Pastor Luther Walker continues teaching on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, emphasizing it as singular fruit with all aspects present when any one is manifested, love running through them all. He reviews 1 Corinthians 13’s definition of God’s quality of love: long-suffering, kind, not jealous, not parading or puffing up, not acting unbecomingly, not seeking its own, not provoked, not reckoning wrong, not rejoicing in unrighteousness but rejoicing in truth, bearing and enduring all things, believing and hoping all things, and never failing. Faith, hope, and love abide, with love greatest as it continues eternally.
Joy is mental contentment in any situation, rooted in knowing who we are in Christ, not emotional exuberance. It relates to the kingdom of God (righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit), can be expressed in tribulation, among believers, and when facing trials that test faith. Believers are to count various temptations as joy, knowing testing produces approval through taking God at His Word.
Peace is an unruffled mind, the spiritually minded producing life and peace. It surpasses understanding, guards hearts and minds through Christ, and comes when minds focus on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Let peace rule (umpire) in hearts, let the word of Christ dwell richly, and do all in His name with thanksgiving. Wisdom from above is pure and peaceable.
Longsuffering is holding out anger against unreasonable people, done with joy, lowliness, meekness, and love toward other saints. It involves being gracious (giving benefit without merit) to oneself and others as Christ is toward us. Proclaim the Word with longsuffering and sound doctrine.
Kindness is a useful, friendly disposition that makes others feel at ease; God’s kindness leads to repentance (change of mind). Put on compassion, kindness, humility, and longsuffering.
Goodness is doing beneficial things—righteousness and truth produced when walking in the light. Believers are full of goodness, able to admonish one another, and should do good even if it brings suffering, using wealth properly for God’s glory rather than enabling harm.
Faith (not translated “faithful”) is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of accomplished deeds not yet seen—taking God at His Word. Justification is by faith apart from works of the law. Faith should rest in God’s power, not human wisdom; govern life by faith, not sight. Put on the breastplate of faith and love; fight the good fight of faith; pursue faith while fleeing youthful strong desires.
Objectivity of mind (often translated meekness or gentleness) is perception without distortion by feelings or prejudice, focused on the goal. Use it when restoring a brother, with longsuffering, toward all people, when receiving the Word, and in doing good works.
Self-control is inner strength controlling appetites, emotions, and desires, added to knowledge. Against such fruit there is no law. Walking by the Spirit produces this fruit; the law strengthens the sin nature, but walking by the Spirit enables living out Christ’s righteousness.
