Although morality matters to God, the ultimate Christian ideal, as taught by Jesus, isn’t obedience to a moral code. It is abiding in Him (John 15:1–17). When that is our top priority, everything else falls into place. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33).

Continuing with [Paul’s] “flesh versus Spirit” contrast [Gal. 5:16-21], we now arrive at perhaps the most famous passage in Galatians. As opposed to the acts of the flesh, Paul describes what life looks like when we live in the freedom that Christ brought us and are led by the Holy Spirit:

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Notice Paul doesn’t call it the “crown of the Spirit” to be placed on our heads for all the world to see. He calls it the karpos—the product or outcome—of the Spirit. And karpos is in the singular, meaning that this is not a list of various fruits for us to collect like merit badges. Rather, in the words of theologian Andrew Knowles, “It is the single fruit of a Christlike life.” And like the list of the acts of the flesh (5:19–21), this is a merely representative list. Paul paints a broad picture of each way of living to underscore the contrast.

Notably, all of the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit…conform with the old covenant law and God’s OT expectations of His people. Believers in Jesus do not require the law to live godly lives; we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the Spirit will never lead us to break the principles of the law.

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). As we abide in Christ, His Holy Spirit will produce in us, over time, good fruit. We cannot force these attributes into our lives through sheer willpower. And while they may not be immediately visible, they are the inevitable karpos of walking by the Spirit.

This fruit reflects God’s character in a way that the law can’t. Laws set limits, prohibit behavior, and prescribe activities. Conversely, this beautiful passage speaks in the language of grace. This is faith working in love, powered by the Holy Spirit. Its expression in our lives goes above and beyond what the law requires. When Christians walk by the Spirit and bear such fruit, there is no need for the law. This is the heart of Paul’s pastoral counsel to the Galatians. He continues:

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