1. From the Flesh to the Fruit: Who We Are in Christ

Introduction: Who We Were, and Who We Are Now

One of the most beautiful truths of the Christian life is that in Christ we are not merely improved people; we are made new. The gospel does not only forgive our past; it changes our identity, our direction, our desires, and our fruit. Galatians 5 shows us this transformation very clearly. Paul first shows us where we came from: the works of the flesh. Then he shows us who we are now: people who belong to Christ, who have crucified the flesh, and whose lives are being shaped by the Holy Spirit.

This teaching is not written to condemn the believer, but to help us understand the difference between the old life and the new life. Before Christ, the flesh ruled. In Christ, the flesh has been crucified. Before Christ, sin produced its works in us. In Christ, the Holy Spirit produces His fruit through us. This is the journey from who we were to who we are in Christ.

Where We Came From: The Works of the Flesh

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19–21 NKJV

Paul begins by saying that the works of the flesh are evident. In other words, the old nature produces visible results. The flesh is not simply the human body; it refers to the fallen nature of man that wants to live independently from God. The flesh desires what is sinful, selfish, uncontrolled, and opposed to the Spirit. These works show what life looks like when the old nature is in control.

• Adultery refers to sexual unfaithfulness in marriage.
• Fornication refers to sexual immorality outside God’s covenant design.
• Uncleanness speaks of moral impurity in thought, desire, attitude, or behaviour.
• Lewdness refers to shameless conduct that has lost sensitivity to holiness.
• Idolatry is placing anything or anyone in the position that belongs to God alone.
• Sorcery refers to occult practices, witchcraft, manipulation, and seeking spiritual power apart from God.
• Hatred is hostility, bitterness, or deep resentment toward others.
• Contentions are quarrels, arguments, strife, and conflict.
• Jealousies speak of resentment toward another person’s blessing, position, or success.
• Outbursts of wrath are uncontrolled explosions of anger.
• Selfish ambitions describe a self-centred desire to promote oneself at the expense of others.
• Dissensions are divisions caused by rebellion, pride, or conflict.
• Heresies refer to destructive divisions and false teachings that separate people from truth.
• Envy is the painful desire to have what belongs to someone else, often mixed with resentment.
• Murders show the destructive end of hatred when the value of life is rejected.
• Drunkenness refers to being controlled by alcohol or intoxication rather than by the Spirit.
• Revelries are wild, uncontrolled, sinful celebrations that reject holiness and self-control.

These things describe the fruit of the old life. They are called the works of the flesh because the flesh works hard to produce them. The flesh does not naturally produce love, peace, holiness, self-control, or godliness. Left to itself, the flesh produces what is broken, selfish, and destructive. This is why Christianity is not merely about trying harder. The old nature cannot be educated into holiness; it must be crucified.

The Turning Point: We Belong to Christ

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:24 NKJV

This verse is the foundation of our new identity. Paul does not say, “Those who are Christ’s are trying to improve the flesh.” He says they have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That means our old life no longer has the right to rule us. The flesh may still try to speak, tempt, pull, and influence, but it is no longer our master. In Christ, we belong to Someone else now.

The phrase “those who are Christ’s” speaks of ownership, identity, covenant, and belonging. We are not our own. We have been bought with a price. We belong to Jesus Christ. Therefore, we no longer define ourselves by the works of the flesh, the sins of the past, the weaknesses of the old nature, or the patterns we once followed. Our identity is now found in Christ.

To crucify the flesh means we agree with God’s judgment over the old life. We no longer protect it, excuse it, feed it, defend it, or celebrate it. We take our place with Christ and say, “That old life is not who I am anymore.” The passions and desires of the flesh may still try to rise up, but they no longer have legal ownership over the believer. We now walk by the Spirit.

Who We Are Now: The Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

The word “but” is powerful. It marks a complete contrast. Paul says, “This is what the flesh produces, but this is what the Spirit produces.” The works of the flesh reveal the old life, but the fruit of the Spirit reveals the new life. This fruit is not produced by human strength alone. It is the result of the Holy Spirit working in a person who belongs to Christ.

Notice that Paul says “fruit” and not “fruits.” The fruit of the Spirit is one beautiful harvest with many expressions. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not separate decorations added to the Christian life; they are the evidence of the life of Christ growing within us. This is who we are becoming because of who we are in Christ.

Love: The Nature of Christ in Us

Love is the self-giving nature of God expressed through us. It is not merely emotion or affection; it is the decision to seek another person’s good according to God’s truth. The flesh is selfish, but the Spirit teaches us to love. In Christ, we are no longer people ruled by hatred, bitterness, and selfish ambition. We are people through whom the love of God can flow.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
John 13:34 NKJV

Joy: The Strength of a Redeemed Heart

Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness often depends on circumstances, but joy comes from the Lord. It is the deep gladness of knowing that we belong to Christ, that our sins are forgiven, that our names are written in heaven, and that God is with us. The flesh looks for joy in pleasure, sin, approval, and success, but the Spirit produces joy that remains even in difficult seasons.

