"Faith is Fruit" and Hardshell Reasoning

 

It is often argued by Hardshell Baptists that since Paul says that "faith" is a "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5: 22), he means that faith is the result of having been saved, regenerated, or born again. However, that is certainly not what Paul teaches nor intended in saying that faith is a fruit of the Spirit. If that is what he meant, then he contradicts himself, for in other texts he teaches that regeneration or receiving of the Spirit is a result of faith. In the same epistle to the Galatians he says: "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal. 3: 2) The Spirit is received by faith, and so faith being a fruit of the Spirit cannot mean that the Spirit was received before faith or apart from faith. Further, the text does not say that faith is the "fruit of the new birth" but is "the fruit of the Spirit," meaning that the Spirit produced faith.

In a post I wrote years ago titled "Faith = Fruit, Yes, But" (See here) I dealt with some of this erroneous reasoning of the "Primitive Baptists" who believe that faith is no means in eternal salvation. I showed that the word "fruit" carries the idea of being "begotten" as in the expression "fruit of the womb." (See for instance Psalm 127: 3) Faith is begotten and at the same time life is begotten. This is clear from what the apostle John when he wrote: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (I John 5: 4 nkjv) That verse says that faith overcomes because it is born (or begotten) of God.

Hardshells argue that faith cannot exist prior to the tree from which it comes, that faith being fruit only gives evidence of the kind of tree it is that produces the fruit. This is one of their arguments on the ordo salutis, or order of salvation. However, the flaw in this line of reasoning is the fact that it is also true that the tree is derived from the fruit, for the fruit contains the seeds from which trees come. Every tree is the product of fruit and every fruit is the product of trees. There would be no fruit tree without fruit producing it via its seeds.

Further, theologians speak of what is called "the fruit of faith," faith itself begetting or producing obedience and good works. 

We are also told that "faith works by love" in the same chapter (Gal. 5: 6). But, what kind of love? What is the object of that love? Is it not love to God, Father, Son, and Spirit? 

If the Hardshell argumentation is correct, that "faith being a fruit of the Spirit" means faith is the fruit of regeneration, then how can this view be reconciled with what Paul said in the same Galatian epistle about the Spirit being received by faith? (Gal. 3: 2) This verse puts the hearing of faith before receiving the Spirit, so faith being a fruit of the Spirit cannot contradict that fact statement.

Further, faith is the instrument of union with Christ and the Father and Spirit. That being so, it cannot come after union.

What think ye?