But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

            As we read through Scripture, we find that God established many laws to keep man from doing evil.  The problem is that man’s nature is to please himself, even when he knows that doing it is wrong.  The weakness of the law, however, is that it can’t provide the power to overcome the selfish desires that we have. Even the Apostle Paul struggled with this as he admits very honestly,So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me (Romans 7:21).  He tells us thatthe flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh(Galatians 5:17). He called himself a “wretched man” (What a wretched man I am!Romans 7:24).

            The works of our sinful nature are contrary to God’s moral law and often against the laws of our land as well.  These laws are good, but as our society becomes more corrupt, laws are changed to make wrong acceptable, but in reality, this only increases the “wretchedness” of man.

            That’s why Christ died and rose again – to provide what the law couldn’t, the power to overcome the selfish sinful desires of our old nature.  This means that in humble brokenness and repentance we receive Jesus Christ into our life, and we submit to the crucifixion (death) of our sinful nature with all of its desires, and we rise to a new life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

            When the Holy Spirit controls our life, spiritual fruit is produced which has nothing to limit it.  We can bear as much of this fruit as we are able. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit(Galatians 5:25).  This takes a faith that works by a love for God first of all.  It also gives liberty to serve one another in love, which then fulfills the second greatest command: to love our neighbors as ourselves.