Fruitage of the Spirit - Part 1

In 2007 I will be contributing an article for each monthly edition of the Common Truth e-newsletter. The articles will be part of a systematic study of the "Fruitage of the Spirit" found at Galatians 5:22, 23. My original intention was to write a book on the topic as part of a personal study. That is still my goal but having a monthly obligation to the newsletter should keep me on track so that I don't slack off. (God willing)

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The overall aim of Paul’s shepherding activities throughout the congregations he helped to plant was to build believers into full-grown maturity within the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13) This was true within the Roman province of Galatia. In writing to them he spoke to them as his “little children” and told them, “I am again in childbirth pains until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19) Ultimately he wanted them to be able to make the same assertion that he himself made, “It is no longer I that live, but it is Christ who is living in union with me.” (Galatians 2:20)

After leaving the church in Galatia though, those newborn Christians suffered a serious setback in their progress toward fullness in Christ. Certain ones from the church in Judea were infiltrating their congregations and teaching a works-based perversion of the Gospel. This caused the Galatians to turn away from the spirit and start living toward the works of law. After losing their focus on the spirit some were perhaps even falling back into fleshly tendencies. In writing the letter, Paul hoped to bring them back in line with the spirit they began with.

This provides the backdrop for which we obtain our theme scripture.

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:22, 23

Before we can begin a discussion about bearing fruit though, we must consider what is meant by the term “fruits”. Some may confuse bearing fruits as works such as evangelizing and making converts. Sadly, we don't have to look too deeply at the contemporary Christian landscape to see that even though a person may manifest good works their inner person may be void and lacking of Christ. For example, a dynamic "pastor" may lead a church of thousands; but secretly be involved in sexual sin.

Furthermore, even ungodly men can manifest good works. To illustrate we can consider briefly one aspect of the fruitage of the spirit: Generosity. A greedy business executive may give to charity to increase his worldly status or to alleviate a tax burden. Certainly we wouldn't conclude that such a man was bearing good fruitage in doing so.

So when speaking about the fruits we are not talking about what we consider good works or deeds but instead are looking at a good Christ-like personality. The spirit produces Godly characteristics in a person and as a result they will inherently have good actions. And just as Jesus cautions that from an evil heart all manner of wickedness may spring forth, the converse is true that from one having a pure heart all sorts of good fruitage will be brought forth. (Mark 7:23) Paul cites this principle when he writes to the Galatians, “Whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) Thus when we look at developing the "fruitage of the spirit" in our lives we are not seeking works but seeking to develop the spirit of Christ within us that will naturally lead to virtuous action.

In his letter to the Galatians Paul lists the fruitage, or the good qualities, that the spirit produces within us. While this listing of the fruitage of Spirit is a wonderful round look at the “mind of Christ” we must keep in mind that it is not meant to be comprehensive and complete.

In speaking about the contrasting works of the flesh he doesn't produce an exhaustive list because they are, in his words, "obvious" or "apparent". In dealing with the works of the flesh at Galatians 5:19-21, Paul quickly enumerates a few and says, "and things like these." Likewise the list of aspects of the fruit of the spirit at Galatians is a general overview of what is manifest in the personality of a spirit lead person.

In his letters to the congregation at Ephesus, Paul provides even a broader summary of the fruit of the spirit saying, it is "found in all that is good and right and true". (Ephesians 5:9) These attributes are the part of the new personality that we take on as Holy Ones of God. (Colossians 3:10-14)

Paul was not the first to use the word picture of fruit when dealing with spiritual life. Jesus often used fruit in his parables and teachings. He emphasized the importance of bearing good fruit by showing that the quality of fruit produced will determine the true man of God and show up those who are false. Furthermore he taught that those who do not bear good fruit are to be judged and destroyed in fire. (Matthew 7:19) As Christian disciples of Jesus bearing good fruit is imperative. But how can we develop good fruit in our lives?

Illustrating aspects of the Christian personality as fruitage shows how these virtues develop in a person - that is organically and not mechanically. They are not prepared as one would an apple pie; rather they are cultivated like an apple tree. To further illustrate, when baking we generally have control over the process from start to finish. The end product is therefore solely determined by our selection of ingredients, our ability to follow a recipe, and our culinary skill.

When gardening we only have partial control over the end result. A skilled farmer can do much to produce a good harvest; however there is a certain element that is left in the hands of God. Paul calls to mind this principle at 1 Corinthians 3:6,7 where he writes, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who give the growth."

By comparing the production of these qualities to a bringing forth a harvest of fruit it clues us in to the optimal way they will develop in us - that is organically grown in tandem with God. While it is possible to try to work on these individual aspects of the Christian life, our best success will be achieved when we allow them to naturally spring forth as the result of germinating the seed of God's Word planted within us, watered by his Spirit. In considering how we can have a bountiful spiritual harvest it comes down to these three symbolic elements: Soil, seed, and water.

Soil

Soil represents us as individuals as we are made from the ground. We were originally created in the image of God and still within our hearts there lies fertile ground that may produce a rich crop of spiritual fruitage.

Jesus illustrates the principle of good soil in his illustration of the seed sower in Matthew 13. In his parable he likens a person who is receptive to the seed of God’s Word as good soil that would produce an abundant crop. Such a person willingly receives God’s Word and cherishes it in their hearts. On the opposite side, poor soil is manifest by those that have no lasting interest in the Word of God, who fall away in times in tribulation or who allow secular interests to encroach upon their spirituality. Therefore, in order to have good soil we need to have a deep love for God's Word; such an everlasting love that overshadows all other things in our lives.

Seed

In Jesus’ illustration the seed is God's Word. When we think about God’s Word we may have the tendency to just think about God’s written word the Bible. But when we speak about God’s Word we are ultimately talking about Jesus Christ who is the revealed Word of God. ( John 1:14) Jesus Christ is the channel by which God speaks to us today. (Hebrews 1:2) And because the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” we can understand that the entire inspired written Word is a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 19:10) Jesus then is the seed that will produce “righteous fruit” in our lives. (Philippians 1:11)

The seed may also compare to our individual nature. When we are born as humans, sin implants the fleshly nature, or seed of sin, into our hearts. If we allow such a seed to germinate it will bring forth a corrupt harvest that withers and dies. Fortunately though, we have the opportunity to plant a new seed within us, Jesus, God’s living Word.

When we accept Jesus into our hearts we can begin “sowing with a view to the spirit” and we “will reap everlasting life from the spirit". (Galatians 6:8) At this time we are “born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring Word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

Water

Soil and seed have great potential for growth but they need water to cause germination. While a fruit tree requires only the one time planting of a seed, it will require water throughout its maturation and on through that its entire life.

The water that God provides is the Holy Spirit that he rains down upon us bringing us growth. Joel prophetically spoke of a time that God would bring rain in full measure, even a downpour upon his people and that he would “pour out [his] spirit on all kinds of peoples” (Joel 2:23,28) This rain shower started to pour on Christians on Pentecost 33 CE when God poured out his holy spirit upon a group of gathered believers.(Acts 2:17-21)

This was in accord with Jesus’ promise that his Father would send them the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7; Acts 1:4,5) Like rain, the Spirit is poured down into the soil of our hearts and causes the seed of Jesus to grow within us. (Galatians 4:6; Romans 5:5) This water enriches our lives.(Psalm 65:9) The Spirit forms “living water” that flows out of the hearts of believers. (John 7:37,38) And the living water brings forth a rich crop of Christ-like fruitage - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23)