The Fruit of the Spirit - Overview

Fruit is the natural product of a living thing. What is true of plants is true of people. The fruit of a person’s life is proof of the life within. Jesus said, “A good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit.” And then He said, “You shall know them by their fruits.” In other words, the way you live proves what lives in you.

Galatians 5 lists nine character traits and calls them the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The presence or absence of the fruit of the Spirit is obvious. It’s obvious in our character, in our moral choices, and our relationships. Again, the way you live proves what lives in you. And the fruit of the Spirit is proof that Christ lives in us.