Results, Not Causes: Fruits of the Spirit (Part 2)

Galatians 2:20; 5:16-24

So why exactly are things like love, joy, peace, goodness, etc. called "fruits of the Spirit?" There are at least two reasons.

The first is that "fruits of the Spirit" are contrasted with "works of the flesh." "Works of the flesh" means that we, apart from Christ, are working or striving for something with our own strength. But our efforts are futile, resulting in things like impurity, anger, jealousy, idolatry, conflict, etc. On the other hand, "fruits of the Spirit" means that things like love, joy, peace, and goodness are the results of the work of Christ. The works of Christ—namely, his suffering, death, resurrection, and presence—result in things like love, joy, etc.

The other reason why it's called "fruits of the Spirit" is because these are the fruits of Christ. So love, joy, peace, etc. are all reflections of who Jesus Christ is. He interacts with love, kindness, patience, etc. with those who believe and submit to his gospel. So when we think about love, patience, kindness, and gentleness (which are the focus of this week's sermon), we are not thinking of the love, patience, kindness, or gentleness of this world. Instead, we are thinking of Jesus's love, patience, kindness, and gentleness.

This is a very important difference! For example, the best love that the world has is one where it is fundamentally using people. We are all guilty of this. We love people only because it benefits us somehow. Sometimes the benefits are obvious, but other times they are internal and hidden. Even a mom's love for her child is partially out of her own benefit of fulfilling her maternal instinct.

In the sermon, I will preach how Jesus's love, patience, kindness, and gentleness are not only radically different than what this world can offer, but that what the world can offer are mere imitations of Jesus. Unlike the world, Jesus's love is utterly selfless. Nothing of his love benefitted him as it only benefited us. He did not need to love us. Moreover, the sacrifice and cost of his love are unparalleled to anything that this world could imagine. The creator suffered death for his own creation that was hell-bent toward rebelling against him.

The only way to respond to the love, patience, kindness, and gentleness of Jesus is worship. That is, we live with joy and peace, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. And we live with love, patience, kindness, and gentleness toward others. In short, our life is free from the works of the flesh and is instead marked by the fruits of the Spirit!

Questions:

1. Read Galatians 2.20 and 5.16-24 together and review your sermon notes. Share with one another what the Spirit might have been placing on your heart through the sermon.

2. Which of the "works of the flesh" can you identify with the most—whether current struggles or the way you were before Christ?

3. This sermon explained how Jesus's love, patience, kindness, and gentleness are radically different than anything that the world offers. In fact, the love, patience, kindness, and gentleness of this world are cheap imitations of Jesus. In what ways have you experienced Jesus's love, patience, kindness, and gentleness?

How have you been responding to these aspects of Jesus?

4. Take a moment and ask the Spirit to give you one practical way that you can walk and be led by him. As a group, think of ways you can keep each other accountable and in prayer!