What is your take on the Fruit of the Spirit? Which BEST represents your view? Please comment!

Poll Results

What is your take on the Fruit of the Spirit? Which BEST represents your view? Please comment!

The “fruit” really means “fruits” or “sections” of a fruit and are developed individually Votes: 0
The fruit of the Spirit is love, the other terms are descriptors of this love Votes: 1
The fruit of the Spirit includes what he does as a restrainer in the world but which is increased as believers walk in Him Votes: 0
The Holy Spirit’s fruit refers to the spiritual maturity he produces and in varying degrees Votes: 4
All or most of the above Votes: 1
Other Votes: 2
The fruit of the Spirit is another term for godliness/holiness and not to be analyzed too deeply Votes: 1
The believer is regenerated and disciplines himself, thus he himself produces the fruit of the Spirit via discipline Votes: 0
Since unbelievers can be more loving and gentle than some believers, the “fruit” means what He desires Votes: 0

(Migrated poll)

N/A
0% (0 votes)
Total votes: 0

Discussion

Galatians 5:22-23 reads (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Is the emphasis of the Fruit of the Spirit something we produce, something he does for us as we walk with him, or does disciplining ourselves to live in a “fruit oriented” way define what it means to walk in the Spirit.

Obviously, a poll cannot capture all the nuances and issues here, but it is a start.

My take is that as we walk in the Spirit (setting our mind on the things of the Spirit and nurturing our souls), he produces love, the ultimate hallmark of maturity. Thus there is one fruit, love, and the rest are descriptors. At least, that’s where I am at NOW.

What is your take?

"The Midrash Detective"

I could only pick one choice, so I picked three though I would have also liked to pick 1. I don’t think it’s something we do, but something that is done to us. It is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the believer. Consequently, where the Spirit is present, this fruit will be growing.

Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?

I was torn between “spiritual maturity” and “another word for godliness” … these are the same thing.

It’s never made sense to me how some preachers/teachers belabor the fact that “fruit” is singular. Can’t see how that means anything. The point is that these are the product (or, if you like, products) of the Spirit’s work in us.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.