Galatians 4-6
Reaping the Fruit of the Spirit

Call for God's help and start composing your song of praise, for that is one of the reasons He blesses you.

God You are so gracious in caring for me; thanks! May I be quick to learn whatever You want to teach me, faithful to depend upon You for my needs, and careful to praise You for Your daily blessings, so others can enjoy You as well.

You have the choice of dying for your rebellion against and independence from God, or accepting Jesus as God's provision for your sin. A person would have to be more stupid and stubborn than a recalcitrant sheep to reject God's gift.

Lord Jesus, thanks for suffering and dying for my sin, so I can live; may I use the life You've provided for Your glory. Amen.

The last half of the book should make it abundantly clear that the issue Paul is addressing is how believers in Christ should acquire the righteousness required for reward or inheritance in the future "Kingdom that comes from God." It isn't by embracing the ritual of the Jewish law, but rather the royal law of Christ, loving one's neighbor as oneself. This will entail dying to the temporal self-centered deeds of the flesh, and drawing on the power of the Holy Spirit to develop the other-centered fruit of love (in all its complements). Those who follow the external ritual will find that Christ doesn't profit them in terms of future reward. Those who become conformed to the image of Christ by crucifying themselves will reap reward as a result of what they've sown. Remember that Paul uses the word justification to describe the righteousness that results from forgiveness, and yields freedom from the lake of fire;  and also the righteousness that results from faithful obedience, and yields reward. There is a rather lengthy post under chapter five, but if you want to avoid a crop failure and reap abundantly, it's worth putting in the work to master it.

Believers need to progress in their walk with God by becoming like Christ.

God, thanks for making me one of Your sons; please guide me in fulfilling the purposes for which You gave me life. Amen.

Use your freedom in Christ to serve others, not yourself as you walk under the control of the Holy Spirit. Check off the items below which are evident in your life:

A. Walking by the Spirit Pleases God by Fruitful Victory over the Flesh (desire for Temporal: Power/Pleasure/Possessions) Romans 8:1,8

1. Evil thoughts: incorrect actions are always preceded by incorrect thinking (dia logos almost always used negatively, frequently with doubt {Plan B} when we don’t want to accept the truth in front of us {God’s Plan A}) (Js 2:4 partiality for gain)
2. Adulteries: sex with a married person violating one’s covenant of faithfulness and loyalty, because of a lack of a fulfilling relationship with God and one’s spouse; used metaphorically of seeking power (security/significance), pleasure and possessions outside one’s dependent relationship with God;
3. Fornications: sex between unmarried people, seeking immediate/temporal gratification, arising from a lack of self-control and trust in God’s wisdom and strength, because of a lack of a fulfilling relationship with God 1Th 4:3 will of God; Col 3:5 mortify; 1Cor 6:18 flee. Used in Mt of unfaithfulness during the betrothal period (Jewish cultural practice) distinct from adultery. (See divorce outline)
4. Murders: a desire to harm someone because of the way they make us feel (insecure/inadequate/embarrassed/guilty) and/or we perceive them to be standing in the way of what we think will make us temporally happy or at least feel better. (Mt 5:21-22)
5. Thefts: taking something that is not rightfully ours which we believe in necessary for our happiness, doubting God’s wisdom and provision
6. Covetousness: the desire to have something that is not rightfully ours resulting in neglect of our obligations before God and others Col 3:5
7. Wickedness: desires and purposes contrary to God’s influenced by demons (Eph 6:12) from which God will turn us (Ac 3:26) as we submit to Him (Js 4:7)
8. Deceit: an attempt to portray reality inaccurately so we can achieve our temporal goals, frequently by making ourselves look too good 1Pe 2:1
9. Lewdness: acknowledging of no restraints (Lordship), the insolent doing of whatever one’s caprice may suggest to gratify desires. 1Pe 4:3
10. Evil eye: a self-centered perspective on life (purpose) that colors both perception and actions Mt 6:21-23 Cf Lu 11:34
11. Blasphemy: speech designed to harm the reputation of another for the sake of preserving or boosting one’s own worth 1Ti 6:4
12. False witness: saying things that aren’t in accord with reality for the sake of temporal power, pleasure, or possessions. Eph 4:15,25
13. Pride: an improper view of self, appearing superior to others (even God) resulting in a lack of submission and teachableness and eventual harm 2Ti 3:2;Js 4:6
14. Foolishness: choosing the wrong (temporal) objectives or the wrong way of achieving them (opposite of wisdom, no Fear of the Lord) Eph 5:17

…and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as…in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

B. Fruit of the Spirit is the Result of Submitting to God’s work in us producing the Desiring & Doing of His good pleasure Phil 2:13

1. Gal 5:22 Love is a decision to sacrifice yourself for another’s best interest (Jn 3:16);
2. Joy is the resulting of choosing what is best (see series on Philippians) which implies a discernment of what is best from God’s perspective;
3. Peace is an absence of anxiety and resultant contentment & security which comes from recognizing the sovereign promises and purposes of God in the events and irritations He permits in our lives; Isa 26:3-4
4. Patience (long-suffering) is the ability to limit or inhibit our natural desires (esp revenge) in the process of persevering for a God-glorifying objective;
5. Kindness is a usefulness to the Master sourced in integrity and expressed in a neighborliness toward others;
6. Goodness is a capacity to do what’s in another’s best interest (Gal 6:10) arising from a purification of deadly desires, and an embracing of God’s value system;
7. Faithfulness is a loyalty to God’s command and responsibilities for us, sourced in the fear of God and expressing itself in unwavering obedience;
8. Gentleness/meekness is a humility that expresses itself in submissiveness to an offense without malice or desire for revenge;
9. Self-control is virtue of power under control, gained from mastery of one’s passions and resulting in being able to exhibit a godly impulse (the sensual ones having been subdued). This trait is gained only as a result of a transformed value system (Rom 12) see TOYL values

