No amount of law keeping, positive thinking, or self-determination will bring about an effective Christian life. Only the Holy Spirit, given as a gift from God to those who belong to Jesus Christ, can bring about this change in a fallen person. Thus these are the Fruit of the Spirit.

As we draw to a close, let’s consider three important realities involving the Fruit of the Spirit:

1. These attributes are not things that we do for God rather they are evidences of the presence of God in our lives

Our right standing with God comes by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. When we place our faith in Him, we become new creations and move from spiritual death to spiritual life. When this transformation occurs, we receive the Holy Spirit of God. Living in the power of the Spirit allows us to enjoy these fruit.

2. These characteristics are not things that we do in order to be right with God rather they indicate that we already are

Again, these fruit do not constitute some sort of works-based religious obligation. They are attributes that naturally flow out of a life surrendered to Christ and operating out of the power that comes from the Spirit. We are not to struggle and strive for this fruit rather it should be present in a life devoted and yielded to God. 

3. When scripture tells us that we are to bear fruit, this is a good place to begin in examining whether we are or not

This list of nine fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) is an excellent place to start when attempting to assess whether or not we are living in the power of the Spirit. There are many things that people point to as a demonstration of Christian authenticity but an absence of these things indicates that we are living short of God’s perfect plan for our lives.

Let’s remember that these fruit are what demonstrate that we know God, that we truly care for others, and that we are serious about proclaiming the good news to the world. The Fruit of the Spirit is what validates our message, our motives, and our mission!