22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
fruit — result of the power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers. Fruit, unlike works, draws on the inward power of the Spirit.
love (agape) — self-sacrifice for the benefit of the one loved. (1 Corinthians 13)
peace — peace of God in our hearts — not peace with God (that comes with justification) — tranquility based on knowing one is in a right relationship with God.
longsuffering — the opposite of short-tempered — restraint in the face of provocation
kindness — goodness in action — expressing goodness with deeds
goodness — very similar to gentleness, but perhaps with more of an edge — intervention for someone’s sake
faithfulness — trustfulness — believing the best about God and others — not suspicious
gentleness — not self-assertive or self-interested — not elated or depressed because not occupied with self at all
self-control — in all things — denying appetites for the sake of the prize — mastery of one’s desires
The first three fruits are directed God-ward, the second three toward others and the last three toward self
against such (v.23) — things like these — the list is not exhaustive
there is no law (v.23) — The law has no place, and no scope, for action in one who is walking in the Spirit.
As the believer takes account of things true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, the worthy things and the pleasing things, he is taking account of Christ, for the things that were to be seen in Paul were the things that Paul had seen in Christ (Philippians 4:8-9; 1 Corinthians 11:1). The ideal Christian life is an extension of the life of the Lord Jesus; the things that in the days of His flesh He manifested in His own way among men, He manifests now by the power of His Spirit in the lives of His people. — Vine, page 254
