The fruits of the Holy Spirit are mentioned in chapter 5 of Galatians, where Paul is giving examples of how believers should live. It’s not about how we look on the outside; it’s about how we carry ourselves and about what’s going on inside of us. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are not exclusively for Christians because we are all made in God’s image, regardless of belief. It’s possible for nonbelievers to fully walk in the attributes that God intended us to walk in, and it is possible for Christians to do the absolute opposite. In order to walk in the fullness that God has created us to walk in, we must constantly check our attitudes and intentions.
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:16-23 NIV
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Love—The concept of love in this passage is not about having warm feelings for someone. It is about deliberately having an attitude of kindness and devotion to others. Love gives freely without looking at whether the other person deserves it. True love is unconditional and gives without expecting anything in return.
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Joy—The concept of joy is often confused with happiness. Joy is gladness that comes from within regardless of the situation you’re in. Happiness depends on your mood, but joy depends on an inner knowledge that God is for you.
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Peace—To have peace is to have the presence of tranquility, even in a place of disaster. Peace brings a sense of wholeness and completeness that makes you content and that allows God to control every situation you’re in.
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Patience—Other words that describe this fruit are lenience, long-suffering forbearance, perseverance, and steadfastness. Patience is the ability to endure or tolerate delays, trouble, or wrongful treatment from others without losing your temper.34
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Kindness—Kindness will move a person to go out of his or her way to ensure the well-being of another. It is a moral goodness that overflows from a person through actions and words. Kindness is the absence of vindictiveness and ill intentions.
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Goodness—Kindness is the physical action that come from goodness, but goodness itself reflects the character of God within a person. To have goodness in you means you will also look for the goodness in others. Goodness can move a person to correct or rebuke someone or something that is unjust.
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Faithfulness—A faithful person is one who will not go back on his or her word. A faithful person is someone who is truly devoted to serving others and loving Christ. A faithful person will always give glory to God and not lose faith in times of turmoil.
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Gentleness—To be gentle and meek does not make one powerless. To be gentle means your strength is under control. Gentleness is a way of treating others, no matter the situation at hand. It forgives others unconditionally, corrects with love, and lives in an unshakable peace.
- Self-control—Self-control is the ability to set aside your fleshly desires and honor God’s will. As human beings, we are constantly at war with our flesh. Whether we keep ourselves pure by holding our tongues, turning the other cheek, or abstaining from sexual desires, our self-control shows God and others that holiness is a priority.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
