“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
A recurring theme on my mind since I have begun these weekly articles is spiritual fruit-bearing in true discipleship. We believe that God has by His own power quickened us (Ephesians 2:1-10), and that we are called to conduct ourselves in a different way. That is, instead of walking “according to the course of this world,” we would walk in good works (vs 10). Notice the order: we are not quickened or born again because of our good works, but we are called to walk in good works because we are born again. This is the pattern to keep in mind when speaking of spiritual fruit; a certain type of tree will bear that particular type of fruit. Therefore, spiritually speaking, our behavior (the biblical word for this is conversation, e.g. I Peter 1:15) should reflect the goodness of God and His sovereign work in our hearts. With this thought in mind, I hope to focus each of the next several weekly articles on a characteristic fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23.
By inspiration of God, Paul began his list with “love.” It is no mistake that love is listed first – love is the most essential characteristic of the child of God. When asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus’s answer was to “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Then, He gave the second commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Finally, He made the profound statement, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22). What wisdom we find in the words of Christ! If we love God properly, can we have another god beside Him? No! If we love our fellow man as we should, can we kill, or steal, or covet his property? No! A pure, scriptural love will simply never contradict God’s moral law.
With that last statement, we have to consider the question, “What is a pure, scriptural love?” The world has many ideas of love, and most of them certainly are not biblical. The love under consideration here is a self-sacrificing, brotherly love described at length as charity in I Corinthians 13. I believe the clearest way to describe biblical love is that it should be the reflection of the love of God for His people. In fact, if God had not loved us, we would have no capacity to love God or anyone else (I John 4:19-21). Therefore, our brotherly love should imitate the constant, patient, unselfish love of Christ. Have we been given an abundance of gifts freely? Then we should give generously, even and especially to those who cannot return the favor. Have we been forgiven of great and grievous trespasses against God? Then we should be ready to forgive those who offend us.
In consideration of the topic of love, we must answer another question: “Who should be the recipient of our love?” After all, we have quickly demonstrated biblical love is not a mere emotion; it is selfless action based on a desire of the welfare of the recipient. The first answer has already been covered – the greatest commandment is to love the Lord thy God. After the priority which is given to God, we are to love other people. Jesus instructed His disciples to love their enemies, which include those who hate them, despitefully use them, and persecute them (Matthew 5:44). It is evident that this fruit of the Spirit – love – should so thoroughly permeate our actions that it is our default state of mind to love the people around us. Even more, though, we should love those who are united with us in the church of the God. In Galatians 6:10, Paul writes “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” There is nothing more wonderful and pleasant than when God’s people are blessed to dwell together and rejoice in godly love one to another (Psalm 133).
Of course, much more could be said of Christian love. For now, I will close this article with a request of the reader: prayerfully read and consider I Corinthians 13 once again. May God bless us all to tear our idols from their thrones and worship only the Lord worthy of our love and affection. Further, may God bless us all to humble ourselves and serve one another with charity as described in scripture. In doing so, we shall bear good fruit, pleasing and glorifying to the God who has loved us from everlasting and to everlasting.