Holy Spirit, fruit of

The living presence of the Holy Spirit in believers leads to Christlike virtues within them, just as a living tree will bear good fruit.

God expects his people to bear spiritual fruit

Isaiah 5:4 See also Matthew 7:12–20 “fruit” is a term used to indicate the produce or outcome of a person's life; John 15:8

What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?

The fruit of the Spirit leads to believers becoming Christlike

The gift of the Spirit begins this lifelong process

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Christlike qualities are contrasted with sinful ones

Galatians 5:16–17 See also Romans 8:5–14; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 5:8–16; Colossians 3:1–17

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.

The fruit of Spirit-filled living

Galatians 5:22–23 “fruit” is singular, emphasising that these qualities are mutually dependent aspects of Christian living. See also Ephesians 5:9

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Examples of the fruit of the Spirit

Love

Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13:1–13

Joy

Philippians 1:18–19; 1 Thessalonians 1:6

Peace

Romans 8:6, Romans 14:17

Patience

Hebrews 6:12; James 5:7–11

Kindness

2 Corinthians 6:6; Colossians 3:12; 2 Peter 1:7

Goodness

Romans 15:14; 2 Peter 1:5

Faithfulness

1 Corinthians 10:13 God's faithfulness is also here presented as the reason for faithfulness; 3 John 1:3

Gentleness

Matthew 11:29–30 Jesus Christ displays such gentleness; 1 Thessalonians 2:7

Self-control

2 Timothy 3:3; 2 Peter 1:6

Other evidence of the Holy Spirit's activity

Romans 14:17 righteousness; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:17 wisdom; Ephesians 5:18 temperance

The evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is a result of divine activity, not of human effort

1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16; Galatians 2:20