The Book Of Galatians Chapter 5 Part 6 Fruit Of The Holy Spirit Is Love

We are in a spiritual war and we must learn to walk in the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:16-17  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17)  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. 

We have timely reminders from God through His apostle about spiritual warfare.

The lust of our flesh is something we inherit from Adam. Likewise, we inherit our "old man" which is mind, will and emotions that are corrupted by the fall.

When we are born again, the Spirit of God gives us a new heart and spirit (See Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:26-27; Titus 3:4-6). 

He imparts spiritual life to us whereas we were previously dead in trespasses and sins (See Ephesians 2:1-10).

Because of these spiritual realities, a believer in Christ experiences very real struggles. 

We are often caught between our flesh which wants to sin and our new man in Christ, which wants to please God (See Romans 7:7-25).

This is the spiritual warfare Paul speaks of to the churches in Galatia. 

When we are ready to do good as God shows us to do, we often find that our flesh and old man fights against our new man.

Since we are often trapped between two diametrically opposed forces, we are rendered ineffective for loving and serving God.

This is why Paul emphasizes our need to walk after the Spirit (See Romans 8:1-4) and to walk in the Spirit, so that we do not cave in to fleshly lusts. 

The indwelling Spirit of God will seek to change us, transforming us from the inside out. 

He will help us learn the Bible so that we learn to obey the will of God revealed in scripture.

He will help us understand God's truth and the spiritual realities of being born again, adopted into the family of God and fully justified by faith in Christ. 

He will shine His holy light upon the works, words and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may see Him as the Bible reveals Him to be.

This is what Paul means when he gives the imperative to walk in the Spirit and be led by Him.

In our last lesson, we noted the works of the flesh and the warning that anyone professing faith in Christ who lives like that, will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Love is the overarching fruit produced in us by the Spirit of God.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Now, Paul turns his attention to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. These texts are a picture of what it will look like in my life and yours, as we yield to the Spirit of God leading us.

Our "old man" can only produce the works of the flesh. 

That is all it can ever produce because our old man is totally depraved and corrupted by sin.

Isaiah 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

This is why the prophet Isaiah describes our best fleshly efforts as being like filthy rags that must be destroyed like hazardous waste.

It is the greatest of contrasts for Paul to highlight the fruit of the Spirit of God in us. In doing this, Paul is connecting us with the teaching of Christ Jesus.

Jesus warns us about false prophets and false teachers.

Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

Judaizers were false teachers promoting a false doctrine by adding works, circumcision and law keeping to repentant faith in Jesus Christ.

False teachers and false prophets like televangelists, pretend they are speaking for God and in doing so, they transgress what God says in His Word.

False teachers either add to or take away from the Word of God.

Revelation 22:18-19  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

Deuteronomy 4:1-2  Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. 2)  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 

Deuteronomy 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. 

This is what false teachers do. Modern self proclaimed prophets say they are speaking for God and have new revelation.

The rules of God regarding His Word are perfectly clear. 

There can be no new revelation from God because that would be adding to the Scriptures.

False teachers often dismiss or ignore things in scripture that contradict their false teaching. 

Failing to preach the whole counsel of God is the same as taking away from the scriptures.

This Bible study is named "Opened Scriptures Bible Studies" because the main goal is helping others understand what God says to us.

We must read, study and meditate on the scriptures so that we are anchored to what God says.

Be a follower of Jesus Christ not a man follower.

Jesus shows why we must be fruit inspectors.

Matthew 7:15-20  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

Thus, Paul connects us with Christ's teaching. 

Twice, Jesus said we will know whether someone is born again or not, by their fruits.

Jesus cursed the barren fig tree because it had the appearance of a normal fig tree, but it lacked fruit.

This is a picture of our Lord watching His children, seeking to help us lead a productive Christian life. 

A corrupt tree will only yield corrupt fruit which corresponds to the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21.

A corrupt tree refers to one that produces putrefied, rotten fruit that is not fit to eat.

A good tree will always produce good fruit that can be eaten, has nutritional value and is lovely to look upon.

The good fruit produced by a good tree corresponds to the fruit produced when the Spirit of God is at work in us. 

Thus, Christ examines our lives, looking for spiritual fruit.

He teaches us to examine false prophets and false teachers, comparing what they say to what God says in His Word.

If their fruit is bad (works of the flesh) they must be rejected.

If their fruit is good (fruit of the Spirit) they can be trusted. 

Jesus is looking for spiritual fruit in our lives as His Spirit is working in us.

Luke 13:6-8  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. 

Jesus used a parable to teach us about our spiritual duties. 

Christ is the landowner, the Spirit of God is the dresser of the vineyard and we are the fig trees.

Christ is the "certain man" who owns a vineyard. 

Like any diligent farmer, he comes looking for fruit in his fig tree.

In this case, he did not find any fruit, even though he looked for it over a three year period.

He speaks to the dresser of the vineyard, which is the Holy Spirit. He asks why this unproductive tree is not cut down because it is consuming time and resources and not yielding any fruit.

The dresser of the vineyard (God's Spirit) replies that he wants to give it one more year. 

He will break up the ground around the barren tree and add fertilizer. If it produces fruit, then all is well but if it yields no fruit, it will be cut down.

I hope that this context helps us understand Paul's teaching about the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us.

We must diligently seek the fruit of God's Spirit and the love of God in us.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Love is the overarching fruit of the Spirit of God. 

He pours the love of God into our heart like a river overflowing its banks after heavy rains (See Romans 5:5). 

Paul already taught us that Divine love in us is the fulfilling of the law, the bond of perfectness. 

Without the love of God in us then our profession of faith is empty and our service to God is corrupt fruit. 

We are born destitute of the love of God in us until such time as we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. 

He sheds abroad the love of God in our heart which is the essential foundation for loving God and others.  

The fruit of the love of God in us will yield love for God and love toward others. 

It will yield a love for our Lord Jesus Christ who did all that was necessary in order to save us from the condemnation of sin.

The fruit of Divine love that the Holy Spirit brings will fill us with wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ (See Ephesians 1:15-23). 

The fruit of love from God's Spirit produced in us, opens our eyes to see the loveliness of Christ's person, the suitableness of His grace, and His righteousness we receive for justification by faith. 

This love teaches us to look to Christ alone for life and salvation. 

This love helps us love one another as Christ commanded (See Joh 13:34-35).  

Moreover, we will experience a wonderful, fruitful love for the house of God and the right worship of God. 

We will love the truths and ordinances of the Gospel and embrace it as the rule for our lives.

The glorious fruit of God's Spirit is evidence of being "in Christ" and "walking in newness of life." 

It is evidence of old things passing away because we are a new creation in Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).

As the Holy Spirit produces the love of God in us, we will have a deep longing and love for God.

Psalm 42:1-4  To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2)  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3)  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Paul teaches us to set our affection on things above where Christ is enthroned with his Father (See Colossians 3:1-2).

The fruit of God's love in us will fill us with deep reverence and a profound longing for God, His Word and to be with his people.

This will fill us with joy, love and enable us to be usable clay in the hands of our Master Potter, Jesus Christ.

Bob