Bible Study - Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1; Luke 15 - November 23, 2025

 

Bible Study – Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1; Luke 15 – November 23, 2025

Galatians 5:22-23 - Christian Standard Bible

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.^[a]

Fruit comes from a plant, vine, or tree.

In last week’s study, we saw that JESUS is the vine and those who have been “born-again” are the branches. GOD is the Gardner.

We discussed in our last study the importance of the preparation of the soil where the fruit producing product is planted.

As humans, we had no choice regarding our parents or where we would be born. But WHO did? GOD.

So, how can GOD hold humans accountable? It is all about the innermost being of every human.

Where were you before you were born? I contend. You and I were all in the heart and mind of GOD.

The Apostle Paul, touches on this in Ephesians 1: 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus^[a] at Ephesus.^[b]

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why do I keep referring to Ephesians 1?

Scripture reveals that the Apostle Paul/Saul was not only a student of the Old Testament, but GOD did mighty works in his life to reveal the truth both within him, through his earthly life and through the application of HIS Word.

The same is true for all who seek and become Spirit-born Christians through faith in JESUS and commit their lives to walk and serve as led by JESUS through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3-19 - God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons (or daughters) through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One (JESUS THE CHRIST).

GOD chose us before the foundation of the world. HE wanted humankind to be free thinkers and designed us with the freedom to choose. However, with the freedom to choose comes the responsibility and consequence for our choices – good or bad. One choice is for a person to place his/her faith in JESUS. What does choosing JESUS as your Savior mean to you? It means being born again. A person’s first birth is human for a period of time, then physical death. A person’s second birth in Spiritual and is eternal through faith in JESUS and HIS life upon earth and HIS Passion, which includes HIS resurrection and ascension into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS FATHER. JESUS is the advocate for all Holy Spirit born believers. Why? Satan is the accuser of all Christians, but JESUS is our Heavenly Advocate.

No person born physically had a choice in his/her first conception, but GOD did. However, all people have a choice regarding his/her second birth, which is eternal, through faith in JESUS. JESUS, GOD’S only SON willingly came to earth to pay, in full, for the penalty of all sin. GOD chose us but the question is, “Do we choose HIM through faith in JESUS?” That is GOD’S plan of salvation or HIS redemptive plan through the miracle of Spiritual birth.

⁷ In him (JESUS) we have redemption through his (shed) blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (sins), according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I (PAUL) heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[g] would give you the Spirit^[h] of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

What is GOD’S responsibility? In Revelation 3:20

See! I (GOD/JESUS/The Holy Spirit) stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

I have had people to tell me if they heard the voice of GOD they would run. Just know that GOD speaks today in various ways that we will listen.

The HOLY SPIRIT knocks upon the door of our heart and we have the freedom to choose whether or not to open our heart’s door. The question is? Will we answer or how will we answer the knock of THE HOLY SPIRIT upon our heart’s door? Keep in mind that the knock may come as it did when the Prophet Elijah fled to the Mountain of GOD following GOD’S defeat of the prophets of Baal, as written in 1 Kings 19: ¹⁰ He (Elijah) replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

The Prophet was in a cave hiding -----

¹¹ Then he (GOD) said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”

At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

GOD does not give up on us, please DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD/JESUS, why?

Hebrews 13:5 – Amplified Version

Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

This is GOD’S promise to all who are in right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS.

A person can get into the weeds of life after being “born-again” and abandon GOD/JESUS but as a loving FATHER, HE waits and watches for that Glorious day when the prodigal son or daughter returns home. Oh!!! What a feast and welcome back home does the wayward child receive when he or she decides to return home.

If you have abandoned GOD/JESUS, come home because both, GOD and JESUS, are waiting, no sin(s) is/are so great that the shed blood of JESUS cannot atone for it or them. Your part is to confess by asking for forgiveness and accept GOD/JESUS forgiveness.

GOD and JESUS love you. They have never left you. They are where you left them. So, unload all the issues you may have with them and return home. A feast awaits, along with a hug, robe, a ring on your finger and a grand party.

Let’s read the parable of the lost son (or daughter):

Luke 15:11-32

Christian Standard Bible

The Parable of the Lost Son – (Any Christian can go astray but GOD waits for them to return! Once, a person has tasted the goodness of GOD, he or she will have the desire to return home. Guess WHO is waiting for you or them?)

¹¹ He (JESUS) also said, “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets^[a] to them (eldest and youngest sons). ³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^[b] 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to eat his fill from^[c] the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses,^[d] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!^[e] 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. ²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’^[f]

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^[g] with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹ “‘Son,’^[h] he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother (or sister) of yours was dead and is alive again; he (she) was lost and is found.’”

JESUS gave us this parable to help us see GOD’S Grace through JESUS versus the Law. The Law is ridge, whereas Grace is the expression of GOD’S love to all sinners.

GOD’S grace is expressed through JESUS as written in John 3:16:

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he (or she) has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,^[g] so that his (or her) deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by^[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his (or her) works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Ephesians 1:20 God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He (GOD) exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[i] not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he subjected everything under his feet^[j] and appointed him^[k] as head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Is the Holy Spirit knocking/speaking to you? He GETS YOUR ATTENTION ANYWAY YOU WILL LISTEN. IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADT MADE A PROFESSION OF FAITH, Now is your opportunity to pray and ask JESUS to come into your heart, redeem you from the consequence of all sin, which is eternal death in Hell, but faith in JESUS results in eternal life through faith in JESUS by the grace of GOD AND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN.

What does it mean for a person to be “born-again” through faith in JESUS as proven by HIS passion?

What does John 3:16-18 reveal: ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

What is written in Revelation 2:17?

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Burl Ives sung a song, “There is a new name written in Glory and it is mine.” Hopefully you can sing that song as well!!!

What is written in Philippians 3:20 - Christian Standard Bible for those redeemed?

²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is written in 2 Corinthians 5:20 - Christian Standard Bible?

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making HIS appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

As Holy Spirit born (Born-again) believers, The indwelling Holy Spirit is our assurance, guide, teacher and comforter that we are GOD’S eternal Son or Daughter and HIS Grace is sufficient.

Have you been in the weeds of the world? Just like the Father of the prodigal son, GOD is waiting for you to come HOME and back into fellowship with HIM. No sin is greater than GOD’S Grace. Welcome Home!!!

Blessings!!!