Note 16 at Gal. 5:22: Notice that the word "fruit" is singular, yet there are nine things listed in verses 22-23. The Spirit produces all nine of these things simultaneously and constantly. All together, they are the fruit (singular) of the Spirit.

In the same way that light comes with all the different colors in the light spectrum, so the fruit of the Spirit is all these different things. Yet, for the purpose of understanding, we can separate this fruit into these nine separate elements just as the colors of light can be separated by a prism.

Note 17 at Gal. 5:22: Jesus speaks of bearing fruit in John 15 and declares that ". . . without me ye can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5). The "fruit" spoken of in these verses is not produced by the believer, but by the Holy Spirit, as we live in union with Him.

The Today's English Version states, "But THE SPIRIT PRODUCES, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control." Our part is to yield and trust; God's part is to produce the fruit.

Note 18 at Gal. 5:22: This fruit is the product of the Holy Spirit, not our effort (see note 16 at this verse, above). However, since "he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17), then this fruit of the Spirit is also what our born- again spirit produces. Our spirit always has these attributes regardless of what we feel in our emotions.

Failure to understand this has caused many Christians to think they would be hypocrites to express joy when the truth is, they are depressed. However, it's only our soulish part that gets depressed. Our spirit is always bearing the fruit of "love, joy, peace," etc. For a person who is seeking to walk in the Spirit (see note 6 at v. 16, p. 1082), it is actually hypocritical to let our soulish emotions dominate our spiritual emotions. The truth is, our spirit is never depressed, just our soul (see note 9 at 2 Cor. 5:17, p. 1005). Those who understand this have the choice of letting their soul depress them or letting the Holy Spirit, through their born-again spirit, release the joy and peace spoken of here.

This same principal applies to every different characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit listed here.

Note 19 at Gal. 5:22: Notice that faith is a fruit of the Spirit. As explained in notes 16 and 18, this fruit is constantly being produced. It doesn't come and go as most people think it does. Our use of faith is spasmodic. Our perception of whether or not we have faith may fluctuate, but the truth is that this fruit of faith is constantly in our spirit. We just have to draw it out, not go get it (see note 3 at Lk. 17:5, p. 364).