Fruit of the Spirit: Love

I. Introduction: When asked what his sermon will be on Sunday, some preachers will grin and say, “love,” as if this is a simple and shallow topic. The joke is a response to some who emphasize the love of God and neglect the judgment of God. In fact, a lesson on love is extremely difficult for it is a topic we all think we know about but may misunderstand. We should all grow in our love towards God and one another therefore we must spend time studying love.

II. Text: Galatians 5:16-23

III. Fruit of the Spirit

A. The Bible writers often used the word fruit to describe the product of holiness or unrighteousness in one’s life.

B. By your fruits you shall know them…

C. Our lives must be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit

D. Fruit of the Spirit in our lives demonstrates God’s complete influence over our life. The presence or absence of the fruit of the spirit is a gauge to evaluate our relationship with.

E. Fruit of love

F. When asked to define love, people often use the three Greek words for love (agape, phileo, and eros) and build their definitions from there.

G. The differences in these words are meaningful in certain contexts. Let us examine love in the context of Paul’s letter to the Galatians

IV. Love in Galatians

A. Love for God

B. God should be the highest object of our love

C. The greatest commandment in both the Old and New Testaments is to love God completely. Mark 12:30-34 It is the foundation of all other loves

D. Christ is the object of our desire and allegiance

E. Galatians 1:4 – He died to save us from our sins and deliver us from evil Galatians 1:10 – We must please Him above pleasing man Therefore, (Galatians 2:20), we love Jesus who died for us so that He might live in us and through us. An essential product of that love is our love for others.

F. Love for Others

G. The second great foundation of the Old Law was to love one’s neighbor as himself, Mark 12:30.

H. Though love for God is our most important love, I believe that in Galatians 5:22, the love as a fruit of the Spirit speaks to man’s relationship with others. All of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit exemplify good relations with, and beneficial service to, others.

I. It is a love that serves

J. Galatians 5:13-15

K. Christ has freed from sin and the evil of this present age but we must not use this liberty to please the flesh.

L. 1 Peter 2:16 - Do not to use your liberty as a cloak for vice. Fleshly lusts war against the soul to destroy it. We must reign in our flesh and bring it under the control of Christ for use in His service.

M. We must use our liberty as a motivation to serve others.

N. Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, that he could know all mysteries, could speak in all languages, give all that he had to the poor and even give his body to be burned to feed the poor but it would be useless without love. Service without love is only duty; a service robbed of its primary benefit of goodwill and stronger bonds of love between individuals.

O. It is a love that serves in humility

P. Humility seeks the best interest of others.

Q. Galatians 5:15 – The opposite reaction is to bite and devour one another.

R. We think of cannibals as savage people and listen with horror to stories where crash victims had to eat human flesh to survive.

S. Strangely, spiritual cannibalism does not fill us with the same horror.

T. Webster defines devour as eating greedily or ravenously; preying on one’s food. I think of a predatory animal dashing from a hiding place and viciously attacking and devouring weak and defenseless prey. Such behavior does not fulfill the law of God, v.14. Instead of fighting the enemy, every man’s sword is against his brother. This is not the mind of Christ that we must have, Philippians 2:1-5.

U. It is an active love

V. It transcends mere affection and profession of love.

W. This love bears fruit in service

X. Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens

Y. Though we bear our own burdens, v.5, we help others with their load.1 Thessalonians 5:14 – Many burden bearing responsibilities This fulfills the law of Christ; for the God’s laws depend on serving God and man in love. V.3 - A lack of humility or disdain for our brother or sister will inhibit this area of service and we will fail to fulfill the law of Christ

Z. It is shown towards all men

A. Exhibited towards brethren as explained before in bearing one another’s burdens and not devouring one another

B. Yet our love must extend to all men.

C. Galatians 6:10

D. Luke 10:30-37 – Who is my neighbor? The Good Samaritan parable My responsibility begins where opportunity and ability converge.

E. We demonstrate Christ’s love to a lost world by service of love to all men.

F. We must give the glory to God for our service. We can use our good works to lead others to Jesus.

G. Relation to Christ

H. Love for our brethren actually becomes love for Christ (“in that you did it to the least of these…” Matthew 25)

I. It is Christ’s love from our hands to all both righteous and unrighteous

J. Matthew 5:45 – God sends rain on the just and unjust; our loving service is God’s love on the just and the unjust Galatians 2:20 – Christ is working through us to save others

K. Our attitude should not be “love others in order to please God” but to be the love of God toward others.

L. Kids argue and the parents say, “You two make up and be friends.” Force of command vs. genuine godly love Grudging service vs. desire to serve

M. It is an untiring love

N. Galatians 6:7-9

O. Jesus often described the Judgment Day as a time of harvest.

P. Romans 2:6 – Jesus will give according to our deeds2 Corinthians 5:101 Corinthians 3:8

Q. We have three choices for harvest

R. Sow to the flesh – reap corruption Do nothing – Cast into outer darkness (one talent man) Sow to the Spirit – reap everlasting life The choice is ours alone

S. We must not retire from godly service for we have a reward awaiting us.

T. There is no earthly retirement from God’s service. Sometimes brethren quit in their best years in terms of wisdom and time they can devote to service.

U. We must not lose heart

V. No appreciation for our work Treated ill though we have done good Feel that we are not really making an impact God sees and will reward

W. Love, as a fruit of the Spirit is an active love that serves all men in humility unceasingly and untiringly.