Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5

Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:16-26

Audio
Video
Power Point

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

What does Paul mean by "walk in the Spirit?" He is saying that we are to live and act in the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

Can our physical self, our body, overcome the lust of our flesh? No, the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another therefore our flesh can’t make us spiritual, i.e. we can’t in our own power or works become more spiritual.

So then, according to what Paul says, we must not rely on ourselves but be led of the Spirit. We must follow Him rather than be under the law. Does this mean that the law has no bearing, no meaning in the life of the Christian?

No, it means that we must understand how the law works and understand that it is not meant to accomplish something it cannot. The purpose of the law is to bring conviction of sin, not make us spiritual or holy.

Galatians 3:21-25

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

List the works of the flesh

Adultery, (betrayal of spouse)

fornication (sexual union outside marriage)

uncleanness (unnatural practices, homosexuality)

lasciviousness (lewdness),

idolatry (worship of idols),

witchcraft (Grk pharmakeia, drugs, potions),

hatred, variance (contentions),

emulations (Grk zelos, indignation),

wrath (strong bitterness),

strife (arguing),

seditions (divisions),

heresies (factions,  false doctrine),

envyings, murders, drunkenness,

revellings (debaucherous parties)

List the fruit of the spirit

love	agape (sacrificing love)
joy	kara
peace	eirene (at one)
longsuffering	enduring
gentleness	kindness
goodness	delight in what is good
faith	trust, belief, faithfulness
meekness	gentleness, mildness
temperance	self-control, mastery of self

Contrast the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit

Works of the Flesh	Fruit of the Spirit
Selfish, self-serving	Selfless, serving others
Short-lived passions	Long-lived qualities
Destructive	Constructive
Out of Control	Under Control
Plural	Singular

What does the term "against such there is no law" mean? These stand above and apart from the Law. They are not a part of the Law, but the outworking of the Holy Spirit within us.

How can I make the fruit grow in my life? You can’t!  This is the fruit (product) of the Holy Spirit. It requires submission, surrender and faith, not my own work.  To make the fruit into a list of commandments is what Paul is warning the Galatians about.  Whether it is circumcision as a physical means of salvation or "fruit" as a spiritual list of accomplishments it is still adding to salvation.

How can our life be rid of the lust and affections of the flesh? We must believe and accept that we have crucified the flesh. This was accomplished at salvation and we must believe and act upon that belief. Like salvation it is an act of faith but not a work of the flesh. We cannot in ourselves, do something to make it happen.

Romans 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Is the "If" on "If we live in the Spirit" a condition or a declaration? It is a first class condition. It should be understood as since.  Paul is making a statement of what is right and logical not conditional upon their choice.

What kind of glory is vain according to Paul? That which is directed toward ourselves.

Conclusion:

Fruit isn’t manufactured it simply grows. It is the product of the tree or vine to which it is attached. Instead of trying to be better Christians and making more fruit our commandments are to dwell in Christ and be led of the Spirit. If we do these then the fruit will be in our lives and we will only be able to point to the Lord as the one who made possible in us.

John 15:4-5  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.