Key Passage: Galatians 5:19–23 (BSB)
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Every life is growing something. Whether you live in a high-rise apartment or on a sprawling ranch, whether you’re a seasoned believer or a curious skeptic—your heart is like soil. And it doesn’t stay dormant. The question is not _if_something is growing there, but what.
In this opening post to our series, we want to ask a sobering question: What kind of fruit are you growing?
Two Gardens: Flesh and Spirit
The apostle Paul draws a stark contrast in Galatians 5 between two types of harvests: one produced by the flesh and the other by the Spirit. Let’s walk through both.
The Rotten Fruit of the Flesh
Paul begins with a no-nonsense list of what he calls "the acts of the flesh." These aren’t subtle or mysterious. He says they are obvious.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." (vv. 19-21)
This list is not exhaustive, but it is representative. It ranges from private sins (lust and envy), to relational breakdown (discord and factions), to idolatrous rebellion (sorcery and false worship), to unchecked indulgence (debauchery and drunkenness). These acts are not occasional stumbles, but the visible fruit of a heart ruled by self. And the warning is crystal clear:
"I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (v. 21)
This is not about losing salvation over one sin. The word practice implies ongoing, unrepentant lifestyles—those who sow consistently to the flesh will reap the corruption that follows (cf. Gal. 6:8).
The Fruit of the Spirit
By contrast, Paul shifts to the radiant beauty of the Spirit's work in a believer:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (vv. 22-23)
Notice something important: fruit is singular. This is not a buffet line where we pick what we like. These qualities come as one cluster—if the Spirit lives in you, these traits are all being formed in you.
Also, these aren’t spiritual gifts (which vary by person); they are evidence of spiritual life. You can be incredibly gifted and spiritually rotten. But you cannot walk by the Spirit and remain unchanged.
The Root Determines the Fruit
Jesus said in Matthew 7:17–18,
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
Your outward fruit is determined by your inward root. If you’re rooted in pride, you’ll bear fruit that feeds ego. If you’re rooted in envy, you’ll bear bitter fruit. But if you’re rooted in Christ, nourished by His Word and watered by His Spirit, you will bear a harvest that mirrors the Savior Himself.
In John 15:5, Jesus says:
"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."
Why This Matters: The Witness of Your Fruit
We live in a world allergic to hypocrisy. Rightly so. Many people have walked away from the church not because of theology, but because of a lack of evident fruit in those who claim to follow Jesus.
When your life displays love in an unloving world, joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the chaos, and self-control when others unravel, people notice. You are bearing witness—not just by what you say, but by what you grow.
Paul tells us in Galatians 5:24-25:
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit."
Living by the Spirit is not passive. It is active dependence. Daily surrender. Continual cultivation. You pull weeds (repentance) and nourish growth (obedience and faith).
Application: Cultivating the Right Garden
This series isn’t about behavior modification. It’s not about trying harder to be kind or forcing joy through gritted teeth. It’s about abiding—drawing life from the Spirit of Christ.
Ask yourself:
- What patterns in my life reflect the flesh?
- Where am I resisting the Spirit’s conviction?
- Which fruit do I see growing? Which ones are stunted?
- Am I abiding in Christ daily, or relying on myself?
As we move through each of the nine traits in the coming posts, invite God to dig deep. He is not a harsh gardener. He prunes with grace and cultivates with care (John 15:1–2).
You weren’t saved to be stagnant. You were redeemed to be fruitful.
Closing Prayer:
Father,
You are the Lord of the harvest, the Vinedresser who lovingly tends His people. I ask You to examine the soil of my heart. Uproot anything that is not of You—pride, envy, bitterness, indulgence. Forgive me for the ways I’ve sown to the flesh. I don’t want a life that looks good on the outside but is barren on the inside.
Cultivate in me the fruit of Your Spirit. Grow love where there’s apathy. Grow joy where there’s anxiety. Grow peace where there’s turmoil. Make me gentle, kind, faithful, and full of self-control. Not for my reputation, but for Your glory.
Help me walk in step with the Spirit. Help me abide in the Vine. And as I go through this series, till the ground of my soul so that You would be glorified in every season.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Thanks for reading.
