Morality and the Fruit of the Spirit
By R. L. Solberg
Continuing with [Paul’s] “flesh versus Spirit” contrast [Gal. 5:16-21], we now arrive at perhaps the most famous passage in Galatians. As opposed to the acts of the flesh, Paul describes what life looks like when we live in the freedom that Christ brought us and are led by the Holy Spirit:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Notice Paul doesn’t call it the “crown of the Spirit” to be placed on our heads for all the world to see. He calls it the karpos—the product or outcome—of the Spirit. And karpos is in the singular, meaning that this is not a list of various fruits for us to collect like merit badges. Rather, in the words of theologian Andrew Knowles, “It is the single fruit of a Christlike life.” And like the list of the acts of the flesh (5:19–21), this is a merely representative list. Paul paints a broad picture of each way of living to underscore the contrast.
Notably, all of the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit . . . conform with the old covenant law and God’s OT expectations of His people. Believers in Jesus do not require the law to live godly lives; we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the Spirit will never lead us to break the principles of the law.
Jesus said, “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” (John 15:5). As we abide in Christ, His Holy Spirit will produce in us, over time, good fruit. We cannot force these attributes into our lives through sheer willpower. And while they may not be immediately visible, they are the inevitable karpos of walking by the Spirit.
This fruit reflects God’s character in a way that the law can’t. Laws set limits, prohibit behavior, and prescribe activities. Conversely, this beautiful passage speaks in the language of grace. This is faith working in love, powered by the Holy Spirit. Its expression in our lives goes above and beyond what the law requires. When Christians walk by the Spirit and bear such fruit, there is no need for the law. This is the heart of Paul’s pastoral counsel to the Galatians. He continues:
24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Paul’s admonition to “keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25) reveals that we have a role in walking out our faith. God could have set things up so that we instantly become morally perfect the moment we receive the Holy Spirit. But that is not how He chose to do it. This tells us something incredible about the living God. He prioritizes relationship over righteousness. Both matter, of course. But it is more important to God that we learn to depend on Him and walk with Him than become immediately sinless.
The Spirit-led process of sanctification is about becoming more Christlike and less sinful throughout our lives. It reveals that God isn’t a cosmic policeman obsessed with us obeying all the rules. He’s a loving, gracious Father who considers the gift and blessing of knowing Him more important than making us instantly sin-free.
If you think about it, moral imperfection in human beings isn’t a challenge for God the way it is for us. He solved the problem of sin once and for all on the cross. There is nothing more to be done. For those who have placed their faith in Christ, their ultimate moral perfection is a done deal (Rom. 8:30). And the more we learn to depend on Jesus and walk by His Spirit, the less we will sin as a natural consequence.
God’s ultimate motive is love. The biggest blessing Yahweh can grant His beloved creatures is an active relationship with Him. The natural outworking of that relationship is moral righteousness, of course. But the point of it is love. When we come to faith in His Son, rather than saying, “You’re all done, go have fun,” God says, “You’ve just begun; keep in step with Me.” He wants us to learn to lean on Him and depend on Him daily, even hourly, as we “keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25).
To extend Paul’s metaphor, fruit grows best in fertile soil and a favorable climate. The soil for the fruit of the Spirit is a heart of faith, and the climate is one of prayer, worship, praise, reading God’s Word, relationships with other believers, and serving those around us. The apostle isn’t talking about the occasional influence of the Spirit. Keeping in step is a state of remaining in the Spirit. “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).
. . . Although morality matters to God, the ultimate Christian ideal, as taught by Jesus, isn’t obedience to a moral code. It is abiding in Him (John 15:1–17). When that is our top priority, everything else falls into place. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33).
Notice Jesus didn’t say, “Seek first your own righteousness.” He is talking about a life in which, as theologian Wilfred Knox put it, “the Spirit of God is allowed to work freely and express itself in the spirit of man.” The famous author G. K. Chesterton saw it this way: “The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”12 That is precisely the kind of freedom Paul preaches to his readers: the freedom for the good things of God to run wild in our lives.
— R. L. Solberg is an author, apologist, and professor of theology who runs an apologetics/teaching ministry called Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity. He studied at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has a master's degree in theological studies (MATS) from Williamson College, where he is now an adjunct professor of theology. He also studied Biblical Hebrew through the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is currently a Ph.D. student in Bible Exposition at Liberty University.
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Excerpted from The Law, the Christ, the Promise: A Verse-By-Verse Apologetics Bible Study through Galatians by R. L. Solberg (Zondervan Reflective, 2025). Used by permission.
An ideal resource to reinforce your faith against contemporary skepticism
In the face of modern challenges to faith, The Law, the Christ, the Promise by Professor R. L. Solberg is an essential guide for believers seeking a firmer grasp on Christian truths. This concise yet profound verse-by-verse Bible study dissects the Apostle Paul's message to the Galatians, addressing false teachings and bringing to light the significance of justification, righteousness, and God's promise through Christ. Solberg's engaging exploration offers historical insights, theological depth, and practical applications, enriching readers' understanding of the gospel's freedom.
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