The Fruit of the Spirit is not Works but Character Qualities

Many people have confused the fruit of the Spirit to mean actions, this is not accurate and here is why.

The fruit of the Spirit is not actions because anyone can pretend good actions. The fruit is the character qualities of Christ only discerned by born again believers.

Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law"

Good fruit will be followed by righteous actions but the fruit is the character qualities that lead to the actions.

I have known many people who have good actions who are not born again. And, God describes their condition if they don't repent and trust in Christ.

Matthew 7:21-23 "Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

Narcissists can fool people but not forever, those who know the character of the person can see that the actions are manipulative and not genuine.

The good actions that come from God's fruit of character qualities are never manipulative, they do not have to be concocted, they come as naturally as breathing because they are a part of the person who has Christ living in them. They do not have to "try" to appear good, they have Christ in them Who is good!

Ecclesiastes 7:8

"The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one."

It is the Spirit of a man that walks in love, not the tries of a man who wants to be seen as good and special.

Romans 8:5

"Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit."

It is fleshly to attempt to be good to be liked by others, it is the Spirit of Christ working in us when His character qualities live within us producing effortlessly the fruit because we love Him and because He has changed us into a new creation. We no longer desire the things of the flesh.

Romans 14:17

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."

When we have become weak and given into the flesh God has given us the Advocate, the Holy Spirit Who brings us back to right actions because He convicts our hearts of sin so that we will not continue to walk in it.

Galatians 5:16-18

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…"

Psalm 1:3

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Those who walk in the Spirit battle against the flesh and the Holy Spirit in us gives us the victory when we confess we took our eyes off of Him and gave into the flesh momentarily.

1 John 3:6-7 " 6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.…"

The unbeliever justifies their sin and rages at the suggestion that they must repent. But the born-again believer is ashamed when they sin and confess it to be cleansed of it and continue to walk in holiness.

Romans 15:14

"And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."

If we love one another we will correct each other out of a deep love of the Brethren so that everyone is growing and changing as they put off the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:15-17 "15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.…"

The biggest problem in the believers life is the pressure of the culture and family to be just like them, walking fleshly without a desire to become more holy. We must resist them and get away if the pressure becomes overwhelming and ruinous.

Keep Looking Up, very soon we will be free from this wicked world and its false demonstration of religion that enslaves people to their sinful desires to be superior. Only Christ is superior and He is the One we follow.