The Fruit Of The Spirit Examined
“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
In Matthew 7:16-20, people are represented as trees, yielding either good or bad fruit, the fruit of each being according to the nature of the tree, and the tree being according to the nature of the seed from which it sprang. Bad seed produces a bad tree, yielding all manner of rotten fruit, but good seed produces a good tree, bringing forth excellent fruit, the fruit of the Spirit.
When we are in Christ, His Spirit dwells within us. And when the Spirit of God dwells within us, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Let us now examine the fruit which the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a Christian.
LOVE — Greek agape — affection, benevolence, charity. In particular, an intense desire to please God, and to do good to mankind. This is the very soul and spirit of all true religion, the fulfilling of the law, and that which gives energy to faith itself.
JOY — Greek karah — delight arising from the consideration of a present or future good. When moderate, it is called gladness; when raised to its highest degree, it is exultation. In a spiritual sense, it is that state of being which produces, and is the foundation of, constant assurance, faith and delight in the Lord. This kind of joy is more than mere happiness and is longer lasting than mirth. It is sustaining strength to the pilgrim as he makes his way to Glory.
PEACE — Greek eirene — safe, well, happy, prosperous and at rest. It is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation in Christ, and as such, fears nothing from God, being at one with the Almighty, and is content with its earthly lot, whatever that may be. (Thayer)
LONGSUFFERING — Greek macrothumia — bearing injuries or provocation for an extended amount of time, patient, not easily provoked. The Greek may be broken down into two words: macro, meaning large or long, and thumos, meaning passion, fierceness, indignation and wrath. It is endurance in trial, suffering, adversity and opposition. Great patience.
GENTLENESS — Greek chrestotes — often translated kindness, it is excellence in character and demeanor, gentle and kind. It comes from the word chrestoce, meaning good, useful, better or gracious. It is sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded upon strength and prompted by love. The gentleness spoken of here demonstrates a sort of excellent kindness that, when shown, makes life better for those around them.
GOODNESS — Greek hagathosunay — the quality of being morally good, virtuous and upright, a person who possesses good principles, decency, morality, dignity and integrity. It is the perpetual desire and sincere study, not only to abstain from every appearance of evil, but to do good unto others to the utmost of our ability, which springs forth from a good heart, purified by the Spirit of God.
FAITH — Greek pistis — assurance, faith. Here the word is used for fidelity, such as faithfulness in character, punctuality in performing promises, conscientious carefulness in preserving what is committed to our trust, faithfulness in restoring it to its proper owner and in transacting the business confided to us, neither betraying the secret of a friend, nor disappointing the confidence of an employer. (Clarke)
MEEKNESS — Greek praotes — mild, gentle and humble. It is indulgence toward the weak and erring, and patient in suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge. It is sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded upon strength and prompted by love. It is an even balance of all tempers and passions, controlled strength. The person who is meek is polite, restrained and compassionate toward others.
TEMPERANCE — Greek engkratiah — to be strong in a thing, to have mastery, self-control. It is
the practice of continence, the governing one’s desires and actions, and maintaining moderation in all things, principally with regard to sensual appetites. The Bible compares people or nations without temperance to cities without walls, which suggests that unbridled passions and pleasures can lead to destruction.
Such excellent fruit are these! and all they which have been born of the Spirit will bear this fruit, because the good seed of our Lord has been planted in them and has made them good trees, and all good trees bear good fruit.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord! May we all bear these fruits in abundance! Amen!
