Fruit of the Spirit: Summary Wednesday in the Word

Fruit of the Spirit Summary: The fruit of the Spirit are not “feel-good vibes” or moral must-haves. They result from a seismic worldview. They grow from faith taking root in our souls.







Fruit of the Spirit Summary Key Points









* An analogy to understand the connection between worldview and salvation.







* The 8 fundamental truths behind the fruit of the Spirit.







* How to reconcile the fruit as a work of the Spirit with Paul’s exhortation to pursue them.









Previous: Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control







Series: Fruit of the Spirit































Fruit of the Spirit Summary







In this series we have been searching for Paul's understanding of the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5. We have explored various passages in Scripture to learn what the Bible says about these concepts and therefore what Paul was thinking when he wrote the list.







Perspective, not Feelings







I have argued that the items on this list are not feelings. Rather, they are a lifestyle that results from a profound shift in worldview. As the Spirit of God teaches us truth, our perspective changes, and that changes how we choose to act, respond and treat each other.







Results of Maturity







I've also argued that these qualities are not optional additions or bonus extras that help you become a nice person or a better disciple of Jesus. Nor are they something that you should pursue in order to grow in spiritual maturity. They are not the cause of spiritual maturity. Rather, they result from spiritual maturity.







The Spirit teaches us truth that truth changes our worldview, and that worldview changes our lifestyle, producing these kinds of results.







I've argued that worldview is something that we think with, not something we think about. Your worldview is like putting on a pair of contact lenses. You may forget you have them on, but they shape how you see the world.







When we put on the contact lenses of the gospel worldview, we live differently. We pursue different goals. As we face the choices that life throws at us, we reveal our fundamental beliefs. We won't be obedient consistently and perfectly in all situations. But the goals we chase reveal our willingness to follow and love God.







I've argued that the fruit of the Spirit is the inevitable results of that worldview change of coming to faith. When we come to believe the gospel, these qualities follow. They become the very things we pursue in one out of life.







Let me give you an analogy to explain this connection better.







Red-wire vs Quest







Imagine you are in the latest superhero action-adventure movie. The evil aliens planted a bomb in New York City that will destroy the entire planet. The clock is ticking. You must figure out which wire to cut to diffuse the bomb.







All of a sudden, your sidekick whips a booklet out his pocket and says, “Let's read the instruction manual!” Even though he can't read alien, like most instruction manuals, it's all in pictures. There is a big color picture with scissors cutting the red wire. You now have the right knowledge. As the clock ticks down to zero, you cut the red-wire, saving the planet.







Some people view the gospel like that instruction manual.