1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Can I possess nice things and still love God? Sure I can, but if you think this is the point of the verse, you have missed the mark. This isn’t about how much I love God. It is about the Father’s love, not ours. We judge ourselves by a measure of love given. Am I good enough? Have I given enough? Do I measure up?

What is the first fruit of the spirit? According to Galatians 5:22 where they are listed, it is love. We know that the spirit is given to all who accept the free will offering of Jesus Christ and believe on him by faith. That spirit is the third person of the godhead. He is the one who produces fruit. We are but the branches which exhibit the fruit. In us is the fruit shown.

Since He is God and His nature is God, then the fruit of the spirit which is love is God’s love. The vine, Christ, is the source of the spirit and that spirit must flow through the branches to produce fruit. If we allow love of the world, which is not God, to flow in us, how much have we cut off the flow of the spirit?

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Not all the fruits of the spirit are produced at one time. Our concerns about who we are in Christ might have something to do with the fact that the last fruit developed is self-control.

Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. (AMP)

I am using the amplified version of the bible here because I think it renders the clearest translation of a difficult truth.

Nancy Reagan introduced us to “Just say no.” No one talks about that anymore, it didn’t work. People who do not have a drug habit think it is so simple to stop. They have no clue as to the depth of the struggle. People who are addicted do not revel in it, they loathe themselves.

We all are weak and we all need help. The ones who have no sin are the ones in the most danger of all. They are guilty of pride of life, they say there is no God and they do not need one. They do not see pride as a sin.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Paul’s painful confession of the difficulties of living with sin are completed in Romans 7 with identifying our help. Thank God for Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save us and He sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Chapter 7 is followed with sound advice in chapter 8. Listen to our counsellor.

Romans 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.