Love is the first listed fruit of the "Fruit of the Spirit of Christ" that believers receive when they become born again. It is first because it is the most important and is the foundation for all the other fruit.
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."
Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
None of the other fruit is present if there is no love, love is the foundational fruit for all the other fruit.
Christ is the very essence of His fruit that He places in us when we become born again. If there is no fruit there is no salvation. Christ will only give fruit, that is Himself, to those who have confessed their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Him into a new creation.
Pretenders, narcissists, will accuse others of not having the fruit when it is they who lack it. We know when someone has this supernatural love for others, their attitudes and reactions to life experiences are evident given enough time and challenge.
Matthew 5:19,20
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven"
There are many commandments in the Bible all sub categories of the ten commandments that God gave to Moses.
Those who ignore some of those commandments and even make up their own to add to God's Word are the pretenders. They "say" we are "Bible believers" but in practice, they have little regard for God's Word or Christ. These people do not have the fruit because they do not have the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit comes to us when Christ makes His home in us. Believers are His temple, He becomes the essence of their being.
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
I have visited with many believers who do not have recollection of the Holy Spirit speaking to them. I do not mean in an audible voice but through His promptings. When we have heard from the Holy Spirit we know its Him, it is clear and unmistakeable.
Deuteronomy 5:27 –" Listen To All That the Lord Our God Says. Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey."
God will not speak to those who will not obey His Word.
Matthew 13:13-14 "13
This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "`You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
Many pretenders in churches today would tell you they are "Christians" but they will never use the term "born-again" and they will never hear from the Holy Spirit. Those I have spoken to who are pretenders look at me sideways when I ask them if they have ever heard from the Holy Spirit and then have no answer for me.
Acts 19:2-6
"2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Some born-again believers have not sought the counsel of the Holy Spirit so they do not know what it is to hear from Him.
When we pray asking for God to teach us and remove all false ideas we were taught, He will give us the wisdom we need and believe me, it is exciting when we realize how many things we did not understand correctly and most of Christendom still does not understand.
Many people today hold on so tightly to their man-made traditions that they cannot hear from God. But most importantly they do not ask Him.
James 1:5
"5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [a]without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Many things we were taught are necessary are not from God and we could, in confidence disregard them. Other things the culture says are not important in God's Word are and have purpose and meaning they do not understand.
Most of Christianity today is based on false assumptions and cultural ideas and not on God's Word. When we ask God to expose this to us in detail He does and we are filled with joy that we no longer have to be in bondage to what the culture does or wants. We can walk a straight and narrow path with Christ without burdensome human traditions.
And, thankfully we have no need that others go with us, even though we wish they would for their own sake, we are content and complete with Christ alone.
We love the brethren who want that narrow road and who are willing to sacrifice their lives to walk with Christ. These are our brothers and sisters and the ones who will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with us.
1 John 3:14
"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death."
John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
Philippians 2:17
"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you."
1 Thessalonians 2:8
"We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us."
1 John 2:9
"If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness."
Praise God for His Holy Spirit Who will guide us in all things.
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