Fruit To Holiness

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 6:22-23 

The work of grace which God does in us changes us from being slaves of sin to being bearers of spiritual fruit. Paul refers to the dominance of sin throughout the 6th chapter. He also speaks of how, being united with Christ we are no longer slaves to sin. By contrast, we have become, as he puts it, ‘slaves of righteousness.’ Having discussed this thoroughly, he concludes this portion of the discussion of sanctification with the text before us. To be slaves of God means we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The Holy Spirit is the One Who tends, the spiritual garden He plants within us.  This yields spiritual fruit. Paul identifies that fruit in Galatians when he writes, ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.’ These elements of the fruit of the Spirit are all characteristic of Christ, Who has the Spirit without measure. Because they are, they develop in those who are Christ’s. The Holy Spirit does this work which removes us farther and farther away from the selfish manner of life which we were living as long as we were the slaves of sin. Because we are united to Christ and the Holy Spirit is renewing us in the whole person after the image of Christ, we have this fruit unto holiness and the end, everlasting life.    

Our Glorious, Living God, 
we rejoice that it is Your purpose for us to bear fruit. 
We praise You that You cultivate that  
fruit in us continually. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning