FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22-26, 6:1-10
EQUIPING THE SAINTS
V.22. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith.”
A. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the believer which is an important part of his union
with Christ.
1. The word "fruit" is singular.
2. We are given one fruit with nine elements.
3. This fruit once received is perfected as the believer matures through out his life
with Christ.
B. "But the fruit of the Spirit": One of the immediate benefits of being in Christ
is the inheritance of Spiritual fruit. The Spirit causes changes in the hearts of
believers.
1. This same Spirit causes the believer to respond to others in a Godly manner.
FRUIT RELATED TO GOD
1. Love= Agapee= An intense desire to please God and to do good to mankind.
a. This love is self denying, self sacrificing and is the foundation of all spiritual
graces.
2. Joy= Chara= The feeling in the heart that comes from a sense of God's mercy
communicated to the soul in the pardon of its iniquities.
a. God has freed us from the penalty of our sin so we can move forward with
confidence.
b. This joy of the Holy Spirit is an attitude that rejoices in Christ regardless of our
circumstances.
3. Peace= Eireenee = The calm, quiet, and order, which take place in the justified soul,
instead of the doubts, fears, alarms, and dreadful forebodings, which every true
penitent feels, and must feel until the assurance of pardon brings peace and
satisfaction to the mind.
a. The believer is at peace with himself. Therefore, he can deal with others in a peaceful
manner.
b. This peace is a sense of well being because of the Christ that is in us.
FRUIT RELATED TO MAN
4. Long-suffering= Makrothumia= Long-mindedness, bearing with the frailties and
provocations of others, from the consideration that God has borne long with ours; and
that, if he had not, we should have been speedily consumed.
a. The believer has the ability to be tolerant of what he sees as differences in others.
5.Gentleness= Chreestotees=A good education and polished manners, when brought
under the influence of the grace of God, will bring out this grace with great effect.
a. Sometimes it’s not what we do or how much we do that counts, but the manner that
we do it that people appreciate.
b. Sometimes a soft non forceful way is more effective.
6. Goodness=Agathoosunee=The perpetual desire and sincere study, not only to abstain
from every appearance of evil, but to do good to the bodies and souls of men to the
utmost of our ability.
a. This is a positive and open accepting attitude toward others.
FRUIT RELATED TO THE BELIEVER
7. Faith= Pistis= Punctuality in performing promises, conscientious carefulness in
preserving what is committed to our trust, in restoring it to its proper owner, in
transacting the business confided to us, neither betraying the secret of our friend, nor
disappointing the confidence of our employer.
a. Our word ought to always be a bond to us.
b. If we say we are going to do something, we ought to be committed enough to
do it in a timely manner.
V:23. "Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
8. Meekness= Prautees= Mildness, indulgence toward the weak and erring, patient
suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers
and passions, the entire opposite to anger.
a. Being meek is an attitude of humility in which we deny ourselves for the benefit of
others .
9. Temperance=Engkrateia=Continence, self-government, or moderation, principally
with regard to sensual or animal appetites. “Moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping,
etc”.
A. God gives 9 characteristics of a Christian that are the evidence of the Spirit working
in the lives of the believer.
1. The believer is governed by the Grace of God.
2. As the believer grows in the Spirit, these Spiritual attitudes will become more apart
of his attitude toward others.
V.24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
A."Man, by faith, is dead to the former standing-point of sin, and rises to a new life of
communion with Christ (Colossians 3:3). The act by which they crucified the flesh with
its lust is already accomplished in principle; but the outward confirmation of the life
must harmonize with the tendency given to the inward life”. (Galatians 5:25)
1. As believers grows in the Spirit, they are no longer controlled by the desires of the
flesh, but directed by the guidance of the Spirit.
2. Positionally, the believer is dead to sin, but experientially he has to grow to that point.
B. We belong to Christ because He redeemed us from the power and penalty of sin with
His blood.
1. Having identified with Christ through faith, our lives ought to reflect the entire
influence of Christ.
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V:25. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
A. As we grow in the Spirit, our lives and conversations will reflect the Spirit
living in us.
1. The believer must allow the Spirit to direct and rule his life.
2. We are baptized into Christ, therefore, we must strive to live like Christ.
3. We must keep in step with the Holy Spirit.
4. The "if" in the sentence indicates that "Walking in the Spirit" is a choice we
are expected to make because of our faithfulness to Christ.
