The Fruits of the Spirit
The Bible tells us that the fruits of the Spirit are: “joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22,23). When the Spirit of God has control over the life, the natural results of such presence is what Galatians 522,23 states. The life of the believer will change to the best (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When a person accepts the Lord in his heart (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14) and decides to follow Him, the Holy Spirit starts His transforming work and changes the life of the believer into the likeness of Christ. The sinful habits start to disappear and godly virtues start to come naturally to the life.
But these fruits stand in marked contrast with the works of the flesh as stated in Galatians 5:19-21, “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.” It takes all the Christian graces to make a man a true follower of Christ, but only one of the “works of the flesh” to make a man a follower of the evil one.
Showing the fruits of the Spirit does not mean that the new believer will not face difficulties in cultivating the Christians graces. The old nature will struggle with the new (Romans 7:14-25). But the Holy Spirit will enable the believer to overcome the acts of the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:17). When the divine commands are faithfully followed, the Lord makes Himself responsible for the success of the work undertaken by the Christian. In Christ, there is strength to fulfill duty and power to resist temptation (Philippians 4:13).
Only those who reflect in their lives these characteristics of the Spirit are truly free, and can enjoy genuine happiness (John 8:36). Thus, the natural result of these manifestations is more peace with God and man. There is no condemnation against those who do so order their lives (Romans 8:1).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
