How does Ephesians 5:18 connect with Galatians 5:22-23 on the Spirit's fruit? The Command to Be Filled “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) • The verb “be filled” is present tense, plural, and passive—meaning it is a continual, moment-by-moment experience for every believer, accomplished by God as we yield. • Paul doesn’t say “get the Spirit” (every Christian already has Him, Romans 8:9) but “be filled”—let Him occupy and influence every part of life. • The contrast with drunkenness highlights control: alcohol dominates and dulls; the Spirit governs and enlivens. The Spirit’s Overflow Identified “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) • “Fruit”—singular—pictures one organic cluster, nine facets, produced by one Source. • These qualities are not self-generated; they flow naturally when the Spirit fills the believer. • They stand opposite to the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21). Where the flesh works, the Spirit bears fruit. Connecting the Two Passages 1. Same Agent – Ephesians 5:18 commands the filling; Galatians 5:22-23 describes the result. 2. Cause and Effect – Filled-with-Spirit → produces fruit-of-Spirit. No filling, no fruit. 3. Control Language – Drunkenness vs. Spirit-control (Ephesians 5:18) parallels flesh-control vs. Spirit-control (Galatians 5:16-18). 4. Continuous Dynamic – Ongoing filling (Eph) equals ongoing fruit-bearing (Gal). The tense matches the lifestyle. Practical Connections • Love: Yielded hearts receive God’s love (Romans 5:5) and pass it on. • Joy & Peace: The Spirit’s filling replaces the false highs of wine with lasting inner gladness (John 15:11; Romans 14:17). • Self-Control: Directly contrasts the loss of control in drunkenness. Spirit-fullness brings mastery over desires (Proverbs 25:28; 2 Timothy 1:7). • Corporate Impact: Ephesians 5:19-21 shows Spirit-filled believers singing, thanking, submitting. These communal behaviors mirror the relational fruit in Galatians. Living It Out – Confess and turn from anything that dulls sensitivity to the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). – Saturate your mind with Scripture; the parallel passage in Colossians 3:16 equates being Spirit-filled with letting “the word of Christ dwell richly.” – Walk intentionally: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). – Expect observable change. Where He fills, His character appears—love when slighted, patience when delayed, self-control when tempted. Spirit filling is the root; Spirit fruit is the visible harvest. |
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