Fruit Producers

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Galatians 5:22

Over the next nine weeks, I will write about the Spirit's fruits. When you became a Christian, if indeed you are one, you were indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Your old self died, was buried with Christ, and rose with Him to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:5-11). Since you are a new creation, the fruits of the Spirit will be evident in your life.

Sinclair Ferguson wrote this about the fruit of the Spirit:

"It's interesting, isn't it, that Paul calls these different qualities—there are nine of them—he calls them fruit. "Fruit" in the singular, not "fruits" in the plural. Although, earlier on in this chapter, he'd spoken about the "works"—plural—of the flesh, not just the "work" of the flesh. And I rather think that he's suggesting that all of these qualities belong together. They're meant to grow on the same tree, as it were. You can't really develop one of them fully without having all of them. At the same time, I wonder if the reason he calls them "fruit" is because they take time to grow and they need to be nourished. It's interesting, I think, isn't it, that he uses a horticultural metaphor here, not a mechanical one. These qualities can't be artificially produced. They need to be developed in us by God's grace."

The first fruit listed is Love. What kind of Love is Paul referencing here? When we hear the word Love, it takes on many meanings. I love my wife, my dogs, the Miami Dolphins, and steak. Obviously, I love my wife more than the other things listed. This is not a problem in the Greek. The word translated as Love in this text is agape. This Love is not a feeling but a choice. It is the choice to be kind, sacrifice, and consider another's needs more significant than your own. It is unselfish; It is the Love of God for us when He sent His Son to die for His elect. 

This fruit will manifest in your daily life as a follower of Christ. You may think that you can't love it this way. But, if you are a child of God, He will allow you to love this way.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark