FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

The Fruit of the Spirit is a much discussed topic among Christians. The Apostle Paul in the letter to the Galatians is dealing with what our salvation is built upon. The Church at Galatia had received Paul and the Gospel with open arms as he taught them over a period of time. But then the false teachers came in calling the people back to the law to earn their salvation. Paul confronts the Church and calls them to abandon their wrong thinking that they must be under the law again. He then lays out what it means to walk in the Spirit - he contrasts the deeds of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice in this above passage that Paul says those that "practice" these things. A Christian can fall into some of these sins but it will not be the characterizing pattern of their life. Paul is showing three areas of our lives that the flesh manifests itself in: Sex (immorality, impurity, sensuality), relegion (idolatry, sorcery) and our relationships (enmities, strife, Jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying). These are areas of our lives that we must examine to see where we truly are at with the Lord.

Here now is the contrast to the deeds of the flesh:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

These are the marks of a Christian walking in the Spirit. Each of the fruits mentioned above are outward signs to others that we are truly walking in the Spirit. If someone says - I am walking in the Spirit - but is devoid of outward love, joy, peace etc... then they are not being honest with themselves. A good barometer is to ask a fellow Christian that really knows you if they see these fruits outwardly in your life. It is a command to walk in the Spirit but someone may say - well how do I walk in the Spirit? Here is the key question to answer. First it starts with confession of our sin to our Lord. Is there unrepentant sin in your life? Repent of that sin right now and go and repent to those you have sinned against. Second - Is your life characterized with a pursuit of Christ? Are you walking with Him on a daily basis as Adam walked in the cool of the day with our Lord in the Garden? Are you having daily time in the Word and time in prayer? Are you just going through the motions or is there a real heart desire of hunger in your soul to commune with the Lord? These are just a few questions to ask yourselves as you look at what it means to "walk in the Spirit".