In Chapter 5 of the book of Galatians, we find that there are nine fruits of the spirit listed that are essential to the growth and character of every born again believer. In verses 22 and 23, they are listed: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. In verses 19-21, the works of the flesh are listed also. The fruits of the spirit are designed to offset, displace and counteract the works of the flesh. In other words, love coming from one can counteract hate from another.

Nurturing the fruit of the spirit fortifies the inner man, giving the believer the insight to walk in the spirit. Verse 25, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." As we have our minds renewed to the work of Christ we are to acknowledge and receive the fruit of the Spirit as opposed to the works of the flesh. In other words, one is to see and believe themselves to be crucified dead, to the works of the flesh and resurrected in Christ to the fruit of the Spirit. And on a daily basis apply the principle of repentance in accordance with the renewing of oneself to the new man in Christ. Repentance comes from the Greek word metanoeo a 180° turnabout – as we will examine.

Observing the context of the chapter, it is obvious that the topic of discussion is that of man's flesh versus the spirit. There is no direct implication that the spirit referred to is the Holy Spirit. Therefore, taking into consideration the context of the chapter, we can conclude that Paul is probably referring to the spirit dimension in general, which would include the Holy Spirit and the spirit of man.

The word Spirit in verses 22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law," could probably have been spelled with a small s instead of a capital S. It is translated from the Greek word pneuma. This word is used in various places of the New Testament for the Holy Spirit and for the human spirit as well. If the word spirit is not prefixed with the word Holy, one must gather from the context of the section of the Bible they are reading as to whether or not a reference is being made to the Holy Spirit or human spirit, for the word for spirit in the Greek is the same.

In the context of Galatians 5, we are discussing man in the case of the works of the flesh versus the fruit of the spirit and so we are seeing two dimensions at work in the make-up of man. The fruit of the spirit (human spirit) are produced through the nature of our new life in Christ by the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," and the works of the flesh are produced by the flesh, indirectly influenced by the devil through the seed of sin sown into the soul of man.

Before we define in detail the fruit of the spirit and works of the flesh, let us explore the way in which these particular attributes are cultivated or conceived.

In Genesis 3:15, we find a reference being made to seeds, the seed of the serpent versus the seed of the woman. The seed of the woman is to bruise the serpent's head and the serpent is to bruise his (Jesus') heel. The seed is a reference to Christ who is the word made flesh. In Mark, Chapter 4, we find Jesus clarifying the parable of the sower to his disciples. In verse 11, "And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables." Jesus said that the Word of God is the seed. Peter said in 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever," that we are born with incorruptible seed as opposed to corruptible seed, denoting that there are two opposite seeds.