Fruit of the Spirit | Bible Class on the Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit

Immediately after discussing the works of the flesh, Paul listed the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22–23).

Notice the “but” at the beginning of verse 22. Paul draws a contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. As one reads through the two lists, the contrasts could not be starker. What are some of the contrasts between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit?

One of the first differences we notice is the number agreement between “works” and “fruit.” Works is plural, but fruit is singular. What might be the significance of the plural “works” and singular “fruit?” The flesh pulls us in many different ways from God; the Spirit takes us in one direction toward God. The individual works of the flesh lead to hell on their own; the virtues that make up the Spirit’s fruit are cumulative to lead us to God.

Fruit in Scripture is often offspring. “Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Ps 127:3, NRSV). The virtues that make up the Spirit’s fruit are his offspring in our lives. How are these virtues offspring of the Spirit?

The firstfruits were a promise of the land’s continued fertility. E.g., “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God” (Ex 23:19).

Jesus is the firstfruits of the dead. “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man” (1 Cor 15:20-21). He was the first to rise from the dead never to die again, and his resurrection is the promise of our own resurrection.

How might the fruit of the Spirit be a promise of further fertility?

The qualities listed as the “fruit of the Spirit.” In Greek, “of the Spirit” would be called a subjective genitive. Spirit would be the “subject” of the verb. You could translate this “the fruit the Spirit gives” or “Spirit-given fruit.”

How does the Spirit bring these qualities into our lives? If the Spirit brings these qualities into life, do we have any responsibility to add these qualities?

Does the amount these attributes abound in our lives say how well we walk in the Spirit?

This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.