gentleness, self-control’. Left to ourselves, we rebel against God and lapse into ‘idolatry and sorcery’ (verse 20), but the Holy Spirit leads us into ‘love, joy, peace’. Again, the works of the flesh are such antisocial blemishes as ‘enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy’ (verses 20, 21), whereas the corresponding fruit of the Spirit is ‘patience, kindness, goodness’. It is clear, then, that by nature all our relationships are awry. We turn away from God to
Page 79