Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
Although sin may be pleasant for a brief time, it always carries a sting with it. Afterwards, there will be some guilt, regret, sadness, and some disappointment. Sin can never satisfy in any lasting way.
A guilty conscience (which can be seared – be made insensitive) can make people irritable, quick-tempered, hasty, rob you of sleep, and unhappy. A show can be put on, but underneath the veneer there is dissatisfaction and some inner turmoil.
Once saved, the Christian has the privilege of not only being forgiven their transgressions in God’s eyes but also has the assurance of eternity with God in Heaven. In addition, there are the things in his or her heart that truly can make a person happy.
The indwelling Holy Spirit can produce in them the nine qualities mentioned above. Those nine things are: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.” All desirable characteristics. Even better, there is no law against having any of them. Of course, along with these fruit, there is also the best benefit of having a close fellowship with God.
The last phrase of the verse should also be noted. Although any true believer can have these qualities the Spirit of God gives, it must be remembered that they are contrary to the natural workings of the flesh and mind. Therefore, it should not be surprising that the requirement is: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”