The Fruit of the Spirit

February 26, 2012

Lesson: Galatians 5:22–6:10

Key Verse: Galatians 5:22

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Introduction

What does it mean to “live by the Spirit”? it means to be alive. In its context, it means to be spiritually alive. We are to reckon ourselves “to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11). We are able to see ourselves truly accounted as alive to God, and that we are no longer in bondage to sin and its guilt. This is because Christ “died unto sin once” and is now alive unto the Father (Rom. 6:10). Having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, made alive by the Spirit, and received as sons into the household of God our Father, we are enabled, with joy, to “see Jesus crowned with glory and honour, who was made a little inferior to the Angels, through the suffering of death, that by God’s grace he might taste death for all men.” (Heb. 2:9).

If we are alive in Christ, why do we hesitate to show by our deeds that we are alive? Our taste buds move us to savor the meat and drink of the table, proving that we are physically alive. Yet we have not used our spiritual taste buds to drive us to the meat of the Word of God. Our prayers and meditations are but vain appropriations of things which give us but glimmers of joy without feeding the soul unto eternal life. Our praise and worship become moments of entertainment which satisfy our desires. We want to feel good at the expense of pleasing God. We are made alive by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. We ought to show this life in our hunger and thirst after righteousness. Our acceptance as children of God is not proved by how we feel, but by what is pleasing to our heavenly Father.

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Fruit of the Spirit—Galatians 5:22–26

To be alive in Christ is to be “called unto liberty,” that by love we serve one another (Gal. 5:13). We are not to “bite and devour one another” (14); but we are commanded to “Walk in the Spirit” (16). This is the fulfillment of the law of God, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Therefore, our love and walk in Christ need to be seen in our newly redeemed lives. We are not to act in opposition to the Spirit, who has regenerated us from death into life. For “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” There is no condemnation of these things, which would declare guilt before God. Also, these fruits ought not to be seen as a list of laws that, if obeyed, would only show the cup to be clean on the outside, but would not reveal the nature of the soul. These fruits are of the Spirit to nurture the soul, that true Christians would be, by nature, true children of their Father in heaven.

If we are alive in the Spirit, we are of Christ. We who are Christ’s “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” The passions of the flesh produce only the fruit of death; for when we were of the flesh, that the passion of sins, “did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death” (Rom. 7:5). However, now that we have been delivered from the condemnation of the law—being held, as in bondage, being dead in our trespasses—we serve our Father “in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter” (7:6). Therefore, there is “no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (8:1).

Our admonition is this, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Desiring self-glory and provoking and envying one another, is contrary to the new nature purchased for us by Christ and His cross. The Holy Spirit is not idle, as the Comforter leads us into all truth, teaching us the things of Christ. Therefore, let us live as the Spirit enables us to live.

Discussion: What does it mean to be alive in Christ?

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The Law of Christ—Galatians 6:1–5

Our new nature in Christ forbids our putting down another for our own pleasure. Zeal for the truth does not carry with it a pride, which does not bring about a blessing of understanding and compassion. For if one of the brethren “be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness.” One of the blessings of repentance and forgiveness is reconciliation. If a fault is revealed in a brother or sister in Christ, we need to first consider ourselves, lest we miss our own faults and also be tempted to sin. Let us exercise mercy with one another that pardon and reconciliation may be to the glory of our Father in heaven. We cannot chastise a brother to the end that he is restored into Christian fellowship unless we ourselves bear that meek and gentile spirit of Christ.

By bearing “one another’s burdens,” we “fulfill the law of Christ.” In other words, the law of Christ is active in our lives, and not the law of self-gratification. For “when everyone compassionately assists his neighbor, the law of Christ is fulfilled; by which (Paul) intimates that every thing which does not proceed from love is superfluous” (Calvin). The opposing nature of man to the “law of Christ” is when we think ourselves “to be something, when we are nothing,” thus deceiving ourselves. Deception does not always come from without, many times it comes from within, that old self creeping in as if it has retained authority over us. If Christ has made us free, let us not be “entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Paul writes, “let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.” We are not to compare ourselves to others, but to examine ourselves in light of the gifts and talents which the Lord has given us. There is a false notion that competition enlightens a man and proves his work. As a carpenter proves his worth in the use of the gifts he has been given, so we prove our works in the gifts that we have been given in Christ. We then rejoice in ourselves, as we shall bear our own burdens of proof. This is not self-admiration. But, as Calvin wrote, “This is nothing more than an acknowledgment of Divine grace, which reflects no praise whatever on man, but excites him to give God the glory. Such a reason for glorying do the godly find in themselves; and they ascribe it, not to their own merits, but to the riches of the grace of God.”

Discussion: How is the law of Christ operative in our faith and practice?

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Sowing to the Spirit—Galatians 6:6–10

There is this truth today that ministers are neglected by word and deed because the Scriptures of God are scorned. Paul admonishes that those who are “taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” We who are being taught are to communicate, participate, and impart grace and love toward those who faithfully teach the Word of God. The “good things” reveal our benevolence, that we are profitable to the ministers of the Word. Whether it is spiritual or physical blessing that is bestowed upon God’s faithful servants, it is to be given by grace and to the glory of our Lord. For in the faithful preaching and teaching of His Word, we find present and eternal blessings; for it is this Word that teaches us what we are to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of us.

We are not to be deceived, for “God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” Corruption comes from the seeds sown by our fleshly desires. But that which is sown “to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” The Spirit’s signature should clearly be seen on our acts of kindness and love. For it is by His direction and counsel of His Word that we are able to bear His fruit. Therefore, “let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” We will faint not if we keep our eyes and heart upon the Spirit of Christ and His Word. The duty of neighborly love is a continued practice, of which we must not grow weary. We must grasp, even if the body is tired, every opportunity, “to do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” The ties which bind us most heavily are of the household of God. For we are of one family, of those for whom Christ purchased an eternal redemption. If our love for one another is not sure and true and powerful, then how can our witness to the world be of any worth? Let us not neglect the love we ought to show toward one another.

Let the law of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit have a full reign in our lives. Let us be “kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; to honour preferring one another; …distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:10–13). Can our admonishment be clearer than that in these things which we sow, so shall we also reap?

Discussion: How and why are we to be a blessing to one another?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.