The Fruits of the Spirit

A Meditation

You need to determine to source of any teaching, doctrine, or instruction.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of Antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already. (1 John 4:1-3)

There is another way; look at the results of that teaching, doctrine, or instruction. Especially look at the life of the people involved. Do their lives show a witness to Christ?

[Christ speaking] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. [...]" (Matthew. 7:15-16)

The fruit of the Spirit will show in the life of a teacher or community. (See 1 Corinthians 13)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

If we live in Christ, our lives will bear fruit for him, so that God may be glorified.

[Christ speaking] "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4) "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:8)

The Fruits of the Spirit

A Meditation

Bob Van Cleef, July 1993