“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

Peace: The Rule of Christ Within Us

Peace is the inward rest that comes from being reconciled to God. It is not merely the absence of problems; it is the presence of God’s rule in the heart. The flesh produces anxiety, conflict, fear, and striving, but the Spirit produces peace. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to inner chaos. We can live from the settled confidence that God is our Father and Jesus is our Lord.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7 NKJV

Longsuffering: Strength Under Pressure

Longsuffering means patience, endurance, and the ability to remain faithful under pressure. It is the opposite of quick anger and giving up easily. The flesh reacts quickly, becomes offended easily, and wants immediate relief. The Spirit produces endurance. In Christ, we become people who can suffer long without becoming bitter, because the life of Christ is being formed in us.

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:4 NKJV

Kindness: The Gentle Touch of God Through Us

Kindness is goodness expressed in tenderness, compassion, and helpful action. It is not weakness; it is strength under the control of love. The flesh can be harsh, rude, careless, and cruel, but the Spirit makes us kind. In Christ, our words, actions, and attitudes should begin to carry the kindness of our Saviour.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

Goodness: A Life That Reflects God’s Character

Goodness is moral uprightness, generosity, and a life that reflects the character of God. It is not simply being polite or respectable; it is the Spirit producing God’s goodness in our motives and actions. The flesh is corrupt, but the Spirit produces what is good, pure, and pleasing to God. In Christ, goodness becomes part of our new nature because God Himself is working in us.

“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”
Ephesians 5:9 NKJV

Faithfulness: A Life That Can Be Trusted

Faithfulness speaks of loyalty, reliability, trustworthiness, and steadfastness. The flesh is unstable and often follows whatever desire is strongest in the moment. The Spirit makes us faithful to God, faithful to truth, faithful in relationships, faithful in service, and faithful in obedience. In Christ, we are no longer controlled by compromise; we are becoming people who can be trusted.

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV

Gentleness: Power Under God’s Control

Gentleness is humility, meekness, and strength under control. It does not mean weakness. Jesus was gentle, yet He was never weak. The flesh wants to dominate, argue, prove itself, and respond harshly. The Spirit produces gentleness, where our strength is submitted to God and used to build up rather than destroy. In Christ, we can become gentle because we no longer need pride to protect us.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 NKJV

Self-Control: Freedom From the Rule of the Flesh

Self-control is the Spirit-given ability to govern our desires, thoughts, words, emotions, and actions under the lordship of Christ. The flesh says, “I must have what I want now.” The Spirit teaches us to say, “Christ is Lord, and I will not be ruled by sinful desire.” Self-control is not bondage; it is freedom. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to every appetite, impulse, fear, or temptation.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Against Such There Is No Law

Paul ends Galatians 5:23 by saying, “Against such there is no law.” This means that the fruit of the Spirit is never condemned by God’s law. No law is needed to restrain love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control. These qualities fulfil the heart of God’s will. The law exposes the works of the flesh, but the Spirit produces the life that pleases God.

This is important for our identity. We do not become holy by living under condemnation. We become fruitful by living in Christ and walking by the Spirit. The Christian life is not merely avoiding the works of the flesh; it is bearing the fruit of the Spirit. We do not only say no to sin; we say yes to the life of Christ within us.

Who We Are in Christ

Galatians 5:24 tells us who we are: we are those who belong to Christ. That is our identity. We are not defined by the old works of the flesh. We are not prisoners of our past. We are not helpless victims of sinful desires. We are Christ’s. The flesh has been crucified. The Spirit has been given. A new life has begun.

When we understand who we are in Christ, we stop making peace with the old nature. We stop saying, “This is just who I am.” No, the believer says, “That is who I was, but it is not who I am now.” In Christ, I am forgiven. In Christ, I am redeemed. In Christ, I am a new creation. In Christ, I belong to God. In Christ, the Holy Spirit is producing new fruit in my life.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

How Do We Bear This Fruit?

Fruit grows where there is life, connection, and surrender. A branch does not produce fruit by struggling; it produces fruit by abiding in the vine. In the same way, we bear the fruit of the Spirit by remaining in Christ, yielding to the Holy Spirit, obeying the Word of God, rejecting the desires of the flesh, and allowing God to shape our hearts daily.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
John 15:4 NKJV

The fruit of the Spirit is not produced overnight, but it should be growing. A Christian may still be in process, but the direction of the life has changed. We are no longer walking toward the works of the flesh; we are walking with the Spirit. We are no longer feeding the old life; we are learning to live from the new life. We are no longer slaves to sin; we are children of God.

Conclusion: From Flesh to Fruit

Galatians 5 shows us the great contrast between the old life and the new life. The works of the flesh reveal who we were outside of Christ, but the fruit of the Spirit reveals who we are becoming in Christ. Galatians 5:24 is the turning point: those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That means the old life has lost its right to rule, and the Spirit now works within us to produce the character of Christ.

This is who we are in Christ. We are not people trying to decorate the flesh with religious behaviour. We are people who belong to Jesus, who have crucified the flesh, and who now walk by the Spirit. The old works must no longer define us. The fruit of the Spirit must now be seen in us. From flesh to fruit, from bondage to freedom, from the old life to the new life, this is the beautiful evidence that we are Christ’s.

Prayer

Father, thank You that in Christ I am no longer who I used to be. Thank You that the flesh has been crucified with its passions and desires. Help me to walk by the Holy Spirit and not by the old nature. Produce in me the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let my life reveal that I belong to Jesus Christ. Amen.