The Book Of Galatians Chapter 5 Part 7 The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Joy

The fruit of love is reciprocal love from God to us and from us to God.

1 John 4:10-19  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12)  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13)  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14)  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15)  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17)  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18)  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19)  We love him, because he first loved us. 

John tells us that God is love and Paul tells us that the love of God is shed abroad into our hearts by faith in Christ (See Romans 5:5).

When we experience the love of God for us through faith in Christ, we should love God reciprocally because He first loved us.

The fruit of love enables us to love one another as Christ commands (See John 13:34-35).

When we enjoy God's love in us and flowing out of us to love others, this is confirmation we know Him and that His Spirit indwells us.

Thus, we love God reciprocally because we understand His great love for us.

Paul is teaching Christians in Galatia about the sharp distinction between vile works of our flesh and the Holy Spirit manifesting fruit in our lives.

Good fruit from God can only be produced in a good tree as we previously learned from Jesus' teachings (See Matthew 7:15-20).

A good tree can produce good fruit but a corrupt tree can only yield rotten fruit.

Therefore, only a born again believer can experience the blessing of the Holy Spirit producing fruit in us. 

New birth is promised for those who turn to Christ with repentant faith.

Titus 3:4-7  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5)  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6)  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7)  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The new birth is the basis for enjoying the fruit of the Spirit. We cannot fake these gifts nor can we mimic them. 

We either see evidence of Divine fruit being worked into us or we do not.

New birth is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and is received when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

This spiritual work fulfills God's promise given to us through Ezekiel the prophet (See Ezekiel 11:17-20; 18:30-32; 36:23-28).

Love, joy and peace describe our new relationship with 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

A Christian should immediately experience the Holy Spirit produced fruits of love, joy and peace. 

Why? Because when we are born again, we are brought into a brand new relationship with God that we did not previously have. 

Love, joy and peace with God and from God are immediate benefits of salvation. 

We saw that the love of God poured into us is the overarching trait that shapes all of other fruits of the Spirit. 

Christ loved us first, before we ever loved Him.  He loved us enough to die in our palace, to pay for our sins and bring eternal life to all who believe. 

Joy is the next fruit of the Spirit Paul mentions. 

Divine joy produced in us by the Holy Spirit is a joy that is independent of our circumstances. 

The Greek word translated "joy" is "chara." It is closely related to the word translated "grace" which is "charis."

Joy in our hearts is a natural response to the grace of God that saves us from sin, death, Hell and eternal condemnation.

This kind of joy stems from knowing Christ through the new birth and seeing how Jesus sets about changing us. 

We may rejoice and be glad whether we are afflicted or suffering. Like God's great love, His joy is not affected by human troubles or trials.

Rather, His joy sustains us even as we suffer affliction, illness, financial problems, family issues or any other thing. 

Before Christ, we lived a life devoid of true joy and blessing but after the new birth, He put a new song in our heart. 

There is great joy in heaven when a sinner repents and turns to Christ. 

Luke 15:3-7  And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4)  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5)  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6)  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7)  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

Jesus spoke this parable to those who followed Him. 

He compared the joy of finding a lost sheep with the joy in heaven when one sinner repents and cries to God for deliverance from sin.

There is joy in places where the gospel is preached. 

Acts 8:4-8  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5)  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6)  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7)  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8)  And there was great joy in that city. 

Philip the evangelist traveled to Samaria to preach the gospel of Christ. 

The people were very attentive to what he said and God confirmed His Word with many miracles (See Mark 16:20).

As people responded with faith in Christ and experienced transformed lives, the city was filled with great joy.

There is joy when we learn to abide in Christ.

John 15:8-11  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9)  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11)  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

Jesus taught us that our Father in heaven is glorified when His children bear much fruit.

The fruit of the Spirit must be produced in us so that we can be made into good tree yielding good fruit.

In John 15, Jesus instructs His disciples (and us) to abide in Him, We are the branches and He is the vine, the source of spiritual life and vitality.

The joy of knowing Christ and learning to abide in Him produces a full joy in our hearts. It is an abiding joy that conforms us more into the image of Christ.

There is joy when we receive full atonement through faith in Christ. 

Romans 5:8-11  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10)  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

Salvation through faith in the blood of Christ and the reconciling work of Christ on the cross fills us with awe and joy.

We receive full atonement because Christ took away our sins and satisfied the law's righteous demands for us.

We have joy in God who loved us enough to save us from our sins. 

The Spirit of God gives us an unquenchable, indescribable joy. 

1 Peter 1:6-9  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7)  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8)  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9)  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

Christians can rejoice even when our faith is being tested by enemy attacks or by the purifying work of our Father.

We rejoice with an unshakable joy that is independent of our external circumstances.

This joy comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and learning to abide in Him as He commanded.

The scriptures are written so that our joy may rest.

1 John 1:1-4  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2)  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; 3)  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4)  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  

John begins this letter with an abbreviated prologue similar to his gospel. He is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is also called the Word of God. 

John wants us to know that the Holy Spirit guided him to write his first letter to the churches so that our joy may be full.

Our faith is based upon what God recorded in His Word. 

Thus, we find great joy ins reading the scriptures, listening to what God says and putting our full trust in His wonderful promises. 

We find great joy as we learn to walk according to the truth of God's Word (See 3 John 1:4).

We find great joy anticipating when Christ will take us home to heaven to rejoice in His Father's presence (See Jude 1:24).

I pray that each of us is fully experiencing the love of God and joy from God. 

Bob