The Gifts of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit
Character Produced by the Spirit
Description
While gifts are what we do for God, fruit is what God produces in us—the character of Christ formed within. The fruit of the Spirit is singular—one cluster with nine manifestations: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. This fruit stands in stark contrast to the works of the flesh. Fruit is not produced by human effort but by abiding in Christ—the branch cannot bear fruit of itself. Against such fruit there is no law—it is the fulfillment of all that the law required. The Spirit's fruit is the evidence of genuine salvation.
Key Verses
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.