Walk by the Spirit
The “fruit of the Spirit” passage is one of those so familiar to us that we often take little time to think about it. When we do think about it, we concentrate on getting all the terms just so. We are either blowing past it in our Bible reading or analyzing it to the nth degree.
Timothy George, in his very thorough commentary on Galatians, includes this little line about the fruit of the Spirit.
“We should sit back and contemplate the beauty of this image rather than overinterpreting and analyzing it to death”1
Of course, in his commentary, he then goes on to analyze the words in thorough detail.
One thing we often overlook in this passage is its aim. We are concerned with meaning, but why did Paul give us this list (and the preceding works of the flesh)? When we understand Paul’s aim, the impact of the list on our soul increases.
In the search for aim or purpose, the first point to consider is the overall context of the book itself. Paul wrote to contend with the false notion that Gentile believers must also add circumcision and other trappings of Jewish law-keeping to “really have salvation.” The first four chapters argue against that notion, proclaiming instead the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
In chapter five, Paul turns to application. What does justification by faith mean? Well, it means that we begin the Christian life by faith and we shouldn’t add anything else to it (Gal 5.1-12). We should live without the Law. It also means that in beginning by faith, we are not thereby giving license to the flesh to simply live in ways that please the flesh (Gal 5.13-15).
Instead, the Christian life is meant to be a walk with the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 ¶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Some translations make this “walk by the Spirit,” but the meaning is the same. As you work through the last paragraph of Gal 5, including both the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit,” we find a repeated emphasis on the Spirit throughout. I take this to mean the same thing as living by faith. Salvation comes by faith alone; sanctification comes by faith alone.
When you contrast the two lists, one difference immediately jumps out. The “works of the flesh” are plural actions. The “fruit of the Spirit” is a singular product. When we notice that, we also notice that the actors with respect to the works are people, whereas the producer of the fruit is the Spirit.
A funny thing happens to us on the way to sanctification. We in independent Fundamental Baptist land (and elsewhere) tend to really get salvation by faith alone. Then we start thinking about sanctification. So, we notice “the fruit of the Spirit is love” and we remind ourselves, “I need to be more loving.” We might work at understanding what love is, how it is expressed, and think of ways to put love into practice in our lives. We work hard at it. Perhaps we attend (or create) seminars about it and teach others “ten principles about putting love in practice in your life.” Or we come to patience (long-suffering, kjv). We construct helpful methods of developing patience, work at being long suffering. We might combine the two and identify some particularly trying person in our circle (home, work, church, wherever) and make up our mind to bear lo-o-o-ong with that person, and love him in various ways. We work hard at that too.
When all is said and done, do we have the fruit of the Spirit? In other words, do we gain the fruit of the Spirit by working at it? What did the passage say? “The works of the flesh… the fruit of the Spirit.” Wait a minute. Am I proud of my works of love and patience and how I put up with that pain in the office? Is that the fruit of the Spirit?
You see, I think Paul is teaching us that sanctification comes by dependence on the Spirit. Now that doesn’t do away with the imperatives. I still have to love God with my whole soul, mind, and strength, and love my neighbour as myself. The obligations still implacably rest on me.
However, if we have learned anything about our innate ability to keep the law, it is this. We don’t have any innate ability! In ourselves, if we are relying on our own effort to keep the law or produce the fruit, we will fail. We will act in the flesh, and please ourselves instead of God. We will do the right thing in the wrong way, and we might even start boasting at how good we are doing at loving one another.
How do we get to the fruit of the Spirit then? Do we sort of sink into a mystic trance and let the Spirit take over our lives? Hardly. No, we must do what the passage says.
Gal 5:16 ¶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
The amazing claim of this verse is the negative in “ye shall not…” In Greek, it is a double negative, which, unlike English makes it very emphatic. If you are walking in the Spirit (present tense imperative, continuous action), you absolutely will not fulfil the lust of the flesh. It isn’t going to happen. (When we stop walking with the Spirit, we get in trouble.)
Now, how do we walk in the Spirit? James says:
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…
I believe that our focus for the Christian life needs to be on the “ordinary means of grace.” (I mean grace for sanctification, not salvation.) What is that? Read your Bible. Pray. Go to church. Serve others because they need you to serve, not because you ought to serve. Teach, give, labour in the service. Get to know God. Love God. And the Spirit will produce His fruit in your life.
The passage closes this way:
Gal 5:25 ¶ 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. (KJV)
Gal 5:25 ¶ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (NASB)
What is the significance of the fruit of the Spirit? It is something the Spirit produces in us when we stop living by the Law (works) and start walking by the Spirit (faith).
Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Timothy George, Galatians, The New American Commentary (Nashville, Tenn: B&H, 1994), 400. [↩]