Bad Fruit?

Most of us know that the Fruit of the Spirit (found in Galatians chapter 5 - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), these fruit are characteristics we aspire to achieve as followers of Christ. These are the things that are supposed to define us as Christians. But why do so many struggle to reflect these attributes and values consistently? Why is it that some Christians don’t seem to possess these character traits at all? The answer is right there in the name. These character traits are not called “the fruit of the“flesh” or heart or mind. You cannot achieve and maintain the characteristics of Christ through your own decision, determination, and effort to do so. They come as a result of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. And there are a great number of so called Christians who have little to no desire to obey Christ, submit to the preeminence of the Holy Spirit, and embrace their God-given spiritual identities, preferring instead to retain control, or the illusion of control, by adopting man-made philosophies and ideologies that suit their interests and preferences. As Paul warned Timothy, For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. – 2 Timothy 4:3 So, the fact that there are people who claim one thing and act another way entirely doesn’t come as a surprise. Jesus was very clear that there would be imposters in the Body of Christ and how we would recognize them: Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. – Matthew 7:20-21 But this isn’t about them, this is about you. I want you to know that it is the Spirit of God who transforms us, gives us the “mind of Christ,” through which we bear the Fruit of Spirit. The power to change and be transformed into someone more Christ-like doesn't come as a result of your will, determination or internal strength. Jesus did not leave us a self-improvement, personal development, or behavioral modification program to become “better.” He sent the Holy Spirit to guide and walk us through a spiritual transformation process. Spiritual growth occurs within as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit entwined with your spirit, that is, the spirit God placed within you, which means the renewing of your heart and mind can only be accomplished through direct relationship with God.