What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?

The Fruits of the Spirit are the fruits that are produced in our lives when we walk according to the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we are called to live in such a way that Christ is glorified through our lives. To truly exemplify Christ in all that we do, we must walk in the Spirit and not according to our flesh.

The Fruits of the Spirit are found in the 5th chapter of the book of Galatians, which teaches walking in the Spirit. Galatians chapter 5 gives us the key to living a righteous and satisfying life that bears the fruits of the Spirit and, ultimately, points others to Christ.

What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

There are 9 fruits of the Spirit listed in the Word of God:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Long-suffering(Patience)
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

These attributes set true Christians apart and help to shine the light of Christ around the world.

Why Do We Need the Fruit of the Spirit?

Jesus said in Matthew 7: 16-20, that we will be known by our fruits:

Jesus tells us that the world will know what we really are by the fruits that we bear in our lives. Here, we can see just why it is so important for us to have the fruits of the spirit on display in our lives. To bear the fruits of the Spirit in our lives should be one of the highest goals for every Christian!

The fruits of the Spirit are what sets Christians apart from the unbelievers of the world and are the direct opposite of the works of the flesh.

Spirit Vs. Flesh

We read in the New Testament about the battle between our flesh and the Spirit. Every day, our flesh wars against the Spirit. We must seek to walk in the Spirit so that we do not give in to the temptations of our flesh.

The Apostle Paul talks about this struggle in Romans 8, informing us of the great importance of walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Romans 8: 5-6 tells us that the ultimate result of walking in the flesh is death.

• “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8: 5-6

The difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh is like night and day. They are opposites and cannot exist at the same time. We will either walk after the flesh or we will walk after the Spirit. We will either bear the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of the flesh.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…these are righteous fruits that will lead us to life and life more abundantly, but the flesh also has fruits.

Galatians 6 also lists some of the fruits of the flesh, which are the unrighteous fruits:

• “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contention, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, dissensions, heresy, envy, murder, drunkenness, carousing of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5: 19-21

Just as you can know a true Christian according to their fruits, you can also know an unbeliever and those who walk after their own flesh by their fruits.

I myself have been guilty of some of those unrighteous fruits, and we all have, but thanks be to God that we have forgiveness through Christ Jesus.

• “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” – Romans 8: 1

Let us all seek Christ, asking Him to strengthen us and create in us a clean heart. The more we truly seek Christ, the more of His attributes become visible in our own lives!

Bible Verses About the Fruits of the Spirit

1. Love

• Ephesians 5: 1-2 – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
• John 13: 34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
• Colossians 3: 14 – “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Christ’s love for us is far above anything that we can imagine. We are to live with the love of God within us and flowing out of us. Let us be known for our love and compassion so that Christ might be glorified.

2. Joy

• Philippians 4: 4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
• Psalm 16: 11 – “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
• John 17: 13 – “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy Full in themselves.”
• Nehemiah 8: 10 – “…Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

We can find great joy in knowing that Jesus paid the price for our sins when He freely shed His blood for us on the cross of Calvary that our sins might be forgiven. The Joy of the Lord will be your strength and will help us to overcome even the deepest sorrow.

3. Peace

• Colossians 3: 15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.”
• John 16: 33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
• Philippians 4: 6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

There is a peace that we can all have through the Lord that cannot be fully understood. A peace that will stand in the face of great tribulation. If we cast our cares upon the Lord and trust that His grace is sufficient for us, then God’s peace will sustain us.

4. Patience

• Psalm 37: 7-9 – “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carried our wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.”
• Proverbs 15: 18 – “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger[patient] calms a dispute.”
• Galatians 6: 9 – “And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
• Isaiah 40: 31 – “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Have you ever heard the saying “Patience is a virtue.”? It turns out, patience is not only a virtue, but it is one of the 9 fruits of the Spirit. The Bible tells us that we can never go wrong in waiting on the Lord. We know that everything will come to pass in God’s time and if we are patient to wait upon His timing, we will be rewarded.

5. Kindness

• Ephesians 4: 22 – “Be kind to one another tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
• Luke 6: 35 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Mos High; for He Himself is kind unto grateful and evil men.”
• Titus 3: 4-5 – “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the holy Spirit.”

As Christians, one of the best ways for others to recognize God within us is through our kindness. We should even show kindness to our enemies. Let us all be people of kindness and graciousness in all that we do so that we might bring glory back to God!

6. Goodness

• Romans 12: 21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
• Romans 12: 9 – “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”
• 2 Peter 1: 5-7 – “For this very reason, make every effort to add to you faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and the perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
• Galatians 6:10 – “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

We should seek to be good and to do good because the Lord He is good and He does good unto all of His creation, especially unto His children. The Bible tells us that we are to do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith. We should not only do good, but also think good!

7. Faithfulness

• Proverbs 3: 3-4 – “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
• Proverbs 2: 8 – “Guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly[faithful] ones.”
• Luke 16: 10 – “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
• Hebrews 11: 6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God…”

My friends, we must be faithful to God and we must have faith in God. The Bible tells us that without faith we cannot please God. We should be faithful to God and faithful in our works. Let us be faithful so that the world may see Him in whom we place our faith!

8. Gentleness

• Philippians 4: 5 – “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”
• Matthew 11: 29 – “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”
• Matthew 5: 5 – “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Gentleness and humility go hand in hand. Where you find a gentle person you have also found a humble person. One of the greatest qualities that we can ever hope to have as Christians is gentleness or humbleness.

9. Self-control

• Proverbs 16: 32 – “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.”
• Titus 1: 7-9 – “For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled…”
• 2 Timothy: 1: 7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.”
• 1 Corinthians 10: 13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

Self-control is one of the more difficult disciplines for many people, but it is something that must be sought diligently. It is so important that we ask God to give us self-control that we might have the strength to resist the temptations of our flesh. Self-control also helps us to abide in some of the other fruits of the spirit, such as kindness, gentleness, and goodness.

Join Me in a Short Prayer

Lord God, we pray that you might lead us and guide us unto your righteousness, Oh God.

Lord, we earnestly pray for the fruits of the Spirit to be strong and evident in our lives.

Help us to be kind and gentle, help us to show love to our brothers and sisters, help us to have the peace that passes all understanding, help us, Oh God, to be patient enough to wait on Your perfect timing, let Your joy become our strength, give us Your goodness, Oh Lord, and Lord help us to remain faithful no matter what may come our way!

In the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, AMEN!