Living Under the Holy Spirit | Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Gal 5:22-26

What must I do to be saved? This is life’s deepest existential question, one that every religion attempts to answer to calm man’s restless and guilt-ridden soul. It is the question the jailer desperately asks Paul and Silas upon witnessing their steadfast faith despite dire circumstances, and it is fully answered with grace and power by the Spirit-filled apostles. (Acts 16:22-30) What makes Christianity distinctive? In a hopeless world ladened with sin and adversity, Christians are able to handle all circumstances in ways beyond the world’s expectations because of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them. We are united with Christ through His Spirit, who faithfully leads us with divine power. (Eph 5:18-19) As we continue forward in the book of Galatians, we examine the power of the Holy Spirit who sets apart believers to a miraculous, fruitful, and triumphant life before God.

Living under the Holy Spirit is miraculous. True spirituality is possessing the Holy Spirit of God as a result of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. Before receiving Christ, all are dead in sin, without any hope of having a relationship with God. But God Himself, by His sovereign choice, regenerates the dead by imparting new life into the believer through the Holy Spirit. (Eph 2:1, 4-6) Regeneration is a miracle. We cannot save ourselves by our own efforts; it is purely by God’s grace. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin as we hear the gospel, turning us away from sin, and into Christ. (Jn 16:8-9) In the face of all temptations to fall away from God, we are kept in faith by the Holy Spirit. God’s love never falls short in dealing with our constant sin, for He alone is faithful to finish what He began. This is truly miraculous- though we are of man in our flesh, we are of God by the Holy Spirit, experiencing the riches and grace of God every day.

Living under the Holy Spirit is fruitful. Those under the Holy Spirit are in abundance- Christians always have something to give. The Bible likens every man to a tree that is able to bear fruit. (Matt 7:19) It is by the Holy Spirit we can be productive to praise God, win souls to Christ, and do good deeds. (Heb 13:15, Col 1:10) Bearing fruit is essential to spiritual life- it reveals the quality of your relationship with Jesus, and proves whether your salvation is genuine. (Jn 15:4, Matt 7:15-17)

Love- This is the most important fruit by which all other fruit grow. Agape love is possible only by God, for God is love. Only those who have experienced God’s love in Jesus Christ is able to practice this sacrificial love. Love gives at whatever cost, seeking the highest good for the one loved. If you do not love, you do not have the Holy Spirit within you. (1Jn 3:16)

Joy- Joy is not an emotion; it is being alive to the fact that God is alive and sovereign over all. It is complete submission to God, a fruit of communion with Him. (Phil 3:8) Christians must be joyful- it is our testimony to the world that God causes all things- Thy will be done. (Rom 14:17)

Peace- Man has no peace because God hates and will judge the sinner. If you have peace with God, you will have peace with yourself. (Rom 15:13)

Patience- Patience is another expression of love. Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father completely and remained quiet even under persecution. We must not supersede God by losing our patience with others.

Kindness- Christians act graciously for others’ well-being, especially towards their enemies.

Goodness- Christians are good to others, always beneficial and useful.

Faithfulness- Christians remain faithful to Christ in all things until death.

Gentleness- Gentleness is to be meek and humble. It is to keep a true view of oneself, to have poverty of spirit, and absence of pride. It is to think about ourselves before judging others, and handling all matters in love and truth. (Matt 7:3)

Self-control- Christians have been tamed, able to excise restraint in all things. (1Cor 9:27)

Living under the Holy Spirit is triumphant. “… Against such things there is no law.” As we bear the fruit of the Spirit, the law can not condemn us, because we are perfect and justified in the eyes of God. The law can not save, nor can it bear fruit of the Holy Spirit. Its purpose is to show you your sin to bring you to Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is your victory over sin, the law, and its condemnation.

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit as we aim to have the lordship of Christ in every area of our lives. As we continue to examine ourselves under God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will enable us to be faithful, triumphant, and fruitful in Christ.