“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22-23
Now that we have gone through the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit individually, we will deal with them collectively. For each of these characteristics, we have considered the example set by our Lord Jesus Christ first, which should be our pattern in every aspect of life. Because Jesus had no sin in Him, He bore the fruit of the Spirit in absolute perfection and completeness. For us to understand how these things should present themselves in us (whether love, joy, peace, or so on), we can examine our Great Example. The word “disciple” literally means follower, so when we claim to be His disciples, we are professing to follow Him. This is our obligation just as much as it is our privilege, and it is our privilege just as much as it is our obligation! There is no better way for us to walk in this life than to follow the footsteps of Jesus.
Another thought about the fruit of the Spirit in general is that it is in direct opposition to the works of the flesh which were listed in the previous three verses: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Using the fact that the works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit are opposites, we can discern more clearly what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. For example, many people who have been unfaithful to their spouses are deceived, believing they have found a new love. If the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit are “contrary the one to the other” (vs 17 of the same chapter), then adultery or fornication cannot be biblical love. Further examples follow: striving cannot be gentleness, envy cannot be meekness, and revellings cannot be temperance.
As a side note, the phrase “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” does not mean that people guilty of these things cannot be saved eternally. In fact, it would be difficult to find someone who is not guilty of envy or causeless wrath! Instead, the kingdom of God is the church, and the text is teaching that these things have no place in the church. Thank God, His grace is sufficient to atone for sin, and sinners are saved to heaven!
There is also a phrase in our text that we have not yet addressed: “Against such there is no law.” In the overall context of the letter to the Galatians, Paul is establishing the fact that the church is no longer under the ceremonial law, but instead under faith. In the New Testament, God’s children are given liberty from that law (Galatians 5:1). However, the inspired Apostle Paul gives the command “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty as an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” It is in this context that Paul lists the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, and he ends the list with the vital point: the fruit of the Spirit is in perfect harmony with God’s moral law, which is perfectly holy and righteous. We are not to continue in sin any longer, but we are to bear the good fruit of the Spirit to the glory of the God that saved us.
Wrapping up my thoughts, I will close with the words to a hymn that well expresses our goal of bearing good fruit. I pray God will strengthen us in faith, that we may present good fruit to our Lord throughout all of our time as we walk as His humble disciples. I pray that these brief articles on the fruit of the Spirit have been a blessing and an encouragement to you.
“So let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our work and virtues shine
To prove the doctrine all divine.Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honors of our Saviour God;
When the salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temperance, truth, and love
Our inward piety approve.Religion bears our spirits up
From So Let Our Lips and Lives Express by Isaac Watts
While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on His word.”