SUBJECT:  Salvation Process

QUESTION:  Do you have a list of principles which are the fruits of the Spirit?

ANSWER:

Here is a list of known principles of God or fruits of the Spirit of God.  This is followed by a definition of what a principle is.  This list is not necessarily exhaustive.

Honesty

Persistence

Forgiveness

Compassion

Courage

Love

Faith

Encouragement

Fairness

Gentleness

Giving

Goodness

Growth

Human Dignity

Integrity

Joy

Longsuffering

Meekness

Nurturance

Patience

Peace

Potential

Process

Quality

Service

Temperance

Trust

Truth

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

What is a Principle?

Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value.  They’re fundamental.  They’re essentially unarguable because they are self-evident.

One way to quickly grasp the self-evident nature of principles is to simply consider the absurdity of attempting to live an effective life based on their opposites.  I doubt that anyone would seriously consider unfairness, deceit, baseness, uselessness, mediocrity, or degeneration to be a solid foundation for lasting happiness and success.

Although people may argue about how these principles are defined or manifested or achieved, there seems to be an innate consciousness and awareness that they exist.

Principles are deep, fundamental truths that have universal application.  They apply to individuals, to marriages, to families, to private and public organizations of every kind.

Principles are not practices (works).  A practice is a specific activity or action.  A practice that works in one circumstance will not necessarily work in another.  When principles are internalized into habits, they empower people to create a wide variety of practices to deal with different situations.  To invoke a principle is to put it into a practice (a work).

Principles are not values.  A gang of thieves can share values, but they are in violation of the fundamental principles we’re talking about, such as honesty.  Principles are the territory.  Values are maps.  When we value correct principles, we have truth……we put on Jesus Christ.

All principles are Spirit.  They are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  God and Jesus Christ ARE principles.  God and Jesus Christ are Spirit.   The more we invoke principles the more we become like Christ.  You are, in essence becoming like and preparing to be a member of the God Family.