Becoming Like Christ: Fruit of the Holy Spirit
A little girl and her mother were talking as they walked out of church. The mother asked her daughter how she liked church that day. The girl replied that she thought it was good, but she was a little confused. She said, "The pastor said that God was bigger than we are. Is that true?" Her mother responds that it was true. "He also said that God lives inside us. Is that true, Mommy?" Again the mother confirmed the truth. "Well then," said the girl, "if God is bigger than we are, and if He lives inside us, then shouldn’t some of Him show through?"
This cute story points to the heart of what it means to be a Christian. A Christian is one in whom Christ dwells. This indwelling is described as a fruit in the book of Galatians.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25).
The Fruit (notice the singular form) is the multifaceted character of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. The character of Jesus will come out the more we choose to walk by the passions and desires of the Spirit.
Love – Undeserved Graced
Christians are called to love on another and to love and forgive all enemies who would hurt us.
Joy – Basking in the Father’s Delight
Happiness has to do with everything going my way. Joy is not changed by daily circumstances. It is grounded in the hope that comes from Christ’s death and resurrection and knowing how the story ends. Joy is possible because we know there is a happy ending.
Peace – Serenity from Security
Our peace is a result from God making peace with us. R. C. Sproul wrote “When God signs a peace treaty, it is signed perpetuity … When we sin, God is displease, and He will move to correct us and convict us of our sin. But He does not go to war against us.”
Patience – Longsuffering
Christian patience is dictated by the patience we have received from God. As the Lord has suffered long when we stumble every day; can we not wait through the stumblings of others?
Kindness – Firm but Gentle
When an adulteress woman was brought before Jesus for judgment, he called on them who were without sin to cast the first stone. After everyone left, He did not condemn the women but told her to sin no more. Showing gentleness to others but being firm in truth.
Goodness – Love for the Holy
We need to live with a generous heart. Believers show a spirit that survives the pains of the world with grace. They live for God’s glory regardless how others behave.
Faithfulness – Keep Our Promises
God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. Lewis Smedes said, “We are most like God when we keep our covenants.” Integrity must be our middle name.
Gentleness – Power Under Control
This fruit resembles a powerful stallion who has been harnessed and brought under the control of a bit. Submission to the power of God is what gentleness conveys.
Self-Control – Discipline and Directing Our Energies Wisely
We are not to allow our passion to run wild but harness them in a direction God would have them go.
Seek to conform your character to the character of Christ by allow God's Spirit to change you.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
This cute story points to the heart of what it means to be a Christian. A Christian is one in whom Christ dwells. This indwelling is described as a fruit in the book of Galatians.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25).
The Fruit (notice the singular form) is the multifaceted character of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. The character of Jesus will come out the more we choose to walk by the passions and desires of the Spirit.
Love – Undeserved Graced
Christians are called to love on another and to love and forgive all enemies who would hurt us.
Joy – Basking in the Father’s Delight
Happiness has to do with everything going my way. Joy is not changed by daily circumstances. It is grounded in the hope that comes from Christ’s death and resurrection and knowing how the story ends. Joy is possible because we know there is a happy ending.
Peace – Serenity from Security
Our peace is a result from God making peace with us. R. C. Sproul wrote “When God signs a peace treaty, it is signed perpetuity … When we sin, God is displease, and He will move to correct us and convict us of our sin. But He does not go to war against us.”
Patience – Longsuffering
Christian patience is dictated by the patience we have received from God. As the Lord has suffered long when we stumble every day; can we not wait through the stumblings of others?
Kindness – Firm but Gentle
When an adulteress woman was brought before Jesus for judgment, he called on them who were without sin to cast the first stone. After everyone left, He did not condemn the women but told her to sin no more. Showing gentleness to others but being firm in truth.
Goodness – Love for the Holy
We need to live with a generous heart. Believers show a spirit that survives the pains of the world with grace. They live for God’s glory regardless how others behave.
Faithfulness – Keep Our Promises
God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. Lewis Smedes said, “We are most like God when we keep our covenants.” Integrity must be our middle name.
Gentleness – Power Under Control
This fruit resembles a powerful stallion who has been harnessed and brought under the control of a bit. Submission to the power of God is what gentleness conveys.
Self-Control – Discipline and Directing Our Energies Wisely
We are not to allow our passion to run wild but harness them in a direction God would have them go.
Seek to conform your character to the character of Christ by allow God's Spirit to change you.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden