What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
I’ll never forget the laminated fruit of the spirit pamphlet I received at women’s bible study one night. I had just recently re-dedicated my life back to Christ as an adult. This pamphlet held everything I wasn’t and everything I truly wanted to become. 13 years later, it’s still everything I dream of becoming. So, what is the fruit of the spirit?
The book of Galatians is Paul’s letter to the Christian communities/churches in Galatia. So you can understand what the fruit of the Spirit is, lets read the full context in Galatians 5:16-26 (see below)
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
When I returned to Christ, 13 years ago, I was in a bad place in my life. My marriage was on the brink of divorce and I was battling a lot of unhealthy addictions because I was searching for something that made me feel complete.
You see, I had no self-control and I certainly had a skewed idea of what love was. I didn’t value myself much less others. Simply put, I was living in the flesh. So when I learned this scripture and realized that I could walk in the Spirit and all my character flaws could be transformed, I was mesmerized.
All these years later, I can share with you that I’m still in the refinement process. I am not who I was then and I’m still not who I want to be. But God is faithful to complete the good work He’s begun in me 🙂
Fruit of the Spirit Definitions
Love – The best definition of love can be found in 1 Corinthians 13
Joy – Oxford definition: A feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Rick Warren adds his own definition: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”
Peace – Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
Longsuffering – having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.
Kindness – the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
Goodness – the quality of being morally good or virtuous.
Faithfulness – loyal, constant, steadfast, resolute mean firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance. faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted.
Gentleness – the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered.
Self-Control – the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.
I hope this post answered the question of what is the fruit of the Spirit? Please help me spread the message down below by sharing with your friends and take a moment to leave a comment, I love hearing from you!
So here’s the next big question. How do we get the fruit of the spirit?
Read part 2 on How to Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit, here.
