Why is patience a fruit of the spirit?

Answer 1

Someone who first of all has received eternal life, or life in the Spirit by putting his trust in Christ. And also walks in the Spirit Galatians 5:25 - "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit", by total submission to the will of God in truth Galatians 5:24 - "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Who can say in sincere faith in the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20 - "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Such a christian will be in surrender to the Spirit, and display the characteristics of Christ and God, one of which is patience.

Answer:

Patience is perhaps the most important fruit of the Spirit, because that's what needs to develop first if we are to overcome life's trials through Jesus Christ, whose Spirit it is that dwells in His servants.

The Truth of God conveyed to God's elect through the Holy Spirit feeds, nourishes, guides and teaches the positive things of God through the Understanding of His Word, to develop "Godly... Divine... character" in the growing "mind and heart;" the spiritual "embryo" or "fetus" [depending on the stage of development of a given Child].

Paul tells us that "patience" is the first positive fruit we need in order to tackle the trials and tribulations life throws at us:

"Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that SUFFERING PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE[patience]; and Perseverance, Character; and Character, HOPE." (Rom.5:3-4 NIV)

It's the invisible things growing in God's servants, who shall one day be born a Perfectly Loving, Joyful, Patient, Kind, Good, Faithful, Gentle, Self-Disciplined [see Gal.5:22-23] Child of God... that lead the Child, now, to develop the habit of Righteous Works -- so that, when Christ brings His Kingdom to earth, they may Rule and work together with Him to Firmly and "Patiently" teach the mortal nations of the world God's ways for one-thousand years.

"...The Second Death has no power over them, but they will be Priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." (Rev.20:6 NIV)

Priests need to be PATIENT [with themselves and with God, first], and with those whom they shepherd... with those who live in ignorance of God's Truth... with those whom they are teaching the same Truth they had to learn.

"To him who OVERCOMES and does My will to the end [who obeys and learns the lessons of the Holy Spirit], I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS..." (Rev.2:26 NIV).

The developing Children whom God is Calling and Ruling, now, need His PATIENCE, now, to gain His Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. Just as the nations will need their PATIENCE [which they emulate through God's example to them] when they Rule and Teach the world how to be Patient, how to Love, to be Merciful and to Forgive.

Impatience leads to fits of anger and rage... which are not fruits of the Spirit.

"...The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger..." (Matthew Henry on James 1:19-20).

Mankind may well thank his Creator that PATIENCE is first with Him, instead of jumping straight to the natural impatience of man's anger... otherwise, the world would have long ago melted with His Holy Fire, which He says is coming at the end of His patiently-laid plan: "...the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgmentand destruction of ungodly men." (II Peter 3:7 NIV)