Thursday, May 24, 2018
Whole fruit
Galatians 5:22,23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
The fruit of the Spirit, as described in verses 22 and 23 of Galatians 5, is a definition and description of the Christian character that is the result of the presence and transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is Christ being formed in us.
The apostle Paul focused on this character formation in us, in this section of the letter to the Galatian Christians. He was in a deep discussion about the nature of grace versus the law, and he was emphasising that what matters the most is what is going on internally, not the external effort to keep some rules and regulations in the law.
This fruit of the Spirit he placed in direct contrast to works of the flesh. This contrast is easy to see if we just examine the lists. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;” Galatians 5:19-21.
There is often emphasis, if not arguments, on the fact that in the text the word fruit is singular. Some have argued that all of the things in the list of what is produced by the Spirit are fruits, so that love is a fruit, joy is a fruit, peace is a fruit and so on. Those who argue from the literal text say that the Spirit cannot produce love in us without joy and peace, or peace in us without love or goodness.
This is like the watermelon, a fruit and a vegetable rolled into one. You can consume everything in the watermelon from the red watery-juicy flesh to the green outer rind or skin. Most people eat the flesh of the watermelon and toss the rind. However, others purchase the watermelon and consume everything, recognising the enormous health benefits. The rich red core is sliced or diced and served by itself or with other fruits. The seeds can be put to dry and later consumed like nuts. The thick inner white part of the rind can be blended with some additives to make a power shake. And the green outer rind can be cooked or used to make a drink. All of these different parts have different health benefits but are a part of one fruit.
So too, the work of the Holy Spirit in us produces these different characteristics in us but are all a part of one fruit. It is not possible to separate the different aspects because the Spirit is producing Christ in us not love in us or peace in us or longsuffering in us. It is Christ in us and all of these characteristics are of the one product that results.
This may seem like a trivial thing, but there are many out there today making money by deceiving people into thinking that they could help with one of these aspects of your life. ‘Seven ways to experience complete joy,’ or the ‘Five secrets to living in peace with your co-workers,’ or The three keys to self-control” and so on. People pay good money, attend the sessions, purchase the books and CDs and the next week are in the same old conflicts with the same old people.
Character transformation cannot take place in parts. It is one whole fruit being produced on the vine that is connected to Jesus, with each of these in the list being characteristics or parts of one fruit, the overall result of the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Christ in us produces His character not in parts but as a single product.
There is another caution required here. We sometimes run off with a list or verse from the apostle’s writing thinking that it is the whole when it is often just apart. Paul here did not sit and compile an exhaustive list of all of the aspects of Christian character in one place. He stated some of them and stated other aspects elsewhere while repeating some.
For example, reading through 2 Corinthians 6:6-10 we find this list: patience, purity, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, sincere love, and righteousness. Then in Ephesians 4:2 we find: lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering. In Ephesians 5:9 he again refers to the fruit of the Spirit with a much shorter list than in our key verse, “the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Then in Colossians 3:12-15 we could extract this list: tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forgiveness, love, and peace.
Essentially, we should not be focused on a list. The lists are mere guidelines to the things that the Holy Spirit produces in us as we allow him to work in our lives to form the character of Christ in us.
While each item on the list could be identified as present in us through observation in a particular circumstance, as we said before one doesn’t get formed without the other. Seeing one aspect of the fruit should be evidence that the whole fruit is being formed. Likewise, recognise the absence of one aspect should cause concern that the Christ formation process in us needs attention because the whole fruit is produced at the same time.
Think on these things:
- Can you point to genuine character transformation in your life as a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit?
- Identify one situation or circumstance recently that establishes clearly that Christ is being formed in you?
- Where or from whom are you finding the support and ministry to see Christ formed in you?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that as the Holy Spirit works in us to bring change others will see Jesus in us.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex
