The fruit of the Spirit is often misunderstood in Christian circles. Many believers read Galatians 5:22-23 as
a list of different fruits we receive from the Holy Spirit, but this interpretation misses Paul’s deeper
meaning about spiritual transformation and what it means to truly love others.
Is the Fruit of the Spirit Singular or Plural?
When Paul writes about “The Fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23, he uses the Greek word “karpos,”
which is singular, not plural. This means we’re not receiving multiple different fruits from the Holy Spirit,
but rather one complete fruit with multiple characteristics.
Just as we describe an apple using various qualities – red, juicy, sweet, crisp – the fruit of the Spirit has nine interconnected characteristics: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These aren’t separate fruits but different aspects of one spiritual transformation.
Why Does This Matter for Christian Growth?
Understanding the singular nature of spiritual fruit has profound implications. If the Holy Spirit truly
dwells within us, we should see evidence of all these characteristics developing in our lives – not just one
or two favorites. This doesn’t mean we’ll be perfect overnight, but like fruit on a tree, spiritual growth
should be visible as it matures.
The good news is that fruit takes time to grow. Every Christian is in their growing season, and while we
may not perfectly embody all these qualities yet, they should be evident at some level if the Spirit is truly
working in us.
What Makes Biblical Love Different from Other Types of Love?
The first characteristic Paul lists is love, using the Greek word “agapao.” This goes far beyond
human emotions or feelings. Biblical love is a devoted, covenant-loyal love that seeks another
person’s true good regardless of merit or cost.
The Bible describes four types of love:
- Storge: Familial love for family members
- Phileo: Friendship love between close friends
- Eros: Romantic, passionate love between spouses
- Agape: Unconditional, sacrificial love rooted in God’s character
When Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit, he specifically uses agape love – the kind that
governs and sits above all other relationships.
Is God’s Love Really Unconditional?
The word “unconditional” can be dangerous when misunderstood. The world often defines unconditional
love as “you must love me no matter what I do,” but biblical love works differently.
God doesn’t love us because of who we are or what we do. God loves us because of who He is.
Romans 5:8 tells us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This love is unconditional in
that it’s not based on our performance, but it doesn’t mean everyone automatically receives salvation.
How Does God’s Love Work in Salvation?
John 3:16-19 reveals an important distinction. God’s unconditional love led Him to send Jesus to die for
the world, but salvation still requires belief and faith in Christ. God’s unconditional love doesn’t equal
unconditional salvation.
The passage shows that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. This isn’t just
emotional preference – it’s a moral commitment to things that oppose God’s will. God’s love is sacrificial
and available to all, but we must choose to accept it.
What Does Sacrificial Love Look Like?
True agape love is self-sacrificial. It gives up anything for the good of another person, regardless of cost.
This love doesn’t depend on emotions or feelings but is an act of the will – a deliberate choice to seek
someone else’s best interests.
This kind of love fulfills the law because it naturally leads to right behavior. When we truly love God with
all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbors as ourselves, we fulfill all the commandments. Love
does no harm to others and actively seeks their good.
How Should Christians Love Their Neighbors?
Biblical love extends beyond fellow believers to all people – even those we consider enemies or those who
annoy us. This love isn’t based on our emotional responses but on our identity in Christ. We love others not because of who they are, what they do, or how they treat us. We love them because of who we are in Christ.
As 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because He first loved us.”
This means loving people regardless of their lifestyle choices, political views, or how they treat us. It
means actively working for their good, even when our emotions tell us otherwise.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to practice agape love in one specific relationship that’s difficult for you.
Instead of loving (or not loving) someone based on their actions toward you, choose to love them because of who you are in Christ.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I loving others based on their behavior toward me, or based on my identity as a follower of
Christ? - In what relationships am I withholding love because I don’t feel the person “deserves” it?
- How can I actively seek someone’s good this week, even if they’ve hurt or disappointed me?
- What would change in my relationships if I truly loved others the way God loves me – not because of
who they are, but because of who I am in Him?
Remember, this kind of love is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. It’s not about
mustering up good feelings, but about making deliberate choices to seek others’ welfare because we’ve
been transformed by God’s love for us.