Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

Part II--The Process Of Reconciliation With God

E. Lesson 11--We Must Receive God's Spirit To Live In Us

8. READ: GALATIANS 5:16-25

d. What is the fruit of the Spirit?

Answer: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, (verse 22).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• These are often called "Christian virtues." The believer conforms to the highest standard of right--those standards established by God and perfected in Him--as we walk the Christian life in Christ.

The believer's character is "grown", or produced, by the Holy Spirit. Christian character is not just a moral decision to discipline, or control, oneself by trying to "live a good life." The indwelling of the Holy Spirit produces Christian virtues in the believer's life. This is the "conforming" of the believer to the likeness of Christ. This is the "maturing," the "aiming for perfection" that makes us perfect--mature or complete--as the Father is perfect. It is sought after by the believer by studying, knowing and putting God's Word to work in his life.

Paul speaks of this "aiming for perfection" in 2 Corinthians 13:11: "Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."

And James 1:17-18 says that believers are "fruits" of God, Who nurtures our growth by His good and perfect gifts: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created."

This "fruit of the Spirit" is what Jesus sought in obedient believers when He said in Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

• Other lists of Christian virtues are:

2 Corinthians 6:6-7: "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left..."

Ephesians 4:2: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Ephesians 5:9: "(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and Truth)..."

Colossians 3:12-15: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."