The Holy Spirit is a part of the Godhead (John 1:1-3, 14; Genesis 1:1-2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). There is God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). The Holy Spirit is not an “it” but a He (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit grieves (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit has exhaustive knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit is the one who determines the spiritual gifts Christians receive (1 Corinthians 12:11).
As prophesied in Joel 2, the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in Acts 2 and they received gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts were determined by the Holy Spirit and enabled the Apostles to perform miracles and speak in languages they never spoke in order to spread the Gospel of Christ (Acts 2:1-4; Mark 16:15-18). These gifts of the Holy Spirit are different from the “gift of the Holy Spirit” that is received by every Christian.
When someone makes the choice to be baptized into Christ, that person receives the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” In Acts 2:38 the Apostle Peter said to those who were convicted that Jesus is both Lord and Christ to: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The “gift” given to every Christian at baptism is not miraculous powers or abilities. The “gift” is not the fruit of the Spirit. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” we receive at baptism is the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The indwelling of the Spirit is a seal marking us for the day of redemption when Christ returns (Ephesians 1:13-14). The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is not the same as the fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus said that you can know a tree by the fruit it produces (Luke 6:43-45). The same is said of a disciple. You can know what kind of a disciple that person is by the fruit they produce. This identifiable fruit consist of helping others to find Christ (John 15:8). It also consists of characteristics that show everyone that we are different from the worldly. These characteristics are the fruit (what is produced) by a Christian who is living like Christ. These characteristics include: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what Galatians 5:22-23 calls the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is what our Vacation Bible School will be based upon this year. The fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23 are in contrast to the “works/deeds of the flesh” or “acts of the sinful nature” that he lists in Galatians 5:19-21; there he writes, “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The disciple of Jesus is not to participate in the works of the flesh. Instead, showing that we are followers of Christ and living like Him, we are to display the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Galatians 5:22-25 says, “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is an amazing aspect of God. When we are baptized into Christ we receive the indwelling seal of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is shown as we live and walk in the Spirit, letting the world know that He is a powerful, personal, presence in our lives.
