The fruits of the spirit are an important part of Christian faith. They are nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit, according to Paul the Apostle, in his letter to the Galatians: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
But what do these nine fruits mean and why are they important? In this article, we will explore the meaning and purpose of the fruits of the Spirit and how they can be used to foster a deeper connection to God.
9 Fruits of the Spirit Meaning and the purpose
Have you ever wondered what it means to bear the fruit of the Spirit? The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit produces nine character traits in the lives of Christians as they grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. These traits are called the fruits of the Spirit, and they are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Here in this article, we will be discussing the meaning and purpose of each of these fruits of the Spirit, and how they can help us to live a life that glorifies God and blesses others.
Fruit of the spirit KJV
Apostle Paul, by inspiration, gives us the nine fruits of the spirit produced by believers.
These fruits include; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness and temperance, and others (Galatians 5:22,23).
The believer who claims to have God must bear His fruits as evidence.
Below are the fruits of the spirit with bible verses accordingly.
1. Love
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
Biblically, love is a choice and not a feeling. It deliberately expresses itself in loving ways and always seeks the welfare of others.
Biblical love is dependent on the giver’s character, not emotion. For instance, a mature believer demonstrating love will not exercise his or her freedom if that action might harm another Christian in some way.
Biblical love is sacrificial.
Rather than risking the possibility of causing the immature Christian to question and stumble, the mature believer will not exercise his freedom out of love for his brother (Romans 14:1-15). Love chooses to set aside one’s own preferences, desires, and sometimes even needs to put the other person first (Philippians 2:1-3).
2. Joy
Another thing used to describe the fruits of the spirit by Paul is Joy.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
In a simple definition, Joy is gladness but Sometimes we Christians tend to downplay the meaning of joy. But, the Greek word translated as “joy” in Galatians 5 means “gladness and delight” – basically the same thing the world means when it talks about joy. It is a feeling of gladness based on our circumstances.
Sadly, the world’s joy cannot last because it is based on fleeting, physical circumstances. But the joy of the Lord is established in our spiritual, eternal circumstances. As we cling tight to Jesus, abiding daily in our saving relationship with Him, we will experience the fullness of joy He promised (John 15:4-11).
3. Peace
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3
The world doesn’t offer much peace. Just look around. The world cannot give it because the world doesn’t know the One who is peaceful. But for those who have the Spirit of peace within us, the peace of Christ is possible, no matter our circumstances (John 14:27).
We can reject the chaos of the world and embrace God’s peace. The book of Philippians tells us how (Philippians 4:4-9).
First, choose to rejoice in God and who He is. Second, bring all your worries, fears, and concerns to God in prayer. Third, fill your mind with God’s truth. And fourth, choose to think about the things of God.
4. Patience
Patience is great evidence of a God career
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” – Ephesians 4:2
We don’t see much patience in the world today, not even in the church. Maybe part of the reason is our fast-paced, want-it-now culture. But Christians have everything we need to be patient because we have the Holy Spirit living in us longing to display His character to those around us. Patient people put up with circumstances and other people, even when severely tried. Patient people display endurance, longsuffering, and perseverance.
The New Testament also specifically connects patience with sharing the Gospel. God is patient as He waits for the lost to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9) and He calls His people to be patient as we extend the offer of salvation in Christ to others (2 Timothy 4:20).
5. Kindness and Goodness
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness…” – Colossians 3:12
The characteristics of “kindness” and “goodness” are closely related. Together they present the picture of one who not only possesses moral goodness and integrity but also generously expresses it in the way they act toward others.
This “goodness in action” reflects God’s kindness and goodness toward us. God demonstrated His kindness and goodness to us in our salvation (Titus 3:4) and will continue to “show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us” for all eternity (Ephesians 2:7)!
7. Faithfulness
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”- Matthew 25:21
To be “faithful” is to be reliable or trustworthy. For the Christian, this is faithfulness specifically to the Savior who redeemed us. Christian faithfulness, therefore, is continued and consistent submission and obedience to the same Spirit who provides the ability for us to be faithful.
This attitude is in direct contrast to our previous “faithfulness” to our own sinful desires and ways. The word also describes someone willing to suffer persecution and even death for Christ’s sake. “Therefore, among God’s churches, we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:4)
8. Gentleness/Meekness
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” – Philippians 4:5
Closely linked to humility, gentleness is the grace of the soul. It is not weakness, but instead, it is strength under control. For instance, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote that the “Lord’s servant” will “correct his opponents with gentleness” (2 Timothy 2:25). And in Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, he wrote that those who have been caught in sin should be restored in a “spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1).
Gentleness, being the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest, is also a key ingredient in unity and peace within the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:2).
9. Self-Control
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” Proverbs 25:28
The last characteristic in Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit points us back to his list of the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21. Those of us with the indwelling Holy Spirit has the strength to control our sinful desires, to say “no” to our flesh. Self-control gives us the power to say “yes” to the Spirit and foster a beautiful, bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit!
BENEFITS OF THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Bearing fruit as a Christian is beautiful and it will gain God’s divine insight to you.
A fruit-bearing Christian carries a fragrance that attracts God’s commendation and blessing. Believers who abide in the Lord will doubtless bear fruits since they enjoy abundant juice from the true Vine.
Jesus Christ likes fruit-bearing Christians and condemns the fruitless ones. Fruit-bearing Christians will receive the answer to their prayers (John 15:7), bring glory to God, become trees of righteousness planted by the Lord where the glory of His grace is displayed, be identified and called disciples of Christ – for by their fruits “ye shall know them”, remain useful and relevant even at old age.
Bible reference: John 15:7, 8; Psalm 92:13, 14; Ezekiel 47:12
Fruits of the spirit bible verses
Here are 12 scriptures for the fruits of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-26
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.
Ephesians 5:9
(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Matthew 12:33
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Ephesians 5:8-11
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Hebrews 12:11
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
James 3:18
And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Philippians 1:11
having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Final words
We have seen that the fruits of the Spirit are nine character traits that are developed in the lives of Christians as they grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These fruits of the Spirit help us to live a life that glorifies God and blesses others. They also reflect the nature and character of God, who is the source of all these fruits. As we abide in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, we will bear more and more fruit for God’s glory.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to develop these fruits of the Spirit in our lives, and that we will be faithful and fruitful followers of Christ.
