The Fruitful Life: An Introduction to Our Year in Galatians 5

What is a fruitful life? 

In the Book of Luke, Jesus says, “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit” (6:43–44). 

Applying that teaching to our lives, we can’t help but ask ourselves some important questions: 

• What kind of fruit does my life yield? 
• What is good fruit, and how do I bear that kind of fruit? 

Over the next several months, these are just a few of the questions we will explore—with the guidance of an exceptional lineup of guest authors—as we dive in to one of the most famous passages in Scripture:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22–23

The Book of the Bible that houses this passage is nestled in the New Testament between 2 Corinthians and Ephesians. It’s called Galatians, and it is a letter from Paul the apostle to the churches of Galatia, which were located in modern-day Turkey. In this letter, Paul addresses several important topics, including his concern over the proliferation of a false gospel in Galatia, the beautiful truth of justification, and how we are to live as justified people—as sinners who, by faith, have received the free gift of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it’s in this letter that we will discover—among many others—the truth about a life that bears good fruit. 

Paul begins his letter with a kind greeting, but he doesn’t waste time addressing his concerns for the people of Galatia, who are quickly deserting the Gospel of Jesus Christ in favor of a distorted one. 

“Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:2–3

With this pointed question, Paul is asking the Christians in Galatia whether they will fall prey to the false teaching that they must rely on works for their justification, or if they will live by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which assures them that Jesus Christ fulfilled the law on their—and our—behalf. 

But Paul doesn’t leave the Galatians scratching their heads, wondering which message is true. He simply reminds the Galatians of this beautiful truth: 

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13–14

So, who is this Spirit? How do we receive the promised Spirit? What does Paul mean when he says the “fruit” (singular) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? What does a life that bears this fruit look like? How do we go from living lives that bear bad fruit to good fruit? 

I hope you’ll join me and our series of guest authors as we dive in to Simquily’s year-long study of the fruit of the Spirit, and focusing on “love” this February.