V:26. "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
A. "[Let us not be desirous of vain glory] Kenodoxoi. Let us not be vain glorious-
boasting of our attainments; Daunting ourselves to be superior to others or seeking
honour from those things which do not possess moral good; in birth, riches, eloquence,
etc., etc." Adam Clark
1. We should be careful not to present ourselves as more than we are; sinners before Christ, saved by Grace.
2. We have obtained what we have because of the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ and the love of the Father and many time not in fellowship with the Holy
Spirit.
2. We have no need to envy others or any undeserved praise that they may get because
only God deserves praise.
RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS
V.6:1. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a
one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
A. [Brethren, if a man be overtaken] Ean proleemphthee. If he be surprised, seized on
without warning, suddenly invaded, taken before he is aware.
B. " Ye which are spiritual."
1. Those believers who have not been overtaken, those who remain in fellowship with
Jesus, have a responsibility to those who have fallen into temptation.
2. Those who are walking and living by the Spirit have been given the ministry of
reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:18
C. " Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted"
1.We must always be on our guard because sin is always present.
2. By counseling another to return to Christ, we remind ourselves of the dangers of
falling into temptation.
3. Our own faith is strengthened when we are involved in the reconciliation of others.
V.6:2. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
A. Bear= bastazete= lift, carry, takeup
1. This verb is in the present active imperative which mean as a way of life the
stronger Christian is expected to be of assistance in carrying the weaker Christian's
burden.
B. " And so fulfill the law of Christ."
1. The law of Christ is to love your neighbor as yourself.
2. We show our love by what we are willing to sacrifice for our brothers.
RESPONSIBILITY TO ONE'S SELF
V.6:3. "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth
himself."
A. We must be mindful that before God we are nothing but sinners. It is only through
Christ that we are rendered innocent.
1. We cannot boast because the grace of God is a free gift to all who believe.
2. If we consider ourselves something more than sinners saved by grace, we have
deceived ourselves.
V.6:4. "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself
alone, and not in another."
A. We are encouraged to judge our own works by the commands of God to see if we
can find approval.
1. We should judge our own attitude and actions by God's rule to see if we can
find approval.
B. "And then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."
1. Christ is our only standard.
2. If we judge our works by that standard and find approval, then we can
rejoice.
3. We do not need the approval of others.
V.6:5. "For every man shall bear his own burden."
A. We all will answer to God for our actions.
1. We will be judged on what we did and not the works of others.
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TEACHER
V.6:6. "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good
things."
A. We should contribute to the support of the man who has dedicated himself to the
work of the ministry, and who gives up his time and his life to preach the Gospel.
1. We are blessed by God when we bless the man of God with our offering.
2. Every workman is worth his wages.
3. In our giving, we show our gratitude to those who preach and teach the Word.
CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS
V. 6:7. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap."
A. You can't fool God that you are serving Him when you are just pretending.
1. God knows your heart and the purpose of all your actions.
2. God keeps track of your work for Him so that you may be rewarded here on
earth and in heaven. 1Peter 5:4
B. Just as a farmer plants seeds and is rewarded according to what he plants, so
will we be rewarded.
V.6:8. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
A. Every man has a choice to make for how he lives his life.
1. We can choose to serve God or we can choose to serve ourselves.
2. If we serve God our reward is in heaven.
3. If we serve ourselves, our reward is here and our destination is hell.
B. If we reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we seal our fate in hell.
1. If we accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we seal our fate in heaven.
V.6:9. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
not."
A. Weary in this text means to retreat in battle or give up the fight.
1. The word is in the present imperative. The sentence should read, "Stop getting
discouraged or tired of well doing."
2. It is easy to get discouraged when others are doing all the wrong things and
creating trouble.
3. The Faithful servant has an advocate in heaven who is there to strengthen
him when he needs help.
B. " For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
1. Those who endure in their labors for Christ are promised the crown of life.
2 Ti 4:8.
2. Those who labor for Christ are promised that their present needs will be met.
Luke 12:31
V.6:10. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto
them who are of the household of faith."
A. Time is never on our side.
1. None of us know when our last day will be.
2. We can be here today and gone today.
B. The opportunity to serve is always present as long as we have health and strength.
1. What we know for sure is the promise of a reward in heaven for our labors for
Christ.
2. We store treasures in heaven with our labors for Christ. Matt 6:20
3. We fulfill the law of Christ, when we love others in our service and devotion.
Bear a burdens burdens] Have s are wur neighbor as yourself.
as a waation of others.
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