Spiritual Fruit

Oct 26, 2008 By: Pastor William Poss Series: Galatians Scripture: Galatians 5:19-26
We found last time in our studies in Galatians 5:17 that the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. These words describe the warfare between two enemies battling each other – a war of life and death. In our text this week the company of this war are described. First depicted in verses 19-21, we find the idle, useless, and barren flesh, which yields no fruit, contrasted to the fruit of the spirit described in verses 22-23. In essence these are images of what the enemies of God look like in verses 19-21 – adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; and what the friends of God resemble in verses 22 and 23 – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Paul then argues that such spiritual fruit is only borne in those who are Christ’s [who] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. The new man makes no peace pacts with the flesh. Sin must be put to death. To the cross, with the works of the flesh! Escort the POWs out of their cells; it’s time for their crucifixion!