The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-08
The Fruit of the Spirit.


The Fruit of the Spirit.
In the fifth chapter of his letter
to the Galatians, Paul presents, in
bold and striking contrast, the car
nal and the spiritual man. He
enumerates as works of the flesh,
that is, of our fallen human nature,
a long list of vices and sins. Then
he says: "But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, JOY, peace, long suffering,
gentleness, goodness faith, meek
ness. temperance" When the wild
native growth is cut back, as it were,
by repentance when the flesh is
crucified with it's affections and
lusts when into the old stock new
life is engrafted when we become
spiritual instead of carnal-there
is radical change, and it mani
tests itself in new dispositions and
activities. These the apostle calls
"the fruit Of the Spirit"-not of our
spirits, as regenerated, but of the
Holy Spirit who dwells in the new
heart and is the animating prin-
ciple of the new life. The figure is
that of tree that has been grated.
AS the introduction of that strange
scion changes the foliage and the
fruit, so the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit transforms our spirits and
our lives. We think new thoughts,
we have new affections and hopes,
and yet they are not really our
thoughts, affections and hopes, but
those of the divine Spirit.
The language of the apostle here
meets an insidious error. We are
tempted to think that we, as new
creatures In Christ, love and rejoice,
etc. But no, it is not we, but God
himself, who works In us both to
will and to do. Christ gave the
Holy Spirit to abide with us and to
lead US into all truth, because he
knew that without him we could do
nothing. He, in his omnipresent
personality, is to be in us the in
SEPARATION of every good thought and
holy affection. Hence our prayer
should not be for specific gifts and
graces so much as for the Spirit
whose fruitage they are. The
orchardist seeks for a vigorous tree
of the right variety. Having OBJ
tanned such tree, he cultivates it.
And doing this, he expects in due
season the fruit that he seeks. So
here. Let US see to it that our
hearts are filed with the Holy Spirit
and we need not be anxious in re-
gard to our characters or lives. He
Will make us loving and useful and
happy.
Let us observe that Paul does not
speak here of fruits, but of fruit. |
eenumerates nine Christian graces |
and yet he uses the singular and not
the plural. How shall we under |
stand this2 Let me quote para.
graph from Dr. Donald Frazer:
"Men often speak Of the fruits of the |
Spirit, but the apostle is careful to |
say fruit--one holy fruit or result |
comprising many virtues. Love is
the juice o the fruit, sweet to God |
and man; Joy it's beautiful bloom /
peace, long suffering, gentleness, /
goodness, meekness form it's mellow |
softness; faith is its consistence
and also forms it's characteristic
and incompatible flavor; temper
ance, the rlnd of the fruit, binding
it together, keeping it fresh, and /.
preserving its good qualities from /
waste"
A man may have one or more OF /
the graces here enumerated, or
least what resembles them, and yet
not be a Christian. The test of the |
reality of the new spirit and life is
the combination-the harmonious
blending of these graces. Our joy,
our gentleness, our temperance,
must be united with love and faith.
An apple may be initiated in wax.
It may have the color of the ripe