Agape Love
Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit that presents the divine personality and character of God presented by Paul to his ministry in his letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 5, Paul explains what fruit a righteous tree bears. Accordingly, this "fruit" is grown by those who have truly repented and become followers of Jesus. (Matthew 3:8)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatian 5:22-26)
Other fruits added: charity, patience, generosity, modesty, chastity.
But, let us not be led into the traits that contradict the fruits of the Holy Spirit: the acts of the flesh, sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Such as will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Love (Agape) is a self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. It is the unconditional love God has for the world. Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful.
Joy, divine in its origin, is a Spirit-given expression that flourishes best in hard times. According to Nehemiah 8:10, "The joy of the Lord is your strength", which may be further understood to mean properly as "the awareness of God's grace and favor in the midst of stress, hard times and persecution.
Peace is a tranquility, a state of rest, that comes from seeking after God. Peace is God's gift of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul even in the midst of circumstance; and has a calm, inner stability that results in the ability to conduct himself peacefully, rather than allowing the difficulties and pressures of life to break. A person who is possessed by peace is whole, complete, stable, and poised for blessing.
Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, who brings peace to the hearts of those who desire it. He says in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". NKJV
Patience; describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.
Hebrews 10:36 says, "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised". We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness". "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love".
Kindness is acting for the good of people regardless of what they do; it is goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, kindness, affability. Kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return.
That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)
Goodness is the state or quality of being good; moral excellence; virtue; kindly feeling, kindness, generosity, joy in being good. The best part of anything; Essence; Strength.
"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power" "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth".
Faithfulness is committing oneself to something or someone. Being faithful requires personal resolve not to wander away from commitments or promises. It's not always easy to be faithful. Christian faith requires trust in God.
"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth". "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith".(Ephesian 3:16-17)
Self Control is a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious. The word is best translated 'meekness,' not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well.
“make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love ." (2 Peter 1:5-7)
