What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

Have you ever wondered what the fruit of the Holy Spirit is? Whether you are a new Christian studying this topic or you’re looking to expand your biblical knowledge, then this blog is for you. In this post, let us go deep into the Bible and discover what the fruit of the Holy Spirit is all about!

Introduction

There is a popular teaching today that fatally hurts the spiritual growth of every Christian. Because of this doctrine, Christians stop being effective servants of God. Preachers, evangelists, and pastors adamantly teach that we can be saved by just believing and accepting Christ in our hearts. 

However, this teaching is deeply flawed. It cheapens and insults the tremendous sacrifice Jesus Christ has done for all of us. Most importantly, it obscures the real meaning of our Christian calling and what it truly means to become a man or woman after God’s own heart.

To combat this pervasive belief, we need to cultivate the habit of developing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit comes as a package and a single entity. We cannot just concentrate on producing one aspect and disregard the other.

Thus, in this chapter, the sixth habit of being an effective Christian is to develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Let us explore the different aspects of this fruit and strive hard to translate the lessons from this chapter into our own lives.

The Bible tells us to bear the fruit of the holy spirit. However, what is the fruit of the holy spirit anyway? What does it mean to bear fruit? Most importantly, how can be more productive in cultivating this type of fruit? That’s exactly what we are going to learn today.

What is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit?

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. After enumerating the works of the flesh (verses 18-21), the Apostle Paul gave us a comprehensive list of what the Holy Spirit can do if we let it in us. Paul wanted to make a contrast between what our flesh and the Holy Spirit can do. Notice that our flesh is naturally inclined to do evil. However, once we receive the Holy Spirit, we can now have the Help that we need to survive our Christian walk.

Quick overview of the fruit of the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Christ said that by our fruits, we will be known (Matthew 7:20). If we are truly a follower of Christ, we must bear these fruits. It must be CLEARLY evident in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Here’s a quick explanation of each of the aspects of the Spirit’s fruit:

• Love: This is the foundation of all the other fruits. It’s not just a feeling, but an action-oriented, sacrificial love that seeks the well-being and welfare of others above oneself.
• Joy: This is a deep-seated gladness that comes from knowing and experiencing the presence of God and His salvation. It’s not dependent on circumstances but is a spiritual fruit that remains even in difficult times.
• Peace: This refers to a state of inner tranquility and harmony that comes from being reconciled with God. It also involves peace with others and the ability to resolve conflicts in a godly manner.
• Patience (longsuffering): This is the ability to endure difficult circumstances or people without losing faith or composure. It involves a steadfastness and endurance in the face of trials and hardships.
• Kindness: This is an attitude of goodwill and benevolence towards others, shown through compassionate actions and words. It involves being considerate, helpful, and generous.
• Goodness: This refers to moral excellence and integrity in character. It involves doing what is right and honorable, exhibiting virtues such as honesty, righteousness, and purity.
• Faithfulness: This is reliability, loyalty, and steadfastness in one’s commitments, relationships, and beliefs. It involves being trustworthy and dependable.
• Gentleness (meekness): This is strength under control. It involves humility and a gentle demeanor even in the face of power or authority. It’s not weakness but rather a deliberate choice to be considerate and tender towards others.
• Self-control: This is the ability to restrain one’s impulses, desires, and emotions. It involves discipline and moderation in all areas of life, allowing one to make wise choices and avoid harmful behaviors.

These fruits are evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of believers, transforming them to become more like Christ and reflecting God’s character to the world. They are not produced through human effort alone but through a surrendered life yielded to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and empowerment.

Therefore, you are a true and genuine Christian if you have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Now, notice that the Apostle Paul used the word “fruit” – a singular word. Paul was telling us that we cannot just pick any of these aspects of the Holy Spirit and disregard the rest. We cannot say that it is okay that I am not patient as long as I am faithful. No, all of the aspects of the Holy Spirit’s fruit build on each other. 

We must also realize that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is the very character of God. Christ instructed us to aim for perfection (Matthew 5:48). Of course, as long as we are in the flesh, we can never be perfect and blameless before God. Yet, God wants us to aim for perfection – to develop His very character. This is how HIGH God’s standard is!

Questions About the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

We must work hard to develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit because only then we can truly become effective Christians.

• We need to ask ourselves how much of the Holy Spirit’s fruit have I already developed. Have I grown to be more like God and less like me?
• How much love do I have in me? Do I really love my neighbor as myself? Do I exhibit the very characteristics of love mentioned in I Corinthians 13?
• Am I joyful? Does my happiness depend on the things that are happening to me? Am I joyful every time I fall into various trials (James 1:2)? Do I serve God and others with gladness (Psalm 100:2)?
• Does peace reign in my heart? Does my peace come from loving God’s law (Psalms 119:165)? Do I have peace because I realize how I was justified through faith (Romans 5:1)?
• Am I patient with my brothers and sisters or am I easily get offended and frustrated? Do I wait on God and for His will to be done in my life or am I too impatient that I want things to go my way?
• Am I kind to one another? Do I have the disposition to see the kindness of others rather than their faults? Do I have mildness in my temper, calmness of spirit, and the nature to treat all with kindness and politeness?
• Am I good to everyone and not just to those whom I consider friends? Do I actively look for opportunities to do good to others? Am I only good when people are good to me or do I rather overlook offenses?
• Am I faithful? If Christ returns here on earth, will He find me faithful (Luke 18:8)? Am I faithful to God? Am I faithful to my promises and true to my words? Do other people see me as a trustworthy person?
• Am I meek and gentle? Do I seek peace with men rather than getting even with them? Am I patient when people do me wrong? Do I get easily offended by small or great insults?
• Do I have self-control? Can I bring my every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:5)? How much strength or ascendency do I have over my sinful and carnal desires? Do I easily give in to temptation or do I have the power to overcome it?

These are just some of the questions you need to answer with all honesty. When we answer these questions, we must not compare ourselves to others. We need to evaluate ourselves and see how much fruit we have really bear. When we compare our present selves to ourselves a year ago, are we spiritually growing or dying?

Bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit

As we examine ourselves, I hope we can see that we are casting away the works of the flesh and focusing on bearing good fruit. We need to continually grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I hope that helps. There are just so many things to talk about the fruit of the holy spirit. But for now, I pray that this presentation has given you a better understanding of what the holy spirit is and how it enables us to produce its fruit. See you next time!

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