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.
The fruit of the Spirit comes as the end-product of the process of sowing to the Spirit (cf 6:8), the result, so to speak, of what Paul has been discussing, and pressing upon the Galatians. We should also note, however, the connection between 'Thou shalt love' in 14 and 'the fruit of the Spirit' in 22. It is the command of God that we should love, but it is also His perfect work in our souls through the gospel to enable us to fulfil His command and to produce in us what He requires. This seeming paradox between the divine imperative to love, and the divine provision of fruit in the believer's life should not be allowed to mislead our thinking, for it is simply that the gospel is presented in it from two viewpoints: from one aspect it is seen to be a summons, from another as a divine offer and provision. Paul's words in Philippians 2:12, 13 express it very graphically: 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' - that is the summons - 'for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure' - that is the divine provision and activity. We should also note that Paul speaks of 'fruit', not 'fruits'. The fruit is one, not many; and the one fruit has a ninefold expression. D.L. Moody used to say that this ninefold fruit is simply love in its many manifestations. Thus, joy is love exulting; peace is love resting; longsuffering is love on trial; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love at school; temperance is love in training. Plenty food for thought here - more than enough for one day!