Ok so lets talk about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. I think I am going to make this two posts. First I am going to offer scriptures and then in my next post I will try to answer what you asked and share my own experiences and opinions. I want to begin with a cursory study about "fruit" in scripture.
The first instance of the use of this word comes in Genesis.
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.
Note "trees" "bear fruit" with "seed" in it. In study this one passage shows me that to understand fruit I also need to study "trees" "bear" and "seed." as I said, a cursory study, we will examine only a few verses on each of these but I suggest to all who want to understand God's intentions do each complete study for yourselves.
two important verses about "trees"
Deuteronomy 20:20
However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.
Matthew 3:10
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
What about "bear" {and "root" now seems important also.}
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear
Leviticus 19:18
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
The definition of "bear: is to support or carry a burden. Keep this in mind. We don't consider fruits of the spirit as a burden but they are. Jesus mentions it.
So lets examine seed, then root, then go back and explore fruit again.
Genesis 47:19
Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” (seed is necessary for life)
Matthew 13:23
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Luke 8:11
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. (remember also Jesus is the word hence Jesus is also the seed)
John 12:24
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (the seed is the word, Jesus is the word, Jesus is the seed which fell to the ground and died and has produced many seeds)
Ok Lets examine the roots of these trees that bear fruit.
Psalm 80:15
the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.
(seems to me, Jesus is the son and the word and the seed, died and planted yet lives now as our root)
Proverbs 12:12
The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
Matthew 13:6
But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Romans 11:16
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Now directly we will examine the fruit:
Matthew 3:8
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
(what is this fruit???)
Matthew 7:17
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
(what is this good fruit? what is this bad fruit?)
Matthew 7:20
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 12:33
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Matthew 21:43
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
John 15:4
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
IN conclusion, fruit of the spirit of God is borne (a burden carried) from "trees" that are "rooted" in God. NO fruit of God's spirit comes from any man. All good fruit comes from God.(John 15:4) The fruits of the Spirit is the burden Jesus speaks of in this verse.
Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
There are many people in this world who claim to be "Christians" yet they bear fruit that leads to death. Many on this very site bearing fruit that leads to death. The fruit keeping with repentance is(in my opinion) confession of sins. My testimony is that I am a sinner. God is true, I am a liar. I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In my own power left to my own devices I am a bad tree which can only bear fruit for death. Fortunately God did not leave us nor forsake us. No branch can bear fruit by itself.
