The fruit of the Spirit is the cluster of Christlike graces that the Holy Spirit produces in the character of the believer in whom He dwells—the moral and spiritual harvest of His indwelling work. Paul names it: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” setting it in direct contrast to the works of the flesh—adultery, hatred, wrath, envy, and the like—which the unregenerate nature produces. Several things are notable. The word is “fruit,” singular, suggesting a single integrated harvest with many facets, not a menu from which one selects; the Spirit produces all these graces together as the expression of one renewed character, crowned and summarized by love. It is “fruit,” not “works”—it grows organically from the life of the Spirit within, as a good tree brings forth good fruit, rather than being manufactured by mere effort; yet it is cultivated, for the believer is to walk in the Spirit, abide in the Vine, and put off the flesh. The fruit must be sharply distinguished from the gifts of the Spirit: the gifts concern what one does for service and may be counterfeited or abused, while the fruit concerns what one is in character and is the true and indispensable mark of the Spirit’s presence. A man may prophesy, speak with tongues, and work wonders, yet without love be nothing; but no man bears this fruit who is not indwelt by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is therefore the surest evidence of genuine regeneration and the very portrait of Christ being formed in His people.