Galatians 5
But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
The fruit of the Spirit is a great and
bountiful crop of wonderful things. The
salvation Jesus won for us does so much more than just give us forgiveness (not
that that is a small thing!). In giving us forgiveness, God has freed us from
sin and death and transforms our lives.
Freed us? From what?
From slavery to sin.
St. Paul writes, “the works of the flesh
are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
(Gal 5:19-21 ESV) These are the things
that come naturally to us in our sinfulness.
These behaviors are indicative of a life that is separate from God.
Interestingly, many would argue that
sexual activity, indulging ourselves, partying, and doing “whatever we want” is
liberation and freedom. Paul says, “No. Those are actually signs that you are still a
slave to sin.”
Jesus frees us; not so we can do
whatever we want, but so that we can be what we were created to be and bear the
fruit God intended us to bear. Things
like love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
The fruit of the Spirit is not a new law
that is placed upon us, as if God is saying, “You must do these things.” This is fruit that grows in our lives as a
result of the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
It is a display of our freedom – a freedom to be Christ-like.
What must you do to have this
fruit? What great discipline must you display? What incredible feats must you
accomplish? None of our own! It is through the forgiveness Jesus won on
the cross and in the new life He gives through his resurrection that the fruit
of the Spirit grows in our lives.
O Holy Spirit, grow Your fruit in me through
faith in Jesus. Amen.
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