What is The Fruit of the Holy Spirit?

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QUESTION:

WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

ANSWER:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Introduction: A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

The Lord Jesus taught a profound truth when He said, “For a tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. This principle applies powerfully to those who claim to follow Christ. If the Holy Spirit truly resides in a person, the evidence will be unmistakable—others will see it, feel it, and even taste it in their interactions with that believer. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is not an inward claim but an outward testimony, clearly visible in the life of one who is walking in the Spirit.

1. How to Bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit?

In Galatians 5, Paul sets a contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. He says:

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Even though the Holy Spirit dwells in every true believer, not all believers are bearing fruit. Why? Because they are not walking in the Spirit. The flesh and the Spirit are at war within, and we must choose daily whom we will follow. The one who continues to gratify the desires of the flesh will not produce the Spirit’s fruit. But the one who walks with the Spirit—yielding to His voice, submitting to His conviction, and obeying His prompting—will bear the kind of fruit that others can see, benefit from, and glorify God because of it.

It is important to note that you cannot taste your own fruit. It is others who witness your love, experience your peace, and are blessed by your kindness. Therefore, no one can truly claim they possess the fruit of the Spirit unless others have experienced it in their lives.

2. Fruit or Fruits?

In Galatians 5:22, the Apostle Paul writes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is…” using the singular form “fruit” (Greek: karpos). Many scholars explain that this singular form signifies a unified whole—the fruit is one, expressed in multiple characteristics. However, it’s also worth noting that in other places, the same Greek word karpos is translated as “fruits,” such as in Matthew 3:8: *”Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

Because of this, we shouldn’t be overly dogmatic about using only the singular. For the sake of clarity in this article, we will refer to them as the fruits of the Holy Spirit, recognizing each characteristic as a distinct expression of the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life.

3. What Are the Fruits of the Holy Spirit?

Here are the nine fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23, along with some supporting Scriptures and reflections:

  1. Love (Agape) – Selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional affection that seeks the good of others. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

  2. Joy – A deep, abiding gladness not based on circumstances. “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

  3. Peace – Inner tranquility that surpasses understanding. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you… Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:27). “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:7).

  4. Longsuffering (Patience) – Enduring hardship and offense with a gracious heart. “…bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

  5. Kindness – Tender concern and compassion in action. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

  6. Goodness – Uprightness and moral integrity. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

  7. Faithfulness – Reliability and loyalty to God and others. “A faithful man will abound with blessings” (Proverbs 28:20).

  8. Gentleness (Meekness) – Strength under control; not weakness but humility. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

  9. Self-Control – Mastery over one’s desires and impulses. This is one of the most neglected fruits among Christians today. Many fall into sin not because of ignorance, but due to a lack of self-control—too lazy to pray, too indifferent to obey, too passive to act, too distracted to serve. The Apostle Paul says, “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

4. God’s Expectation for Us to Bear Fruit

In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–23), Jesus explains how the Word of God, like seed, is sown into different types of soil, which represent the hearts of people. Some seeds fall by the wayside, some on stony ground, others among thorns—but only the seed that falls on good soil bears fruit. Jesus said:

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23).

God is looking for fruit in our lives—not just hearing the Word but allowing it to take root, grow, and produce real transformation. Fruit-bearing is the natural outcome of a heart that receives, believes, and obeys God’s Word.

This parable connects perfectly with what Jesus said in John 15: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). And He continued, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

But the warning is clear: “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away… If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:2,6).

God expects every believer to bear fruit. Lack of fruit is a serious matter—it indicates disconnection from Jesus, the True Vine. To bear fruit is to live a life that reflects His Spirit, His Word, and His love to the world.

Final Thought

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

If God were to look down from heaven today, will He see your light? Will He taste your fruits? What about the people around us? Will they experience the light of Jesus in us? Will they taste and see that the Lord is good through the fruits of the Holy Spirit evident in our lives?

Let us walk in the Spirit, for this world is lost in darkness—drowning in hate, resentment, betrayal, and selfishness. What this broken world needs is not more religion, but more true disciples of Jesus Christ—believers who reflect the light of Christ and overflow with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Let us bear fruit. Let us abide in Jesus. Let us shine.

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