Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Nine Virtues of Spiritual Man

Unless otherwise specified,
All Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version
©1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by Permission.
 

Introduction:

Galatians 5:22-23, tells us that the born-again spirit produces fruit.

The "fruit" (singular) of the Spirit here is in contrast to the "works" (v.19) of the flesh. The term "works" (erga) already has definite overtones in this letter. It refers to what man can do, which, in the case of the works of the law (2:16, 3:2,5,10), has already been shown to be inadequate. The fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, suggests that which is a natural product of the Spirit rather than man, made possible by the living relationship between the Christian and God (cf 2:20; Jn.15:1-17). The singular form stresses that these qualities are a unity, like a bunch of grapes instead of separate pieces of fruit, and also that they are all to be found in all Christians. They differ from the "gifts" of the Spirit, which are given one by one to different people as the church has need (1Cor. 12).

The nine virtues that are the Spirit's fruit hardly need classification, but they could fall into three categories of three each. The first group contain Christian habits of the mind in their more general aspect. Their primary direction is God-ward. The second set primarily concerns the Christian in his relationship to his fellow man. The last three have to do with the Christian as he is to be in himself.

Love

LOVE (agape)--every Christian feels this, for "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:8) and, therefore, the greatest of these is love (1Cor. 13:13).

Divine love is; unmerited (Rom. 5:8), great (Eph. 2:4), transforming (Rom. 5:5), and unchangeable (Rom. 8:35-39).

It is this love that sent Jesus to die for sinful men and that perseveres with men in spite of their willfulness and want for sin. Since the Spirit of Christ (who is characterized by love) is living in us, we ought to show love both to other Christians and to people in the world. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (Jn. 13:35).

Joy

JOY (chara)--the virtue in the Christian life corresponding to happiness in the secular world. On the surface they seem related. But happiness depends on circumstances, whereas joy does not.
[Note: The word chairo translates to farewell, 2 Cor. 13:11; Glad, 2 Cor. 13:9; Hail, Mt.28:9; and Greeting, Acts 15:23.]

  • Joy-- Nehemiah 8:10; John 15:1-11, 17:3; Psalm 30:5.
  • Joy is our strength, Eph. 3:14-21; Col.1:6-11; Ps. 105:42-43; Rom. 14:17, 15:13.
  • Joy is a spiritual force, Gal. 5:22; Phil 1:4.
  • Joy is increased by giving, Phil. 4:17; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Heb. 12:2.
  • With joy, not with grief, Heb. 13:17; 1 Thess. 4:13; Pr. 15:13; Isa. 53:4.
  • Joy comes, Jn. 16; Acts 8:6-8--by revealing the Father.
  • Pr. 15:23--By the answer of the mouth (answer grief with the Word).
  • Ps. 27:6--Sacrifice of joy.
  • Joy is particularly full when what was lost spiritually is found (Lk. 15:6, 7, 10, 32).

Peace

PEACE (eirene)--is the second most popular Christian greeting. It is roughly the equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom. Though it is related to the word, it means much more. Above all, peace is God's gift to man, achieved by him at the cross of Christ. It is peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and is to express itself both in peace of mind (Phil. 4:6,7) and in a very practical peace between all those who know God.
  • In the home, 1 Cor. 7:12-16
  • Between Jews and Gentiles, Eph. 2:14-17
  • Within the church, Eph. 4:3
  • Rule in us, Col. 3:15
  • With all men, Heb. 12:14
  • We are to strive for it, 1 Pet. 3:11; Ps. 34:14; 2 Tim. 2:22
  • Peace is a Biblical greeting of hello and good-bye, Num. 6:24-27.

Peace represents not only the absence of conflict but safety, wholeness, completeness and well-being in all relationships of life. It is God's blessing for his people and comes as a gift from him, from Jesus and from the Holy Spirit.

Peace was proclaimed at the birth of Christ and achieved at the cross. We receive peace when we are justified through faith and develop a close relationship with God, a peace that the wicked do not experience. Christians have a special responsibility to live at peace and harmony with others. One day, when Jesus Christ returns, there will be perfect peace.

Patience

PATIENCE (long-suffering KJV, makrothumia)--is the quality of putting up with others, even when you are severely tired. (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12).

[Read Col. 3:12-17] The source of life is Jesus Christ. The power to live that life comes from Jesus, Who by His death won the forgiveness of sins. By His resurrection we have received a new life in which we grow more and more like Him. A life characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, thanksgiving, joy and, above all--love. Paul's challenge to holy living remains before us as our response to the life given us in Christ Jesus.

