Galatians 5:22 - Joy

In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul lists for us nine virtues that he calls the fruit of the Spirit. While the list is not exhaustive, it does inform us of what a Spirit-led life looks like. When we walk by the Spirit this is what is evidenced in our lives. In our last lesson from Galatians we looked at the first virtue which was love. Love is at the top of the list for a reason for it is the king of the virtues and the greatest of the spiritual gifts. In this lesson we take a look at the next one which is joy.

The joy Paul speaks of means more than earthly, human happiness. In fact, this is a joy that the natural person, apart from grace, can never experience. As are all these virtues. They are the fruit of the Spirit or what the Spirit is working in us as a part of our new nature. They are not natural, self-generated virtues. While the world may know something like these, it cannot be emphasized enough that the virtues enumerated here transcend their natural counterparts.

In his letters Paul makes clear that our joy is found in the Lord. It comes from him and it is sourced in him. This is why the natural person cannot possess it, for he does not know God in whose presence there is fullness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

This joy is connected with and stems from faith, and comes from God alone. Like justification, it comes to us from God--through Christ--by faith, and it is tied to the hope that comes from faith.

More, all of these fruit of the Spirit are eschatological in nature. They stem from the Spirit in us who is sanctifying us and working in us an eternal weight of glory. And they are all kingdom virtues, rooted and grounded in the kingdom of Christ. That we will be translated to that world is evidenced, even guaranteed by our possession of the Spirit now, the same Spirit who is producing this fruit in us. Joy comes naturally (or, rather, supernaturally) from the Holy Spirit.

Below you will find the audio recording of the lesson we had on Joy. I hope you will take the time to listen to it and that it will be a blessing to you. Just click the link below. God bless you.


Click here: Galatians 5:22 - Joy


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