But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The law is not against such things. — Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB)
When Jesus told His disciples that they were to “bear much fruit” (John 15:1–8), He used the imagery of a grapevine to explain how we are to abide—or remain—in relationship with His words. By staying connected to the Source of life and strength, our lives become fruitful.
But what does this mean for the Christian woman?
The apostle Paul wrote about the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians. It’s almost as if he were expanding on the concept of what a fruitful life in Christ will look like.
So let’s look at who the Galatians were—and why Paul’s teaching about spiritual fruit matters to us today.
The Church in Galatia
Galatia was located in what is now modern-day Turkey. Paul traveled through this region to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a shocking message for the Jewish community but a refreshing one for the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) living there.
Traditional Jews had been trying to keep the Ten Commandments, plus 613 additional rules added by religious leaders over time. Embracing salvation by grace through faith was easier for the Gentiles, but not so much for the Jewish community, especially its spiritual leaders.
The small but growing church in Galatia needed to be reminded that “God saved [us] by his grace when [we] believed. And [we] can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Eph 2:8
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
Paul quickly gets to the point in chapter one regarding the legalistic views of some within the Galatian community. The struggle was about how to measure one’s standing with God: Is it by keeping the rules?
For the Jews, it meant law-keeping. For the Gentiles, they didn’t even know “all the rules.” So, conflict arose about how to know if someone was truly saved.
Paul reminds them of his Jewish heritage—how fully immersed he had been in the religious life of his peers. His point: Not even the best Jew could keep the Law perfectly!
Then he declares:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20
The beauty of the gospel is that the work is not up to us!
The Battle Within: Flesh vs. Spirit
The Works of the Flesh
When it comes to discerning salvation, Paul encouraged the Galatians to inspect the fruit of a person’s life.
He taught that “the works of the flesh are obvious,” and listed them in Galatians 5:19–21a:
- Sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity
- Idolatry, sorcery
- Hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger
- Selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy
- Drunkenness, carousing
Then he shocks the reader with these words:
“Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (v. 21b)
What???
Let’s unpack this briefly:
For the person who has confessed with their mouth and believed in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, they are saved because of Jesus’ work on the cross (Romans 10:9).
For the person saved by grace through faith, nothing can separate them from God’s love (Romans 8:38–39).
The difference comes down to this: Are we living by the flesh or by the Spirit?
And it’s impossible to live a life that pleases God without the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, who helps us become more like Jesus and less like who we are without Him.
The Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit is the evidence of a Spirit-filled life—not something we achieve on our own, but something the Holy Spirit produces in us as we abide in Christ and stay rooted in His Word.
Sure, we can try hard to be kind, generous, or helpful. But when life gets hard and we feel stressed or fearful, what’s truly inside will spill out.
As Christian women, we want the transforming work of Christ to be the evidence others see—especially when life turns upside down.
We bear fruit by staying close to the Source. This happens naturally when we read and study the Bible, prayerfully asking God to transform us. The more we abide, the more His love flows through us.
Striving to be good is not the same as surrendering to Jesus and His life-giving Word.
The power of the Fruit of the Spirit is that it’s not up to our good works, but rather the work of the Spirit of God and His Word inside us as we surrender. Abiding in Christ leads to surrender.
🍇The purpose of abiding in Christ is to produce fruit that lasts (John 15:1-8).
This fruit includes:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
Paul writes that against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:23).
💙Encouragement for Christian Women
You were created to be fruitful—even in busy seasons!
- Married, single, or single again
- Raising toddlers, teens, or young adults
- Working full-time, part-time, or overtime
- Caring for parents, a spouse, or a friend
- Volunteering and serving
No matter your current season, choosing to know God’s Word allows the Holy Spirit to teach you how to live God’s Word—producing His beautiful, powerful fruit in your life.
The result? A life-giving witness that shares God’s Word, blesses your relationships, and shapes your world.
Are you on my mailing list? Get updates, insight, and free resources delivered to your inbox!
