The Book Of Galatians Chapter 5 Part 12 The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Faith

The fruit of the Spirit of God is faith in Jesus Christ and the scriptures. 

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Faith is the fruit we will examine in this post. The word translated "faith" speaks of having a firm conviction of God's truth. 

Faith is believing what God says and taking Him at His Word.  Faith is the foundation for man’s relationship to God. 

Faith is not passive but implies an active trust in God that yields a lasting passion for Him. 

Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from God to all who hear and heed the gospel.

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

1 Corinthians 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

We are speaking of faith that leads to a relationship with God, through the Holy Spirit's regenerating, renewing work in our heart (See Titus 3:4-6).

This beautiful saving faith is a gift from God. 

No one is born with this kind of faith because we are born without spiritual life. 

We all inherit a sin nature from the fall of man into sin.

This is why no one has to teach us to sin because it is part of our DNA. 

This is also why God so loved the world that He determined to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ in eternity past. 

Thus, the gospel is good news to all people in every place. 

God wants to save each sinner from Hell and condemnation. His will is that no one should perish but that all repent and turn to Christ (See 2 Peter 3:9).

Salvation is by faith in Christ because we cannot do enough good works to make us acceptable to God.

Therefore, Jesus Christ suffered for us, died for us, shed the blood of God for us and He will save everyone who calls upon His name for salvation.

This is why we must preach and share the gospel, because many people are trapped in unbelief or in false religions.

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation!

Paul testifies that we are saved by faith and that faith is the gift from God. 

Any gift can be received or rejected.

Thus, all who hear the gospel of Christ, repent of their sins and turn to Christ in faith, will be born again.

This is why the scripture says "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (See Romans 10:17).

Repentant faith in Christ brings new birth, the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Repentant faith in Christ sets us on a new course that is bound for heaven.

Repentant faith results in the Spirit of God indwelling us, as He seeks to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. 

Not all men have faith because not all people hear and obey the gospel.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2)  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 

Paul asked church leaders and Christians to pray for his apostolic ministry. His desire was for the preaching of the Word of God to have "free course." 

The word translated "free course" was used by the Greeks to describe being in a perilous situation that required all their energy to overcome.

A major obstacle to gospel preaching is the fact that not all men have faith. 

Many resisted Paul's gospel preaching and persecuted the apostle.

Many people today resist and reject the gospel of Christ because they have no faith in God.

Saving faith in Christ is a glorious gift of God for all who hear the gospel and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The word translated "faith" is used 244 times in the New Testament to show the importance of faith in Christ.

However there is another very closely related word that is used 250 times in the New Testament and is overwhelmingly translated "believe." 

The word "believe" is a conviction and trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith.

Thus, these two Greek words "pistis" and "pisteuo" are translated "faith" and "believe" respectively.

They mean essentially the same thing: believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Faith and believing both mean having a firm conviction that God's Word and promises are true. 

Faith and believing both mean fully trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Faith that Jesus could heal the blind men resulted in restored sight. 

Matthew 9:27-30 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28)  And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29)  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30)  And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 

This is the first time that Jesus used the word "believe." 

Two blind men followed Jesus and cried out for mercy. 

Jesus received them and He asked them if they truly believed that He could restore their sight.

They emphatically expressed Jesus could heal them. Jesus touched their eyes and said what happened would be according to their faith.

What happened? Their eyes were opened and they could see because they had active faith in Jesus Christ!

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ to receive eternal life.

John 3:14-18  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15)That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

This is one of the most powerful texts to illustrate the gift of faith, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus pointed to the brass serpent that Moses was told to make as a picture of His redeeming work on the cross.

God judged the Hebrews because they complained about Moses and God's provision. He sent poisonous snakes to plague them.

The people repented and earnestly asked Moses to intercede. 

God told Moses to make a serpent out of brass and mount it on a tall pole in the center of their encampment. 

All who were bitten by a poisonous snake must look to the brass serpent on the pole, and they would live. 

Jesus applied the symbolism of the brass serpent to Himself in John's gospel.

The brass serpent on a pole is a picture of Christ dying on the cross, bearing our sins in order to offer salvation to all who will believe. 

Whoever hears the gospel of Christ and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ will not perish. Instead, God will grant them eternal life.

Again, God loved sinners so much that in eternity past, He determined to sacrifice His Son, in order to save all who hear and believe the gospel.

Thus, faith and believing are essential for having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and when we do, God saves us! (See Acts 16:31).

The word "faith" is only used once in the Old Testament. 

However, there is an Old Testament word that closely corresponds to faith or believe. It is the word "trust."

Putting our full trust in the salvation God provides.

Psalm 9:9-10  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10)  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 

Trust in the Lord and do good. Delight in the Lord, commit your life to Him.

Psalm 37:1-5  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2)  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3)  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4)  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5)  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart.

Acts 8:32-37  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33)  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34)  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35)  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36)  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37)  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Therefore, we are exhorted to stand fast in the faith (See 1 Corinthians 16:13).

We are to walk by faith not by sight (See 2 Corinthians 5:7).

We are justified by faith in Christ (See Galatians 2:16).

The life we live until God calls us home is by faith in the Son of God (See Galatians 2:20).

The just shall live by faith in Christ (See Galatians 3:11).

Christ dwells in our hearts by faith See Ephesians 3:17).

Part of the armor God gave us for spiritual warfare is the shield of faith (See Ephesians 6:16).

We are to continue in the faith of Christ, being grounded and settled in our hearts (See Colossians 2:6-7).

The word of the gospel must be mixed with faith in order to save and transform us (See Hebrews 4:2).

We are invited to draw near to God with full assurance of faith (See Hebrews 10:22).

Our faith must be accompanied by works/service that honors God because faith without works is dead (See James 2:14-26).

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Thus, faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is to shape our lives each and every day.

May the Lord help us to be those who live by faith in His Son.

Bob