Galati 5:22-23

FRUTTO DELLO SPIRITO

"Il frutto dello Spirito è amore, gioia, pace, pazienza, mansuetudine, bontà, fede, mansuetudine, temperanza".

Galati 5:22

Nessun nostro sforzo può liberarsi delle opere sgradevoli della carne; ma mentre lo Spirito benedetto opera in noi, per volere e per fare il suo beneplacito, essi cadranno, sopraffatti dalla forza nuova e crescente della vita segreta interiore. Non ci sarà alcuna trasformazione improvvisa e violenta, dopo l'unico grande epocale trapianto, quando fummo prelevati dal regno delle tenebre e collocati in quello del Sole del suo amore ( Colossesi 1:13 ), ma uno sviluppo lento, silenzioso, sicuro della vita nascosta, finché tutte le corruzioni e le foglie dell'ipocrisia non cadranno, non per uno sforzo spasmodico da parte nostra, ma per la forza irresistibile della vita interiore che cresce.

Questo frutto dello Spirito, di cui qui parla così esultante l'Apostolo, deve incidere su tutto il nostro essere, dentro e fuori, per armonizzare, modificare e abbellire ogni rapporto di vita.

Studiamo semplicemente questo frutto da vari punti di vista, sotto vari aspetti, poiché è un'immagine divina di ciò che Dio effettuerà nei nostri cuori ed è inteso per il nostro incoraggiamento e conforto.

I. Abbiamo la mente cristiana per quanto riguarda se stessa e Dio. —'Amore, gioia, pace.' Che meraviglioso contrasto con l'odio, l'insoddisfazione, l'inquietudine della mente carnale! Che splendore per la noiosa vita umana di tutti i giorni!

II. The Christian mind as regards neighbourly intercourse.—‘Longsuffering, kindness, goodness.’ These are the characteristics the child of God should present to a watchful world. Each of these words gives opportunity for careful thought and self-examination. Let us just take them in their primary meaning. ‘Long-suffering.’—That is the patient endurance of injuries and wrongs, being able to avenge or avoid them.

‘Kindness.’—Namely, a kindly disposition and temper, not necessarily showing itself in a practical philanthropy, even perhaps partly only sentimental, yet nevertheless genuine and true. ‘Goodness.’—A kindliness of heart and warmly sympathetic nature which does find its expression in a practical way, a loving compassion manifested in deed and in truth.

III. The Christian mind as regards personal conduct.—‘Faith [R. V. faithfulness], meekness, temperance.’ Oh, how important is this! With what eager curiosity does the world watch the Christian, to see if he really has a higher, nobler standard of work and worth than others have, or profess to have, and whether this loftier ideal is the fruit of a living, loving allegiance to a Divine Master!

And if there is the glorious evidence of trustworthiness, meekness, goodness—what a magnificent tribute it is to the exuberant power of the indwelling life!

—Rev. W. B. Russell Caley.

Illustration

‘We must remember always that the expression in Galatians is the singular “fruit”; the effect of the Spirit’s power is viewed as manifested in one perfect result, a unity comprising variety. That, as in the natural unregenerate heart the strength and power runs to waste, in luxuriant and unrestrained excess, so in the life controlled and moulded by the Holy Spirit there is a concentration of energy on one thing, and that one thing is “fruit”; just as we see now that in many gardens there are apple, pear, plum trees called “Cordon,” in which all extraneous leafage and sprouting is rigidly suppressed and curtailed in order that a few of the very best specimens of fruit may be obtained.

Much even that is in itself only beautiful and harmless is sacrificed to this one object—fruitfulness. So the Holy Spirit’s work in the Christian’s heart is with one object, that he may bring forth much perfect fruit. The Divine Spirit is the One Who unites us to Jesus in a living, loving confidence and devotion; and being united to Him, we have “our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romani 6:22).

All fruitfulness comes from union with the same stem. The same vital power produces all and each. “He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me [or apart from Me] ye can do nothing,” says Jesus Himself (Giovanni 15:5); and we reverently and unquestioningly accept the Divine axiom, with all its tremendous and blessed consequences.’