From the Pulpit...

Paul lists nice character traits that the Holy Spirit produces in a believer's life. Jesus Christ is the supreme example of every spiritual quality, having embodied the fruit of the Spirit perfectly because each one is inextricably linked to who He is. The list of spiritual fruit falls into three categories: the upward qualities (love, joy, peace); the outward qualities (longsuffering, kindness, goodness); and the inward qualities (faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). Calling these Spirit-produced characteristics fruit indicates beauty, spontaneity, quietness, and growth instead of effort, labor, strain, and toil.