Fruit

[Guido]

Does a person, having believed the gospel, necessarily bear fruit, or do they bear fruit through applying the Word of God, or do they bear fruit through submission to the Holy Spirit? And what exactly is meant by fruit? Are they only those mentioned in Galatians 5, or the things in the Bible that we are commanded to do?

Galatians 5 says:

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

[AustinC]

The fruit is...of the Holy Spirit. This means it is a gift and work of the Holy Spirit, not generated by human will.

The issue is whether we grieve the Spirit, whether we walk in step with the Spirit. As corrupt human beings our natural man fights against the Spirit, which reduces the work of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:17
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

 

[Van]

Why do you suppose scripture says the Lord is my Helper, rather than my Controller who causes my every thought and deed?

Why work so hard to justify ignoring our salvation, of not producing fruit "worthy of repentance?"

 

[AustinC]

Is the fruit produced by humans or produced by the Holy Spirit?

The text says it is the "Fruit of the Spirit." "Of" tells us the producer. In Galatians 5 we see the two producers. One...the human flesh. Two...the Holy Spirit. The contrast between what each produce is quite stark.

Yet, it seems one person (so far) wants both to be produced by the will of man. And...if man doesn't have all say in the matter, that makes God a tyrant and controller. Such thinking is of no value in this conversation. The text is clear, even though some posters will attempt to obfuscate.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Does a person, having believed the gospel, necessarily bear fruit, or do they bear fruit through applying the Word of God, or do they bear fruit through submission to the Holy Spirit?

Luke 6:43-45. 'For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit For every tree is know by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil, For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.' It's worth adding that a dead tree produces no fruit at all.

A Christian is one who has been born again by the Holy Spirit. If that is so, he will inevitably produce good fruit. Yes they will apply the word of God to their lives and yes, they will submit to the gracious influences of the Spirit.

 

[Van]

Is the fruit produced by humans or produced by the Holy Spirit?

The text says it is the "Fruit of the Spirit." "Of" tells us the producer. In Galatians 5 we see the two producers. One...the human flesh. Two...the Holy Spirit. The contrast between what each produce is quite stark.

Yet, it seems one person (so far) wants both to be produced by the will of man. And...if man doesn't have all say in the matter, that makes God a tyrant and controller. Such thinking is of no value in this conversation. The text is clear, even though some posters will attempt to obfuscate.

The fruit of the Spirit is produced synergistically!

If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.

Some disinformation providers might claim we are controlled by our indwelt Helper, but they themselves seem to have quenched the Spirit.

 

[MB]

Does a person, having believed the gospel, necessarily bear fruit, or do they bear fruit through applying the Word of God, or do they bear fruit through submission to the Holy Spirit? And what exactly is meant by fruit? Are they only those mentioned in Galatians 5, or the things in the Bible that we are commanded to do?

If we as Christians have to do any thing to maintain our Salvation then it is no longer by grace through faith. In my opinion fruit is the product of your works and our Salvation. Love your neighbor as your self and you will have a lot of fruit Love isn't easy all the time but loving when you meet your neighbor offering to help with what ever problem he may have. Will produce fruit. Telling someone about Christ brings much fruit. Fruit is not a requirement it's a blessing.
MB

 

[Dave G]

Does a person, having believed the gospel, necessarily bear fruit, or do they bear fruit through applying the Word of God, or do they bear fruit through submission to the Holy Spirit? And what exactly is meant by fruit? Are they only those mentioned in Galatians 5, or the things in the Bible that we are commanded to do?

Necessarily.
In other words, they bear the fruit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) "of" ( by or from ) the Spirit through the "purging " ( pruning ) of their Father in Heaven:

" I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." ( John 17:1-2 ).

Also,
It is the work of both the Spirit in the believer, and the work of their Father in Heaven to grow that fruit that they start to bear...
We don't inherently grow that fruit by "trying to" or "working at it".
It's a natural product ( bearing or producing, like fruit on a tree ) of both His Spirit's indwelling, and His completely unmerited salvation ( Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7 ) of our souls.

Think of it like an apple tree...
Does the tree bear ( produce ) fruit because it's trying to,
or because it's designed by God to do that very thing?

Spiritual fruits are also different than good works...

They are the spiritual qualities ( or characteristics ) of someone who is a new creature in Christ,
not specific works that we "walk in" ( Ephesians 2:10 ) or do because it is God that works in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure ( Philippians 2:13 ).