The Fruit of the Spirit Is Love

The word “fruit” is a very interesting word. In Scripture the word is used in various ways. The word is used in both a literal sense, referring to actual fruit, such as when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden “fruit” (Gen. 3:6), and a spiritual sense, in which it is used in three different ways.

First, “fruit” refers to the action of holy living, such as our praise to God. Romans 6:22 says that because of your salvation in Christ “you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” In other words, the “fruit” of salvation is holy or righteous living. Hebrews 13:15 adds, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Righteous living breaks forth in praise to God, which is part of the active “fruit” of salvation.

Second, “fruit” refers to addition and growth. When we lead unbelieving friends to salvation in Christ or we help fellow believers to grow in their faith, it is said that we “bear fruit.” In John 15:16, Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” The thought here is that you should lead others to faith in Christ and then help them learn to live faithfully in Him. In that way your “fruit” remains. It is the same as when Jesus told His disciples to “make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Third, “fruit” is used as a metaphor for the character of believers who live by the power of the Spirit of God. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (NASB). Together, this is the “fruit” produced by God’s own Spirit in the lives of His faithful people. These nine characteristics of faithful people are referred to as a singular “fruit.” The truth here presented is that the “fruit of the Spirit” is always produced in its entirety in every believer.

Walk into any church and it will soon be obvious that not every believer is fully developed in all the “fruit of the Spirit.” This is to be expected. Not all believers have been a part of the body of Christ the same amount of time. Each of us begins to experience this “fruit” when we come to Christ by faith. But that is only the beginning. The longer we live by faith, the more we will see these attitudes show themselves in our lives. It is a growing process that all of us go through.

You will notice that even though all nine are part of one “fruit,” love is obviously the dominant attitude. Paul begins, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” (Gal. 5:22). Love encompasses all attitudes of the “fruit.” In the Greek, the word for love is agape. True agape love, the love of God poured out in our lives, is certain proof of our salvation. When we begin to love others through the very love of God Himself, we prove our salvation and we begin to show and develop all of the “fruit of the Spirit.” 

In that way, love leads to joy, which leads to peace, which leads to patience, and so on, but the Christian life begins with love. First, the love of Christ poured out in our lives. Then, the love of Christ bursting forth through our lives touching the lives of others. Truly “the fruit of the Spirit is love.” As Paul commanded, “Walk in love” (Eph. 5:2). Let the love of God daily pour out from your life. Amen.