In the last part of this series, I argued that the Apostle Paul was describing for his readers what a life controlled by the flesh looks like. He explained why the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit are against each other, and he warned them about living lives characterized by works of the flesh. In this final post I want to talk about the Life in the Spirit. What does Paul show us about what a life lived in the Spirit should look like?
In verses 21-22b Paul provides a list of characteristics which flow out of a life lived by the Spirit. He calls them the fruit of the Spirit. It is important to note that he does not say fruits of the Spirit, but he uses the singular fruit. The list of characteristics are not fruits, from which a believer can pick and choose what he or she wants to have in their lives. A life lived by the Spirit will have the fruit of the Spirit with is characterized by each of these attributes. If a Christian examines this list of characteristics and finds any of them missing from their life, then they should strive to develop it. They should look for opportunities to put that particular attitude into practice. This process of developing the attitudes that characterize the fruit of the Spirit can be a long and difficult process. It will involve a lot of sacrifice and discipline. But in the end it will produce in us a Christ-like character.
The list of characteristics provided by Paul primarily focus on the attitudes of the heart. Paul knows that if a person’s heart is right, then his actions will follow. For this reason, after providing the list of characteristics of a spirit filled life, He says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (v. 24).” If a person is going to live a Spirit filled life, then he must continually crucify his flesh. He must guard against the evil desires of his flesh, which will corrupt and destroy any fruit of the Spirit he might have. So, how does a Christian crucify his flesh? He does this by remembering the gospel; remembering that it is not he who lives, but Christ who lives in him. He must day-by-day and moment-by-moment repent of the sin present in his life and place faith in Christ. Repentance and faith has to characterize a life lived in the Spirit. Only when sin is repented of, and the flesh is crucified, can the fruit of the Spirit flourish and reproduce. Christian, as we strive for the Spirit filled life, let us war against the desires of our flesh, putting to death its selfish, godless desires; and let us pursue a godly, Spirit filled life.