[2 Pet. 3:8,9] God is a patient God Who suffers long with His stubborn children and Who remains faithful in spite of their unfaithfulness. He could have destroyed Adam and Eve as soon as they sinned; instead He held back His anger and extended hope to them through grace. He was also patient in Noah's time. God is slow to anger, patiently holding back the return of Jesus so that people can repent.

Patience is expected of us as well. We must commit ourselves to boldly hang on during the long days and weeks of suffering. Standing firm in the faith, following the examples of Job (James 5:11) and John (Rev. 1:9). Patience is a governing factor of the kingdom of God. We can stand because of our living hope in Jesus and His long-suffering grace.

We must also bear patiently with the sins and shortcomings of others as we recognize the fruit of the Spirit. (Examples; Heb. 6:15; James 5:10,11; 2 Tim. 3:10; Rev. 1:9).

Kindness

KINDNESS (gentleness KJV, chrestotes)--is the divine kindness out of which God acts toward men. The OT means this when it says, "God is good." We are to show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward us. Being hospitable, friendly, helping others (See Mercy)

A goodness of heart, gentleness. Kindness is treating others in a considerate, hospitable manner, helping them in their needs, being faithful to them. It is closely connected with love and compassion. God shows kindness by extending his goodness to humanity, by giving us many things that we do not deserve, including salvation, and by helping us in time of trouble in our life.

We are to imitate God's kindness in the way we treat our family members and our friends, in the way we relate to our neighbors and those we meet along life's way. A special kindness should be directed to the less fortunate, the frightened, the sick, and the needy. We should let this aspect of the fruit ripen to mellow our lives as we walk in the Spirit. (3 Jn. 8; Acts 4:9; 28:2; 2 Sam. 9:1-7; Pr. 14:21,31; 19:17) (Hosea 11:4; Ruth 2:20; Acts 14:17; Isa. 54:8).

Kindness = the opposite of apotomia, severity or cutting something short and quickly (Rom. 11:21-22).

Goodness

GOODNESS (agathosune)--Active goodness. It is hard to define this word in English. It is more than chrestotes gentleness or kindness, a mellowing character. It is character energized, expressing itself in agathon, benevolence, active good. There is more activity in agathosune than in chrestotes.

Agathosune does not spare sharpness and rebuke to cause good (agathon) in others. A person may display his agathosune, his zeal for goodness and truth, in rebuking, correcting, or chastising. Christ's righteous indignation in the temple (Mt. 21:13) showed His agathosune, active goodness, but not His chrestotes, gentleness. See Rom. 15:14; Eph. 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:11.

Faithfulness

FAITHFULNESS (Faith KJV, pistis)--Faith. In this context it means that which makes a person one whom others can rely--trustworthiness or reliability. It is the word by which a faithful servant is described (Lk. 16:10-12). Including servants of the gospel and of Christ (1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:2).

It describes the character of a person who will die for his confession of Christ (Rev. 2:10; 3:14).

God the Father is faithful toward his people (1 Cor.1:9; 10:13; 1 Thess. 5:24; 2 Thess. 3:3).

Gentleness

GENTLENESS (Meekness KJV, prautes)--describes a person who is so much in control of himself that he is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time.

This is the spirit in which to learn (James 1:21). In which discipline must be applied and faults corrected (Gal. 6:1).

It is also the virtue for meeting opposition (2 Tim. 2:25). The aspect or fruit of the Spirit to apply when giving a Christian witness (1 Pet. 3:15, 16).

Self-Control

SELF-CONTROL (Temperance KJV, enkrateia)--is the quality that gives victory over fleshly desires and which is therefore closely related to chastity both in mind and conduct.

Enkrateia is the great quality that comes to man when Christ is in his heart. That quality which makes him able to live and to walk in the world, and yet to keep his garments unspotted from the world. (See Acts 24:25; 2 Pet. 1:6).

What Is The Fruit Of The Spirit?

The fruit of the Spirit is the characteristics of the wholeness and soundness that comes with salvation. The detailed description of your salvation (the renewed mind) is the fruit of the Spirit. Your supernatural way of being. The qualities of God on you--the outflow of life (Zoe).

Feed on the Word and practice these characteristics and willingly yield to them--and they will grow.

Paul said, the law was given to restrain evil; but the virtues, the qualities of the Holy Spirit (fruit) do not need to be restrained. Therefore, no law opposes them. The law cannot be against those that live in these virtues because by being led by the Spiritual fruit they are in principle fulfilling the law and all that it requires.