Fruit of the Spirit: An Introduction

Galatians 5:15-26

Fruit grows forth in defiance to the deeds of the flesh. Our eyes oftentimes gain clarity toward truth when presented with an attempted falsehood. Paul presents the nine Fruits of the Spirit not in a one-to-one correlation to the fifteen “deeds of the flesh” of verses nineteen through twenty-one. Man invents new ways to do evil, so too does Paul leave the deeds of the flesh on an ambiguous note, “and things like these.” Calvin famously called the human heart a factory of idols. The Spirit brings forth a flowering of righteousness by which the soul’s garden buds and flourishes. I do not think the text presents any distinct order in its nine fruit. Rather, the nine act in concert to chip away and undermine the deeds of the flesh, like gophers under taproots. When the soul-strangling weeds slip their radicles underfoot, the Spirit, the source of vibrant life, sets itself “against the flesh” and “in opposition” to the fruit of flesh (v. 17). In short, one could read this passage as both showing forth the evidence of the Spirit’s presence, while also establishing a bulwark against the corruption of the flesh.

The fruit discourse reaches its pinnacle verse twenty-five, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Walking by the Spirit stems from the reality of verse twenty-four, that those who are of Christ (the NASB translates as “those who belong to Christ Jesus”) have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Passions and desires function as umbrella terms for the deeds of the flesh in verses seventeen and following.

“Passions,” or pathemasin in the Greek, means to experience strong physical yearning. Passion in this sense focuses upon one’s internal urges and seeks disordered satisfaction. The meaning also encompasses sexual nature, such as in Romans 1:26 or 1 Thessalonians 4:5. Physical desires in general can also be in view. This latter focus, such as in Romans 7:5, encircles sexual desire, but takes broader shape as all physical passions which might drive one towards fleshly action rather than Spirit-descended fruit. Hence, in verse twenty-five Paul ties being “of Christ” with living and walking by the Spirit.

“Desires,” or epithymiais, takes a more external orientation. While the urge originates from internal dissatisfaction, it wants what others have. It pushes towards sin because it wants the satisfaction of that which God forbids. Meaning varies depending upon context. Sometimes an author will use this word to mean the desire for possessions, such as in Acts 20:33 or 1 Timothy 6:9. Christ uses this word to warn against looking “at a woman lustfully” in Matthew 5:28. Some might take some pieces of both meanings (see 2 Tim. 2:22 or 1 Peter 1:14). A few verses prior in verse sixteen Paul tells the Galatians that walking by the Spirit of necessity forbids carrying out “the desire of the flesh.” Therefore, the meaning which Paul takes here would seem to imply the desire for anything which does not belong to you by rights.

Hence, Paul explains to the Galatians those who belong to Christ Jesus “have crucified” (a recurring theme in the epistle), their flesh. The deed is done. Paul describes those “who belong to Christ Jesus” as those with crucified flesh, bearing fruit of and in righteousness. Galatians 2:20 uses the same analogy to describe the state of a believer as “crucified with Christ.” So too Paul elaborates that the crucifixion of flesh entails the crucifixion of all categories of sin in which the flesh takes part; the internal and external motivations to sin run through the heart - nailed to the cross of Christ.

So then “passions” and “desires” fall beneath the banner of “the flesh,” and these stand in violent opposition to those spiritual fruits grown from a heart cultivated in the fields of godliness. Paul lists nine fruits which our heavenly Gardener brings to fruition in the blessed hearts of his beloved bride. This series will explore the fruit in three ways. First, we will seek to define each of the fruits. Second, we will discover unique implications for each upon the Christian walk. Finally, the Christian’s continuing sanctification requires the wielding of weapons. We will see how the Spirit aids in guarding against the deeds of the flesh within us by means of His fruit in us.