This study was taught at our Sunday evening service by Sim Forder, one of our pastors, on the 6th September 2020. You can listen to the audio on this web page or save it for later listening.

In this study we study Galatians 5:16-26 which give the context of the Fruit of the Spirit which is specifically mentioned in verses 22-23. We also considered the wider context of Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, in that he was warning (even rebuking) them to keep away from the idea that we can earn our salvation by our works. But with that foundation laid, we then considered that we should not use the freedom we have to sin, as he wrote in Galatians 5:13:

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

The next point we considered was that it is the Fruit of the Spirit. Not fruits of the Spirit. Why is this important? Unlike the gifts of the Spirit where different ones are given to different people, we should ALL demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit… the result or effect of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Think of it like this – an apple should be juicy, tasty, and nutritious, and all the apples from the same tree should possess the same qualities. It’s the same with the fruit of the Spirit – we should all possess these same qualities as Christians. If you or I don’t, we’re lacking something. We can’t say “oh well, that’s not the type of fruit I bear”. An apple that had a great texture, beautiful colour, but horrible flavour would not be a good thing! Likewise a Christian that is patient and peaceful, but does not love, is a Christian who has something wrong with them.

We then briefly considered each quality of the fruit of the Spirit, before looking at how Jesus explained we will bear fruit:

“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, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:1-8

Abiding in Christ means abiding in the Word, the Bible – because Jesus is the Word. In fact, you can’t abide in Christ if you don’t abide in His Word.

What does abiding practically mean? Reading the Bible and spending time with the Lord in prayer. You cannot grow as a Christian if you don’t do those things. And furthermore, you will not produce fruit if you are not connected to the source of the nutrients you need.

Over the following 9 weeks we will study one quality of the Fruit of the Spirit each week with studies available on our website (usually) the same day they are taught. Separately, it is worth listening to our previous study on this chapter here.