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NASB | Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, |
Bible Question:
what are the "fruits of the spirit" ? would this be the same as the "gifts" of the Holy Spirit? Thank you, God Bless. |
Bible Answer: The fruit of the Spirit is a term used in Gal 5:22.23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. The word fruit here is also translated as “benefit, crop, produce, profit” and some other terms. It is singular fruit not fruits. It could as easily be translated “the result of the Holy Spirit” The key to understanding the Fruit of the Holy Spirit however is found in the last part of verse23 “Against such there is no law.” The author of this book is encouraging the believers in Galatia to look beyond religion. To look far beyond what is required of us to what is possible for us. As we desire, long for, hunger for, and seek The Holy Spirit and the relationship we can have with Him through Jesus Christ, and the relationship we can have with Christ through Him, then this list of fruit is what is produced in us. It is glorious to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be free from what the law or religion requires and spurned on with the wind at our backs to produce things that The Holy Spirit is doing that cannot be listed here or in the law. It is not a list. It is a picture of the Holy Spirit in us which is in turn a picture of the character of Christ. All of our efforts in the flesh will never result in us looking like Jesus. You cannot receive or produce these fruits. They are not the fruit of your efforts. They are the fruit of freely receiving the Holy Spirit and giving up on trying to become Holy by what we do or do not do. The list is unending but all of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is pure and holy and will bring glory to God the Father and Jesus Christ. They are not the same as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Cor. 12:7-11 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For now lets focus on verse 7 and verse 11. This gift or manifestation of The Holy Spirit is for the common good. It is not primarily for the one who is being used in this way by The Holy Spirit but for others who will benefit from it. The fruit of The Holy Spirit has to do with our experience and our transformation into the image of Christ. Although it is obvious that love is the power behind these gifts it is not conditional that only people that have grown in Love are used in this way. Another major difference is the affect of the gifts such as miracles and healings. Even Jesus healed people that did not necessarily change in character. Verse 11 note “distributing to each individually just as He wills”. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is available to all who believe and it continues to increase as we seek and Love God. (See 2 Peter 1:5-8) It is not so with the gifts. It is the Holy Spirits choice when and if a person is going to experience these gifts. We may influence that choice but it is not a promise like the fruit is. That being said we are to seek the gifts 1 Cor.14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy 1 Cor 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. Bless you in your search for The Spirit if Truth and all He has for you Meta |