SPECIAL TOPIC: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

"The Fruit of the Spirit" is specifically mentioned in Gal. 5:22 as

  1. Love (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4-13; 1 John 2:5,10; 3:11; 4:7-21; 2 John 5; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVE)
  2. Joy (cf. John 15:11; 16:24; 17:13; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 12)
  3. Peace (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE [NT])
  4. Patience
  5. Kindness
  6. Goodness
  7. Faithfulness (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS [OT])
  8. Gentleness
  9. Self control

See my full exegetical notes on these words in my free online commentary, www.freebiblecommentary.org

The exact opposite of the fruit of the Spirit is "the deeds of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19-21).

  1. Immorality
  2. Impurity
  3. Sensuality
  4. Idolatry
  5. Sorcery
  6. Enmities
  7. Strife
  8. Jealousy
  9. Outbursts of anger
  10. Disputes
  11. Dissensions
  12. Factions
  13. Envying
  14. Drunkenness
  15. Carousing
  16. all things such as these

There are many different phrases which describe the ministry of the Spirit to believers:

  1. the wooing, drawing of the Spirit to Jesus ‒ John 6:44,65; 12:32
  2. teaches believers about Jesus ‒ John 14:13-15,26; 1 John 2:27
  3. intercedes for believers ‒ Rom. 8:10-11
  4. resurrects believers ‒ Rom. 8:26-27
  5. produces Christlikeness ‒ Rom. 8:29
  6. gifts believers ‒ 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:11-12; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRITUAL GIFTS
  7. baptises the believer into Christ ‒ 1 Cor. 12:13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT
  8. produces the fruit of the Spirit ‒ Gal. 5:22-23
  9. fills the believer for service ‒ Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:18; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT (filling)
  10. brings joy, even amidst tribulation ‒ Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Thess. 1:6; 1 Pet. 4:12-16

To be full of the Spirit implies several things:

  1. that the person is saved (cf. Rom. 8:9)
  2. that the person is led by the Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:14)
  3. that the person is available for the Spirit's work (cf. Eph. 5:18)

Only those believers who allow the Spirit to be active in their lives can demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit, which is, in reality, Christlikeness!

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