Eph 5:2 walk in love, 8…Walk as children of light 9… fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth 10 finding out pleases the Lord 18 wisdom

Bonus: Those led by the Spirit develop transformed values w/ a victorious dependent sensitivity to God’s Guidance & Will 

Gal 5:24 those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Rm 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Cf Gal 5:18

A. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to produce in us the Mind of Christ & Will of God Rom 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

B. Change of Values Rm 8:5…according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, those who live acc the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

C. Dependence Lk 22:42…not My will, but Yours, be done. Phil 1:19…deliverance thru…the supply of the Spirit 4:19 supply all need

D. Guidance Pr 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths Isa 48:17-19 says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. 18 If only…

God, I want to live to please You, doing what is right in Your sight; please guide me in crucifying my deadly desires, and help me bear fruit for your glory. Thanks. Amen.

You will reap what you sow, so plant what you'll be happy with for an eternity; and don't give up; sometimes you have to tend a patch of bare earth, for a long time: watering, protecting and pulling weeds, until new life appears, and then it might be years or caring, tending, staking, watering, and pruning before fruit appears, but if you've planted the word of the Spirit, it will produce an eternal crop.

God, thanks that Your Spirit gives me the grace and strength I need to do Your will, and reap Your reward; don't let me quit. Amen.

God in a nutshell: Right on schedule God sent His Son to redeem those under the curse of the law (due to their sin) so they might become His sons and heirs.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus sets us free from sin to serve Him and our siblings in Christ. His character needs to be developed and displayed in those who believe Him, so they can serve in His kingdom.

Us in a nutshell: We need to use the freedom from sin and ritual that Christ has given us to serve Him in loving others in His family. If we sow to our desires, we will reap judgment; if we sow according to the desire and leading of the Holy Spirit, we will reap fruit for eternity.



Titus 3:4 contains two words that are manifestations of God, often translated “kindness and love” which while true of God, are not suited to the context, and lead the English reader astray from a beneficial application of the text.

Kindness (5544  chrestotes) usually leads us to think of a sweet disposition that is nice to others.

Goodness would be a little better translation, but in Galatians 5:22, the “fruits” of the Spirit, elaborating on love, list kindness (#5544) and goodness (#19 agathosune) next to each other, indicating that kindness is different enough from goodness to be listed separately,* as are longsuffering and self-control, etc. In the KJV the fruit #5544chrestotes, is translated “gentleness,” which misses the real meaning even more than “kindness” does.

So how should we understand #5544 chrestotes?

5544 “usefulness” comes from #5543 “employed” (below). Neither is a demeanor word.

5543 “employed” is the root meaning of the base of “usefulness.” So what does being employed or useful have to do with “kindness”? There actually is a link, but it isn't that obvious in modern usage.

A person has to have something in order to share it with others (Eph 4:28). Romans 3:12 contrasts  #5544 chrestotes with “unprofitable” (#889 is the verb;  #888 is the adjective used of the unprofitable servant in Mt 25:30). Romans 3:12 is a quote of Psalm 14:1-3, describing the abominable practical atheist who doesn't seek after God, nor do anything that benefits anyone or anything other than their lusts. The rest of Romans 3 and Psalm 14:1-3 are pretty similar to the unprofitable behavior in Titus 3:3. Clearly when understood in context, chrestotes isn't about being kind vs unkind, but about being beneficial to or profiting others rather than indulging one's carnal desires.

Romans 11:22 contrasts God's goodness/kindness toward those who abide/continue in His beneficencewith His severity (which has the root idea of “cut” or sever) toward those who don't continue, and will be cut off like a tree, branch, or hand.

For reasons outlined above and below, I think we should resurrect a little used word: “beneficence,”  which is a character trait that produces/causes benefit or something good for others. You're aware of “beneficial”, which leads most to think of benefit, or good for you, and that is closer in meaning. “Bene” is good. And “-fic” is a root meaning to “make, produce, or cause.”

Linked with “kindness/goodness/beneficence” in Titus 3:4 is “love” #5363 philanthropia from which we get the English philanthropy. It is a combination of the word for philos (a word to define the bonds of affection in a family as in phil-adelphia=brotherly love), but instead of being confined to specific family members, it is expressed toward a large portion of humanity. It is used only one other time in the NT Scriptures:

Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no little philanthropia/kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.“

Barbarous” is the Greek designation of an unmannerly non-Greek, ie, a barbarian (915 barbaros). Here Luke portrays them as extending a concern for the well being of the shipwreck victims, something one would normally do for family members.

So both “beneficence” and “philanthropy” are the characteristics of God that He displayed in the salvation process of Titus 3:5-7, which should be reflected in the interactions of recipients of that grace toward others. Rather than being consumed and devouring with the “satisfactions” of their passions/lusts reflected in their taking pieces out of others, they should be benefiting others as specified in Titus 3:8-11, which would include the avoidance of unbeneficial/unprofitable behaviors in verse 9, and the commands that could be considered by cultural Christians to be “unloving” and “unkind” in verses 10-11.

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.