INNER FRUIT: CHRIST-LIKENESS
In addition to the outer fruit of evangelism the Bible speaks of positive spiritual qualities
produced in the life of a believer by the Holy Spirit. We call this fruit the inner fruit of Christ-
likeness. This fruit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)These are inner qualities the Holy Spirit wants to develop in the life of the believer. They are
qualities that are like the spiritual qualities which were evident in the life of Jesus Christ. This is
why we call them Christ-like qualities.
The word "fruit" is singular. It is not plural [fruits]. Remember that spiritual gifts are many and
are divided among believers according to the will of the Holy Spirit. Fruit is singular. It can be
understood by the natural example of grapes. A cluster of grapes has several individual grapes
on it, but it is one cluster. In the natural world when grapes are picked from the vine they are
picked in a cluster. This cluster of several grapes is called the "fruit" [singular] of the vine.
In the spiritual world the fruit of the Holy Spirit is similar to a cluster of grapes. It is separate
spiritual qualities joined together in one cluster or fruit. This one fruit is spiritual maturity which
is revealed in many Christ-like qualities.
One Fruit ___ Spiritual Maturity
Many Qualities____ Meekness-Temperance
Love-Joy-Peace
Kindness-Goodness
Longsuffering
Faithfulness
God wants all believers to have the fruit of the Spirit. Unlike gifts which are plural [many] and
are divided among believers, fruit [singular] is to be possessed by every believer.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is found in every act of goodness, righteousness, and truth done by
believers: