Verse 4
no effect
grace
no effect i.e. of no experimental effect: the sense of liberty is lost. Galatians 2:21; Colossians 1:23.
grace Grace (in salvation). Ephesians 1:6,7; Romans 3:24. (See Scofield "Galatians 1:6") , See Scofield "John 1:17".
Verses 5–17
righteousness
(See Scofield "Romans 10:10").
Verses 18–21
under the law
i.e. not under bondage of effort to please God by law-works. 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Verses 22–26
But the fruit
Christian character is not mere moral or legal correctness, but the possession and manifestation of nine graces: love, joy, peace--character as an inward state; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness--character in expression toward man; faith, meekness, temperance-- character in expression toward God. Taken together they present a moral portrait of Christ, and may be taken as the apostle's explanation of Galatians 2:20 "Not I, but Christ," and as a definition of "fruit" in John 15:1-8 This character is possible because of the believer's vital union to Christ ; John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13 and is wholly the fruit of the Spirit in those believers who are yielded to Him. Galatians 5:22,23.