In the New Testament, God promises that both He and his son, Jesus, will live in believers by the power of His Spirit. The presence of God in the heart of believers causes real change. The Apostle Paul listed nine specific qualities and behaviors that are the fruit of God’s spirit in a believer. This presentation unpacks the first of these qualities, godly love.

Trees produce fruit. If you were a tree, what kind of fruit would you produce? That would depend on which of two different influences available to you. One is the Holy Spirit—God in us. The other called, in the Bible, “the flesh.” That influence passes to us from our original parents, Adam and Eve. They were infected with it and have passed down to all their children.

 The biblical term, grace, has many meanings to many people. To some it is an unctuous, pious sanctimonious expression that is embarrassing to use. To others it is an excuse to wantonly violate the laws of God. And to yet others, it means freedom to worship God however one wants, Bible aside, Jesus example aside, New Testament faith and practice aside. Grace is none of these.