Lord’s Day, Vol. 4 No. 12

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

(Galatians 5:22a) 

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The hallmark of a growing Christian is growing in love, biblical love! It is attested by an unfeigned, sacrificial love for our brethren.

Our Lord Jesus said in John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Biblical love is the most lacking element in the world today and in fact, throughout human history. The reason could be found in Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

1) It Begins with the Adversative “But”

The fruit of the Spirit is contrasted with the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21.

The fruit is of the new nature – “in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free” (Gal. 5:1a, 16a). It is not of the old nature – “be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1b, 16b).

2) It is a Spiritual Fruit.

The fruit of the Spirit comes through cultivation by the sanctifying work of God’s Word.

Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

There is a time element involved. We have to patiently develop this virtue by internalising God’s Word.

3) The Linking Verb “is” Denotes a Statement of Fact

 The fruit describes a present reality. It will certainly be manifested in the lives of growing Christians as an authentication of Holy Spirit’s work.

It is a singular and not a plural verb. The subject “fruit” is also singular. The singular verb further identifies, explains or categorises the subject – “the fruit of the Spirit.” There is no grammatical error in the translation of the text – “The fruit of the Spirit is” instead of “The fruits of the Spirit are” which in English, may appear to be grammatically more correct.

If we interpret it as a plural verb, then there are nine fruits of the Spirit. When we observe the text, we realize that this fruit is singular.

The Apostle Paul is not describing nine different fruits. It is one fruit with many characteristics.

It is noteworthy that “love” is placed first. In the Greek language, the order in which a word is placed is according to its significance. The word emphasized is placed in the first position and that is “love”. The tense is singular. Hence, “the fruit of the Spirit is love.” The single virtue of love is overarching all the rest of the eight attributes or characteristics of the fruit.

4) Of the Holy Spirit.

The fruit is of a heavenly kind, quality or characteristic. We cannot produce such love by ourselves. It is the work of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer that produces such love – it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

This pure love is first shed abroad in the heart of every believer by the Holy Spirit at his conversion – “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). Let us acknowledge the divine nature and the divine source of this love.

“Biblical love motivates a person to such action that he is willing to do for that person in the light of eternity no matter what the price may or cost be to himself, that is God’s love” (Whitcomb).

May God help us bear the fruit of the Spirit. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee