Fruit of the Spirit are Character Qualities not Actions

The fruit of the Spirit are not actions, they are character qualities that produce the way we think and they way we act.

Galatians 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."

Born again believers do not have to try real hard to have the fruit, they love the goodness of Christ because He lives in us. The fruit from Christ comes to them at the moment of salvatin when Christ comes to live in them.

There are many who would claim to have this fruit but the discerning Christian see that it is missing when their Spirit does not connect with the world spirit within someone.

The confusion comes when someone claims to be a Christian but fights to defend and excuse their sin, justifying what they know is sin through human thinking rather than evaluating it according to God's Word.

1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.…"

Born again believers have flaws and warts since they are still in the flesh, but they hate their flesh, they love the Spirit of God Who lives in them. Their desire is to please God!

When our flesh fails in some way momentarily we confess to be cleansed out of deep devotion to Christ and through His prompting. God said that eventually the born again believer will confess sin, be ashamed of it and seek the Lord for cleansing

These passages were written to born again believers:

1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 5:17-19 "…17 All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one."

Those who fight to defend their sin claiming they are under the blood so they can enjoy their sin, are not born again.

Proverbs 10:17
"17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray."