Fruit of the Spirit Overview
What is the purpose of morality? Where does virtue come from? Is it a product of the evolutionary process meant to ensure that a current generation’s genes are passed on? Is it a social construct meant to maintain order in society? Or is it conjured up by each individual to suit his or her needs?
This semester we examine the Fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22 - 24. The apostle Paul argues in this passage that morality is not something that can be won or attained, but something that is produced in an individual. The Christian view is that if God is who he says he is and did what he say he did, then belief in this God will naturally produce the virtues described in a believer.
In examining this passage, we will address two questions;1. How can you recognize true morality? 2. How do you grow true morality?
This semester we examine the Fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22 - 24. The apostle Paul argues in this passage that morality is not something that can be won or attained, but something that is produced in an individual. The Christian view is that if God is who he says he is and did what he say he did, then belief in this God will naturally produce the virtues described in a believer.
In examining this passage, we will address two questions;1. How can you recognize true morality? 2. How do you grow true morality?
1. How do you recognize true morality?
The first thing we see is that real morality is not external, but internal. In verse 23, after listing the virtues that are produced by one’s belief in God, Paul says “against such things there is no law.” What does this mean? It means that true virtue isn’t something that can be produced or regulated by an external force. Just as you can legislate laws that keep people from stealing and robbing, but cannot legislate laws that keep people from jealousy and envy, virtues that are listed by Paul in this passage cannot be forced out of a person through external forces.
The second thing we see from this passage is that all the virtues listed in verses 22 - 23 are all related. Notice in verse 22 while Paul lists nine virtues, they are all referred to in a singular form, Fruit of the Spirit. While people may gravitate towards different virtues that are listed depending on their personalities, what we see from this passage is that they all flow out from a single motivation.
The third way we recognize true morality is through its slow development. Just as fruit, Paul’s choice metaphor in this passage, does not grow overnight, true morality is not developed instantly but through gradual, personal transformation. While external actions may be forced out of a person in a short period of time, this is not so with true internal transformations. 
The fourth thing we see is that true morality is hard won. Verse 17 illustrates for us that there are conflicting desires within us, and that there will be times when we do not do what we want to do. If this is true, real morality will begin to form not when we "have it all together", but the moment we recognize that we do not have it, and therefore begin with a sense of honest humility.
2. How do you grow true morality?
We see in verse 24 that one’s "sinful nature" has been crucified. Notice the past tense of the word “crucified”. What we see here is that moral development comes not by continuously “crucifying” one’s sinful (self-centered and harmful) desires, but by remembering the once-and-for-all act of the crucifying act that was done for you.
We also see in verse 24 that this crucifying act has been done for those who “belong to Christ Jesus.” Unlike any other religion or belief system in the world, Christianity promises a virtuous life that flows out of belonging to God, and not the other way around. True morality, then, is not developed by acting on the will externally in trying to attain some level of moral stature, but by acting on the motivations internally in remembering what God has already done for you.