The Fruit of the Spirit

[Eco]

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

If you ask any Born Again bible believing Christian about their nature, most will tell you of conflict within. At least if they're being honest they will. As humans, we've all become privy to the fallen nature Adam left for us, and the sin that Satan so happily gave us. But as Christians, we've been given the Holy Spirit of God, who is very much alive and very, very powerful. As is the case, the Christian has a dual nature.

It's not hard to take a look around the world to see the fruits of natural man. In fact, many of his natural fruits are highlighted on this forum by members who are outraged - and rightly so - by such despicable acts of the flesh. As the passage above tells us, the fruit of the flesh is as follows;

• sexual immorality
• impurity and debauchery
• idolatry and witchcraft
• hatred
• discord
• jealousy
• fits of rage
• selfish ambition
• dissensions
• factions and evny
• drunkenness
• orgies, and the like

These things are not beneficial to anyone. They may be momentarily satisfying, but they serve no good purpose.

The Fruits of God's Spirit however, are completely opposite. They are completely satisfying to any hidden hopes in the soul, if they are good. They are also beneficial in every day life, from encounters in the work place, to encounters in the home, and even just random encounters on the streets. Let's take an in depth look into the Fruits of the Spirit.

[Eco]

Most of the fruits of the Spirit are attributes by which God Almighty Himself lives.

Love
- sacrificial, unmerited deeds to help a needy person.

Attribute of God
Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Attributes for Christians
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Romans 12:9-10 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:11-12 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Joy
-an inner happiness not dependent on outward circumstances

Attributes of God
Psalm 104:31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Attributes for Christians
Deuteronomy 12:7 And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.
Deuteronomy 12:18 but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.
Psalm 64:10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!
Isaiah 25:9 It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Peace
-harmony in all relationships

Attributes of God
Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Ezekiel 34:25 "I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,

Attributes for Christians
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-17 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

Patience
-putting up with others, even when one is severely tried

Attributes of God
Romans 9:22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
1 Peter 3:20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

Attributes for Christians
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,
Hebrews 6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
James 5:7-8 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Kindness
-doing thoughtful deeds for others

Attributes of God
Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
Ephesians 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

Attributes for Christians
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Goodness
-showing generosity to others


Attributes of God
Nehemiah 9:25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
Nehemiah 9:35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
Mark 10:18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Attributes for Christians
Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another
Ephesians 5:9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,

Faithfulness
-trustworthiness and reliability

Attributes of God
Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Cointhians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Attributes for Christians
Luke 16:10-12 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
2 Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Titus 2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Gentleness
-meekness and humility

Attributes of God
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Attributes for Christians
Isaiah 66:2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Self-control
-victory over sinful desires

Attributes for Christians
Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Titus 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Titus 2:12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
2 Peter 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

[Eco]

As Christians, we have a dual nature, as I mentioned above. Our natural nature causes us to sin, but the nature of God that He has given us allows us to be so much more than that. As Christians, it is our responsibility to be God’s voice and the expression of Him to the world. Obviously, we fail miserably, yet God constantly uses our poor efforts to His good, and souls get saved. But for that to happen we need to be willing to be the pen that writes on the paper. We need to be willing to do what He asks, because He knows the future – our future – and He knows what will happen if we do as He asks.

Ghandi once said;

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.

While this isn’t true of everyone in totality, it is true of everyone to a degree. We will never be exactly like Our Christ in this lifetime, but we can sure try and exhibit the Fruits of His Spirit as He helps us along. But sadly, these days there are more name only Christians who talk the talk, yet do not walk the walk at all than there are Born Again Bible Believing Christians who exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit. I’m sure most of you have seen VenomFangX’s videos before he was harassed and forced to leave youtube. Sean was a great guy, and a great Christian. He did what he felt led to do, and used the talents God had given him for God’s glory. And many souls now have a perfect destiny to look forward to because of Sean’s willingness to do what God asked.

Or we can look at Jesus Himself. How easy it would have been to just do what He wanted and not experience a horrible death on the Cross. Yet, because of Jesus’ willingness to die for us, all of mankind can now be saved. Not all will, but they all can. And it’s up to us to preach the gospel to them, and show off the fruits of the spirit so that someone can one day, because of us, say;

I like your Christ. I also like you. You exhibit many qualities of your Christ. Will you teach me about Him?

In closing I’ll leave you this scripture.

1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This ended up being much longer than I had planned, so thank you to all who read this to the end.
In Christ,
Eco

[Robert]

Excellent post Eco! :

[mattfivefour]

Yes, good post. And we need to remember that it is HE who produces the fruit, not us. Therefore we cannot TRY to evidence it, since trying to evidence the fruit only produces a work of the flesh ... a worldly imitation of the real thing. If we want to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in this life, it can only be done by drawing closer to God through Christ. And that can only be accomplished by dying to self DAILY. It is as we die to self that Christ can live in us more ... and produce His nature in us. We do not need to DO anything-- Christ did it all at the Cross. But we need to "reckon ourselves dead unto sin" and thus we are made "alive unto God through Christ". (Romans 6:11)

[bghtnpd4]

Good stuff!