The Fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit produces character transformation evident in nine beautiful qualities.
Paul contrasts works of the flesh with 'the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.' Notice it is 'fruit,' singular—a unified cluster expressing the Spirit's presence. This fruit is produced not by human effort but by the Spirit's work as we yield to Him. Against such fruit there is no law. Character transformation is the primary evidence of genuine spiritual life. Test the list against a week, not a mood: each of the nine names something another person could observe in you. The Spirit grows what we cannot manufacture.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Jonathan Edwards regarded spiritual fruit as the most reliable evidence of genuine conversion—character that no hypocrisy could sustain.
Epistle to the Galatians