But the fruit of the Spirit is:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
“There is no law against these things!” – Galatians 5:22-23
I once was struggling with my salvation. I was constantly asking God, “Am I saved? Am I one of Your children?” Galatians 5:22-23 was one of the passages that helped me find the answer I was searching for.
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But, before I go any deeper, let me say that questioning your salvation is ok. It is okay to doubt. What is not okay is sitting in that doubt and in those questions and doing nothing about it. When you face doubt don’t be lazy. Get busy and do the research. Read your Bible. Talk to reliable sources. Don’t take anyone’s word as is, but compare it to the scripture. Continuously pray asking for God’s help and guidance. As Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr says, “God gave you a brain and He expects you to use it.”
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In my struggle, my pastor preached on Galatians 5:22-23. I realized that if I had the Spirit then I was saved. And the way to know if I have God’s Spirit was based on my fruit. I remember what my old self was like. So, I compared my old self with what I thought to be my new self, the one lead by God’s Spirt. Was I showing love? Scripture says that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) I know I was not perfect, but was I trying to show others God’s version of love, or a more selfish, worldly version of love?
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Joy, do I have joy even in tough situations and when I’m stressed? Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica that “for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6) indicating that joy is associated with God the Holy Spirit. So, to have true joy I must have the Holy Spirit.
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Peace, do I have peace in troubling times? And where do I turn when looking for peace? Romans 14:17 says that “righteousness and peace and joy [is] in the Holy Spirit” So, to have real peace I must have the Spirit.
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There is a long list here, so I’m not going to cover them all. But, if you are struggling with doubt and your faith I suggest you do your own research. Find scriptures that explain each fruit of the Spirit and compare your old self with your new self. Ask God for His help and guidance as you do your own research. But, whatever you do, don’t be lazy; don’t put it on the back burner. Get it taken care of asap.
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