The Fruit of the Spirit

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The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-26

A good life is a fruit-bearing tree - Proverbs 11:30a

Paul's Epistle To The Galatians

• Chapters 1 & 2 - A Narrative
  
• Chapters 3 & 4 - A Discussion
  
• Chapters 5 & 6 - An Exhortation

Galatians General Outline

• Chapters 1 & 2   
  • A Narrative ~ It is personal (An appeal to reason) = Paul’s vindication (Concerning Paul)
• Chapters 3 & 4   
  • A Discussion ~ It is doctrinal (An appeal to choice) = Paul’s exposition (Concerning the Gospel)
• Chapters 5 & 6   
  • An Exhortation ~ This is practical (An appeal to action) = Paul’s application (Concerning the Galatians)

Walking In the Spirit

• Paul says those who walk in the Spirit have:
  "crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires"
  
• They identify and leave behind those impulses that keep them from doing the things they want to do
  
• They do that which Jesus Christ has commanded
  
• They are becoming sanctified
  

Being possessed by God's Spirit

• Responding to His transforming purposes in obedient faith
  
• Results in bearing the fruit of the Spirit
  
• Continually pursuing the process of maturing in holiness:
  
  • In our relationships with God
    
  • With His people
    
  • In and with the people of the world

God always prepares us for the obedience that He requires with the grace that He gives.

God gives what He demands.
---Augustine

Our task, as image bearing, God-loving, Christ-shape, Spirit-filled Christians, following Christ and shaping our world, is to announce redemption to a world that has discovered its fallenness, to announce healing to a world that has discovered its brokenness, to proclaim love and trust to the world that knows only exploitation, fear and suspicion. --- N.T. Wright

Discipleship

• Moving from
  
  • 'come and see'
    
  • to 'come and die'
    
• He said you are his disciple if you:
  
  • Obey his word (John 8:31)
    
  • Love each other (John 13:31)
    
  • Bear much fruit (John 15:8)