What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?
The fruit of the Spirit consists of nine characteristics of Jesus mentioned in Galatians. Remember, fruit takes time to grow as it develops on a healthy plant. This fruit grows in spiritually healthy Christians and centers around the three major virtues of faith, hope, and love. As noted in Galatians 5:22-23, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
Those who belong to Jesus and who live for Him become more like Him. It is as if Jesus were sitting for a portrait and the Holy Spirit were painting that portrait inside us. The manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is the tangible evidence that we are being changed into the nature of Jesus Christ.
Contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit are the works of sinful, uncrucified flesh: Immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, envy, and the like. These evils war against the Spirit and must be put to death in the life of each believer (see Galatians 5:17-21).
Excerpt taken from Answers to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions, Copyright 1984 by Pat Robertson.
