Romans 8:23 “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.“

Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. If born from above and saved, this fruit is GIVEN to you by God by grace alone. You might have thought before this point, you possessed these fruits, but did you? Or were they unnaturaly imitations based on conditions, meaning you imitated kindness for example with expectations of gaining something in return.

The FIRSTfruits of the Holy Spirit is something not to yawn at. Again if saved, God granted you this awesome fruit! And each, as a fruit, GROWS, the fruit of God never dies, it doesn’t stay stagnant or get moldy. You won’t be perfect in this lifetime, but the steady growth of the fruit God grants should be evident if saved.

And as God commanded the Israelites in the OT, the firstfuits are given to God. You do this naturally, not as a chore. You aren’t exhibiting self control and are miserable for example.

Examine the fruit of the Spirit in your life, can you see them in yourself? Or is peace missing, or is joy missing, because they are the two fruits which will always evade the imitators, the false converts. You can play act all the other fruit in an unregenerate state, but peace and joy will always be missing!

Make a practice to give your firstfruit to God each day! Start each day in worship to Him. If He isn’t your first priority, your faith is discerned. Not just here and there or when times are good or when you feel like it, but each day this practice must be naturally exhibited. Again, if true PEACE and true JOY are missing, you have been deceived and must repent and believe the Gospel, because you have not been granted that fruit.