Elin said:
...Among the fruits of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23, is pistis, which means "faith," and
also means "fidelity," faithfulness, as in Tit 2:10.
I understand the pistis of Gal 5:22 to mean "faithfulness," fidelity, rather than belief (faith).
Therefore, I do not understand "faith" (belief) to be fruit of the Spirit, but a gift of the Spirit
(Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1, Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3), through which we are justified; i.e., forgiven (Ro 3:25)....
Yes, God also gets all the glory when our faith is a gift of the Spirit through which we are justified...
And fruit of the Spirit is not the same as gift of the Spirit.
However, the NT is clear that faith is a gift (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3)...
So I think the correct translation of pistis in the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) is "faithfulness,"
rather than "faith," and presents no disharmony with our faith as a gift of the Spirit through which we are justified.
also means "fidelity," faithfulness, as in Tit 2:10.
I understand the pistis of Gal 5:22 to mean "faithfulness," fidelity, rather than belief (faith).
Therefore, I do not understand "faith" (belief) to be fruit of the Spirit, but a gift of the Spirit
(Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1, Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3), through which we are justified; i.e., forgiven (Ro 3:25)....
Yes, God also gets all the glory when our faith is a gift of the Spirit through which we are justified...
And fruit of the Spirit is not the same as gift of the Spirit.
However, the NT is clear that faith is a gift (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3)...
So I think the correct translation of pistis in the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) is "faithfulness,"
rather than "faith," and presents no disharmony with our faith as a gift of the Spirit through which we are justified.
I am not sure that we can make this strict division or distinction between gift and fruit here
Well, when you really look at it, they are not the same.
The fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) are our transformation into holiness through the obedience of faith.
No obedience = no holiness.
However, faith is a gift freely given to us (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3),
not produced in us by obedience.
Big difference between the two.
or make much out of that the word pistis rather should be translated faithfulness than faith.
gift of the Spirit,
fruit being worked within you through the obedience of faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, and
faith being given to you freely, involving no performance of your own,
it is evident they are not the same, and that a disharmony in the word of God is created,
which makes faith the result of obedience, when saving faith is the cause of obedience.
God's word does not contradict itself, only our understanding of it is contradictory.
Understanding pistis in Gal 5:22 to mean the fruit of "faith" is contradictory to faith as a free gift.
Understanding pistis in Gal 5:22 to mean "faithfulness" (fidelity, as it means in Tit 2:10) is not
contradictory to that.
Unless one has the perspective that faith somehow precedes generation (and then we would be into the debate about prevenient grace).
Before we are born of the Spirit, our faith is no better than filthy rags,
As for spiritual gifts, not all believers possesses all of them,
Yes, not all believers possess the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit.
But I am not referring to extraordinary functions by the Holy Spirit, but simply to what is
stated in Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1, Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3, that faith is not conditioned on our performance,
but is a free gift.
but as for the fruit of regeneration all believers possesses it. Looking at the context of Gal.5 the fruit (singular) of the Spirit is contrasted to the works of the flesh. One of those works of the flesh is heresies. Heresy should be regarded as a contrast to saving faith. The Q that follows then could be that
why would a regenerate believer only have faith as a gift but still lack faith/fulness as a fruit? Like salvation would not inevitably bear such fruit.
why would a regenerate believer only have faith as a gift but still lack faith/fulness as a fruit? Like salvation would not inevitably bear such fruit.
whom Paul calls "brothers," as well as "God's field, God's building," "God's temple in whom
the Holy Spirit dwells," and his "dear children" (vv.1, 9, 16, 4:6, 14); i.e. regenerate.
They are not bearing much fruit now, rather they are carnal, but they are regenerate and
Paul exhorts them to stop being carnal and to imitate him in his imitating Christ (1Co 4:15-17).
The way I would put this is that faith follows as a fruit of regeneration
but are the result of obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit,
while faith is a free gift involving no performance of our own.
That is a huge difference between the two, and goes to the heart of the gospel.
while at the same time being the means (through the gift given by God)
in which he receives salvation. Thus if there ever is any division or distinction between
gift and fruit here, the regenerate possesses both of them.
in which he receives salvation. Thus if there ever is any division or distinction between
gift and fruit here, the regenerate possesses both of them.
no performance of our own.
But the fruit is produced in our obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit.
No obedience = no fruit (holiness).
And that is a big difference.
Believers have fruit in varying degrees, from little to none--as in the carnal man
of 1Co 3:1-8--to those who walk in faithfulness in Gal 5:22-23.
Paul exhorts all believers to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Gal 5:25).
If believers could not walk in the flesh (be carnal), Paul would not exhort them to do otherwise.
So, the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) in varying degrees in believers through their obedience,
the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit (1Co 13-14) to some believers only, and
the gift of faith (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3), repentance (2Tim 2:25; Ac 11:18, 5:31)
and righteousness/justification(Ro 4:17) to all believers
do not all have the same basis and do not all operate in the same manner, and therefore,
are not interchangeable in meaning.
The fruits of the Spirit Gal 5:22-23) are not interchangeable with
the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit (1Co 13-14) are not interchangeable with
the gifts of faith, repentance and righteousness in their NT meaning.
And faith as a "fruit" of the Spirit is maintained to support the notion
that it is not our faith in Christ which justifies us (Ro 3:25), because faith is the "fruit" of justification,
but it is the faith of Christ which justifies us.
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