are the disciples of the Lord is… John 13:34-35 

a. Hebrews 13:1 
b. In the same manner Christ loved us we should love our brethren (I John 3:16). 
c. We also show our love [phileo?] by helping others that are wrong (Revelation 3:19).

2. We show our love for God by following His will (II John v. 6). 
3. Of all things that will outlast Spiritual Gifts, love [agape] is the greatest (I Corinthians 13:13). 
4. The love of the faithful extends not only to those whom are good to them, but also to our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).
5. If you do not love you are not of God (I John 4:8-12).

B. Joy [chara Strong’s # 5479]: “joy, gladness” – Thayer.

1. We can be joyful in times of persecution (Acts 20:24). 

a. II Corinthians 7:4 
b. James 1:2 

2. Jesus was able to overcome the cross as He looked forward to the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). 

a. His example is what we ought to follow (I Peter 2:21). 

3. Our joy should come from the salvation we know we have (Psalms 35:9). 

a. We need to have joy in seeing that others are saved (Acts 15:3). 

C. Peace [eirene Strong’s # 1515] “peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord” – Thayer.

1. Paul said: Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

a. In looking at peace, we find that preaching Christ is bound to bring about division (Matthew 10:34-39) – the sword of the spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
b. It is the division of right and wrong that is right, but the lack of peace [harmony] among brethren that is wrong (Psalms 133:1). 
c. Light and darkness [righteousness and sin] are naturally divided and opposed to each other (I John 1:5-7).

2. We should be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). 

a. In trying to bring all people together unto the one mind that is in Jesus through the Gospel (Ephesians 4:3-6). 
b. The Gospel call is for all (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, and Romans 1:16).
c. To be at peace with mankind, we first must be at peace with God and then ourselves!

3. In making peace, we must separate ourselves from those who cause division (Romans 16:17-18 and Ephesians 5:11), as long as we are longsuffering with them first.

D. Longsuffering [makrothumia Strong’s # 3115]: “patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs” – Thayer.

1. Ephesians 4:1-2 “I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”

a. In demonstration for our love one for another we need to be longsuffering with each other.  That is an attribute of God (II Peter 3:9). 
b. Apollos found two saints who were willing to be longsuffering with him.  They heard his error but, did not jump up and mark him (Acts 18:24-28).
c. Do we expect God to be patient with us but, we cannot do that for our brethren (Matthew 18:21-35)?

2. Preaching must be done with longsuffering (II Timothy 4:2).

E. Gentleness [chrestotes Strong’s # 5544]: “benignity, kindness” – Thayer.

1. We to put on kindness as the elect of God (Colossians 3:12-13). 
2. Kindness is the attribute of God that brought salvation to us (Titus 3:4).

F. Goodness [agathosune Strong’s # 19]: “uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness” – Thayer.

1. Wouldn’t it be great if we could know that Paul would write to our congregation what he did in the letter known as Romans (Romans 15:14). 
2. Whether we bring good or bad things is based upon our hearts (Matthew 12:35). 

G. Faith [pistis Strong’s # 4102]: “fidelity, faithfulness; the character of one who can be relied on” – Thayer.

1. Our faith is based upon the word of God (Romans 10:17).
2. The end of our faith [faithfulness] is the salvation of our souls (I Peter 1:9). 
3. Our faith is shown through our works, and without works our faith is dead (James 2:17-26).

A. Meekness [praotes Strong’s # 4236]: “gentleness, mildness, meekness” – Thayer.

1. The meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
2. Notice how we are to approach our brethren who have been overtaken in a fault (Galatians 6:1-2).

a. II Timothy 2:24-26 

B. Temperance [egkrateia Strong’s # 1466]: “self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites)” – Thayer.

1. Paul shows us the need of controlling ourselves if we plan to preach the Gospel (I Corinthians 9:27).
2. Look at what self-control can do: Proverbs 16:32.
3. We are to resist the devil (James 4:7) and resistance implies self-control.

A. The law of Christ encourages us to grow in knowledge and add these things to our knowledge (II Peter 1:3-10).
B. All of the fruits of the Spirit are things in which follow the noted “Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12).

1. Neither the Law of the Lord or the Law of the Land prohibit us from doing these things as all mankind will benefit.

A. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness… Ephesians 5:8-10 
B. We must be willing to bear fruit in our obedience to the Lord (John 15:1-8).
C. Galatians 5:24-26 

1. Have you crucified the flesh with the affections and lust (Romans 6:3-6, II Corinthians 5:17, and Galatians 2:20)?
2. Are you walking according to the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ (II Corinthians 4:4), thus walking in the Spirit?
3. Do you need to take root downward and bear fruit upwards (II Kings 19:30)?

2003 by Brian A. Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.