Gal. 5:22-26, The Fruit of the Spirit (2)

Ø Longsuffering: “accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it.”  There are two primary “patience” terms in the NT.  This is the one that is used of God, and has to do with provocation by people.  Here is a somewhat lengthy quote from Vine:

Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, is associated with mercy, and used of God (Ex. 34:6, Septuagint).

Ø Kindness: this refers to pleasant acts bestowed on others.  It is not a mere thought but requires an expression toward another person.

Ø Goodness: this term is similar to the previous term, but is broader.  Thus it includes what we sometimes call “tough love,” or as Vine says, “the sterner qualities by which doing good to others is not necessarily by gentle means.”

Ø Faithfulness: “fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice.”  The one who is faithful is he who swears to his own hurt and does not change (Ps. 15:4).  The verse goes on to say, he will never be shaken.

Ø Meekness: “yielding my personal rights and expectations to God.”  Many consider meekness to be weakness.  The Biblical idea is anything but that.  Vine says, “meekness … is the fruit of power … the Lord was ‘meek’ because he had the infinite resources of God at His command … meekness is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-control … is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all.”

Ø Self-control: “instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit."  Vine says, “the controlling power of the will under the operation of the Spirit of God.”

Concerning these spiritual graces, Paul concludes with several comments.

·       5:23-24: First, “against such there is no law.”  Those who live by the flesh, doing their best, produce works contrary to the law they are trying to keep.  Those who walk in the Spirit are truly free from the law, because the Spirit produces the life that the law cannot condemn.  Thus they are the ones that, by love, fulfill the law.  The reason they are free is that they have crucified the passions and desires of the flesh that aroused the law to produce the fruit of death (Rom. 7:5). 

·       5:25: Thus, the bottom line is, if we live in the Spirit (we have been born of the Spirit; Christ lives in us) then let us walk in the Spirit.  As he indicated in Gal. 3:3, it is foolish to begin in the Spirit but continue on in the flesh.

·       5:26: This verse applies the teaching to the immediate situation in the churches of Galatia.  They experienced great strife in this matter, ultimately arguing over who was the better Christian: we who walk in the Spirit or we who keep the law?  How conceited!  The point is: Paul has not only solved a theological problem; he has provided what they all need to walk with Christ in oneness.