Before we get into talking specifics regarding the fruits of the Holy Spirit, let’s talk about what fuits of the Holy Spirit actually are. Galatians 5.22,23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” I want you to recognize that the verse starts by saying, “But.” These verses are in direct opposition to 19-21, which are the obvious acts of the sinful nature.
In order to obtain the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we must be opposed to the acts of the sinful nature: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like” (vv. 19-21).
The most important thing to understand when talking about the fruits of the Holy Spirit is that we will not obtain the full extent of the fruit while on earth. As we let go of the acts of the sinful nature, we draw nearer to Christ and experience a greater depth of the fruit. Many people will ask why they lack joy or peace. The answer is that they probably are not completely lacking, but that they have very little because they have not fully opposed the acts of the sinful nature.
Let’s go ahead and look at what the fruits of the Holy Spirit are. These are just brief descriptions. For sake of understanding, let’s look at the acts of the sinful nature as well.
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Love—This is not the emotion of love. This is brotherly love. See Mark 12.31 and John 15.13
Joy—Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is intermittent; this makes me happy, this doesn’t. Joy is a consistent form of contentment with what God has provided. See Nehemiah 8.10.
Peace—This is a supernatural peace, not what you experience when you hit the couch with a glass of red wine after putting the kids to bed. It is the indescribable “peace that transcends all understanding” (See Philippians 4.7).
Patience—This is what is often referred to as long-suffering. It is perseverance and persistence at it’s best. By nature, we get frustrated with all sorts of things, but through the Holy Spirit, we can endure all things and we can do all things. See Proverbs 25.25 and Romans 9.22.
Kindness—This is where it gets interesting. As we reject our sinful nature and draw nearer to Christ, we actually become more like Him. We actually will become more kind towards others because of our diligence for righteousness.
Goodness—This is fairly synonymous with godliness since all goodness comes from God. Now goodness has more to do with motive than action. All people do “good” things, but often we do it for selfish reasons—“I gave to charity because I needed a tax write off.” Goodness is “I gave to charity because there are people in need.” See 2 Peter 1.5 and Hebrews 6.5.
Faithfulness—I think that this is the act of faith; that as we draw nearer to Christ, our actions begin to quantify our faith. This is the real change that takes place in a believer as they place more and more of their trust in God.
Gentleness—This is a fruit which I rarely see in myself, but have witnessed in many others, so many times. It is virtually inexplicable. It is the supernatural ability to present convicting and challenging truth in a way that is loving and caring, so that it is well received. It is also a way of dealing with those in pain—emotional or physical—without causing further pain.
Self-Control—This is the most amazing gift. It is the ability to overcome the desires of the flesh in mind, will and even emotion through the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Acts of the Sinful Nature
Sexual Immorality—I doubt I need to explain this in depth, but it is any sin of the sexual nature that results in the defiling of God centered design for marriage. It is any form of premarital fornication, adultery or even pornography as well as acts of homosexuality, bestiality and things of that sort which God did not intend for man.
Impurity and Debauchery—To be impure is to have unrepentant sin. Debauchery is to indulge in sensual pleasures in excess—that is things to do with the senses. It is in essence living for sensual pleasure rather than for God. These two together challenge us to let go of worldly pleasures, to repent of our attachment to the world and to live for the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Idolatry and Witchcraft—Bet you think this doesn’t apply to you. You would be wrong. Idolatry is placing anything over God in terms of priorities. Witchcraft is supernatural forces which are not accredited to God. It’s like if you got a raise at work and you said that you worked for it instead of recognizing that God blessed you. Ultimately, we do that because we idolize ourselves.
Hatred—This is to live in spite of people instead of to live in service to them. After all, the greatest commandments are, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12.30,31).
Discord—This is to live in opposition to others. We all know someone who is characterized directly by this trait. It is the ‘I know everything’ and ‘I’m always right’ person. Paul says that knowledge is nothing, but love is everything. Let’s live without discord.
Jealousy—This is not just desire, it is resentment. It is to reject your brother because of their blessing. Instead, embrace these people and learn from them.
Fits of rage—This is obvious. It means fits of rage. Get a hold of yourself.
Selfish ambition—This means that all you do is for your benefit. How can I live better? We are called to live for the benefit of Christ and the gospel; the expansion of the church.
Dissensions, Factions and envy—These are people within the church who create divisions because of theological or traditional differences. Aren’t we all one body?
Drunkenness—This is submission to worldly substances which remove your ability to focus on Christ. It is not forbidding a glass of wine, more like a bottle.
Orgies—This one is difficult to explain briefly, but it has to do with improper use of God’s blessings. If God blesses you with a new computer, he did not do so in order that you would use it for sinful purposes such as pornography.
…and the like—What do these all have in common? The like is anything which is in opposition to the will and purpose of God.
Image Credits: atroszko, sxc.hu
Fruits of the Holy Spirit—Galatians 5
