THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22, 23

“For the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, against such there is no law.”

First you will note that “fruit” is singular. There are not nine Fruits of the Spirit. There is one fruit with nine flavors. These nine flavors are the constituent elements of one fruit. Let’s look at each one.

LOVE

There is a sense in which everything else in this verse flows out of love.

• Love is greater than faith and hope

(I Corinthians 13:13)

• Love is the great commandment (I John 3:23)

• Love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-10)

• Love serves an evangelical purpose

(John 13:34, 35)

I Corinthians 13 is the most complete commentary we have on love. Love is seen in 15 movements or expressions in verses 4-7 - all self explanatory.

Love -

suffers long

is kind

does not envy

is not puffed up

does not parade itself

does not behave rudely

does not seek its own

is not provoked

does not keep a record of a wrong suffered

does not rejoice in iniquity

rejoices in the truth

bears all things

believes all things (puts the best possible construction upon everything)

hopes all things

endures all things.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that he prayed for them when he “heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints (Colossians 1:4).”

So love is our badge. Let’s wear it!

Love to all.