Obstacles to Producing Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Life
The fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, is a key aspect of the Christian life, representing the character traits that believers are called to exhibit. However, producing this fruit can be hindered by various obstacles. According to John Gill, the Baptist/Reformed commentator, the fruit of the Spirit is not a product of human nature or free will, but rather the result of divine influence and efficacy [4]. Therefore, understanding the obstacles to producing this fruit requires examining the interplay between the Holy Spirit's work and human factors.
One significant obstacle is the presence of infirmities or weaknesses in believers. The apostle Paul notes that the Spirit helps believers in their infirmities, particularly in prayer (Romans 8:26) [1, 5]. John Gill interprets this as the Spirit assisting believers in their weaknesses, as they groan within themselves, awaiting deliverance [5]. This suggests that believers' limitations and vulnerabilities can hinder their ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Another obstacle is the tension between the Spirit and the flesh. According to Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, the flesh and the Spirit are represented as two trees, one yielding bad fruit and the other good fruit, depending on the nature of the seed from which they sprang [2]. This dichotomy implies that the presence of fleshly or sinful tendencies can obstruct the production of the fruit of the Spirit.
Furthermore, a lack of knowledge or understanding of Christ can also be an obstacle. John Gill notes that there is a knowledge of Christ that is barren and fruitless, and those who possess it will not produce the desired fruit [3]. This highlights the importance of a genuine and deepening knowledge of Christ in the Christian life.
The biblical concept of "firstfruits" is also relevant to understanding the obstacles to producing the fruit of the Spirit. The Tyndale House commentary on Romans 8:23 explains that the Holy Spirit is the firstfruits of future glory, representing God's pledge to complete His work in believers [6]. This suggests that the presence of the Holy Spirit is essential for producing the fruit of the Spirit, and any obstacle that hinders the Spirit's work can impede the production of this fruit.
In addition, the commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:3 by Tyndale House highlights the importance of discerning the presence of the Spirit in worship and the confession that Jesus is Lord as a criterion for genuine spirituality [7]. This implies that a lack of genuine spirituality or a failure to acknowledge Jesus as Lord can be an obstacle to producing the fruit of the Spirit.
The historical development of Christian thought on this topic is also noteworthy. The Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the role of the Spirit in helping believers in their weaknesses, particularly in prayer [1]. This underscores the ongoing relevance of the Spirit's assistance in overcoming obstacles to producing the fruit of the Spirit.
Sources
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 8:26: The apostle here suggests two privileges more to which true Christians are entitled: - I. The help of the Spirit in prayer. While we are in this world, hoping and waiting for what we see not, we must be praying. Hope supposes desire, and that desire offered up to God is prayer; we groan. Now observe, 1. Our weakness in prayer: We know not what we should pray for as we ought. (1.) As to the matter of our requests, we know not what to ask. We are not competent judges of our own condition. Who knows what is good for a man in this life? Ecc 6:12. We are short-sighted”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit - Both flesh - the sinful dispositions of the human heart and spirit - the changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good tree, bringing forth fruits of the most excellent kind. The tree of the flesh”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:8: For if these things be in you,.... Are wrought in you by the Spirit of God, and exercised and performed by his assistance, who works in his people both to will and do: and abound; increase in their acts and exercises by the frequent performance of them: they make you; both by way of influence and evidence, that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a knowledge of Christ which is barren and fruitless; and those that have it are so in their conversations, and it will be of no avail to them another day: and this”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:21: But the fruit of the Spirit,.... Not of nature or man's free will, as corrupted by sin, for no good fruit springs from thence; but either of the internal principle of grace, called the Spirit, Gal 5:17 or rather of the Holy Spirit, as the Ethiopic version reads it; the graces of which are called "fruit", and not "works", as the actions of the flesh are; because they are owing to divine influence efficacy, and bounty, as the fruits of the earth are, to which the allusion is; and not to a man's self, to the power and principles of nature; and because they arise from ”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities,.... The Spirit of God which dwells in us, by whom we are led, who is the spirit of adoption to us, who has witnessed to our spirits, that we are the children of God, whose firstfruits we have received, over and above, and besides what he has done for us, "also helpeth our infirmities"; whilst we are groaning within ourselves, both for ourselves and for others, and are waiting patiently for what we are hoping for. The people of God, all of them, more or less, have their infirmities in this life. They are not indeed weak”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 8:23: 8:23 we believers also groan: “Groaning” expresses a frustrated longing for God’s deliverance from the difficulties and oppression of this life (see Exod 3:7; Lam 1:22; Ezek 24:17; 2 Cor 5:2). • we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory (literally we have the first harvest of the Spirit): In the Old Testament, the phrase first harvest or firstfruits often describes the offering of the first and best part of a harvest to God (see Exod 23:19; Lev 2:12; 23:10; cp. 1 Cor 15:20, 23). The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge that he will see his work in us”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:3: 12:3 Paul gives two criteria for discerning the presence of the Spirit in worship. (1) Those who curse Jesus thereby express their rejection of Jesus and his message and thus cannot be speaking by the Spirit of God. (2) The presence of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives is shown by their sincere confession that Jesus is Lord. This is perhaps the earliest Christian creed (cp. Rom 10:9, 13; 2 Cor 4:5; Phil 2:11; 1 Jn 4:2-3).”