The one thing all Christians have in common is that they bear fruit. If there is no fruit in the life of someone, it is because they have no connection to the root of our faith, Jesus Christ. We can discern who the true followers of Christ are by examining the fruit of their lives (Matthew 7:15–20). But what is this fruit we should see? The fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of Christ’s Lordship over our lives (Galatians 5:22–23).
Fruit is the inevitable result of looking and living like Jesus. People will notice we are different. Fruit-bearers do not capitulate to the culture or seek to change God’s Word to fit their preferences or desires. The fruit of salvation will always glorify God, the source of all that is good and holy (John 15:8).
Only genuine Christians will produce genuine fruit because such fruit can only come from genuine repentance (Matthew 4:17, Matthew 12:33). An unrepentant heart will never bear fruit. Every one of us will wither and die on the vine unless we are receiving constant nourishment from the root of Christ (John 15:4–6). The result is the most dire of all. If we do not produce good fruit in keeping with the commands of Jesus, He will remove us from the vine and we will spend eternity in Hell (Matthew 21:41, Matthew 21:43). If we are not producing fruit, this is a sobering warning and wake-up call. Remember, not everyone who calls Jesus Lord in this life will be welcome in His Kingdom (Matthew 7:21–23).
The point of being connected to the vine of Christ is to produce fruit (Matthew 21:18–19), and we should never be content with producing a little fruit. The Parable of the Sower teaches us we should produce enormous quantities of fruit (Matthew 13:23). To accomplish this requires that we bear fruit throughout our lives. This isn’t a one-time or even occasional occurrence. It should mark everything we do. If that sounds like hard work, it is. Most will be foolish and shortsighted, turning away from this narrow road (Matthew 7:13–14).
What is the point of all this fruit? In the short-term, it points others to Jesus and through the Holy Spirit can feed and encourage other saints. All fruit comes from God and thus satisfies our deepest needs and longings (Philippians 4:19, Psalm 107:9). In the end, our bearing of fruit confirms God’s presence in our lives and grants us access into eternal life through the blood of His Son (Romans 6:22).
If your repentance and faith are genuine, you will bear fruit. John MacArthur once said, “Repentance is turning from sin; faith is turning to God.” In order to bear fruit, we first need to turn away from all sin. Be done with it. Nothing but death comes from indulging in sin (Romans 6:21–23). Then walk worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1-3). As we keep our eyes on God, fruit will flow from Him and through us (John 15:5).
Without repentance, we will bear no fruit. In the same way, without faith, we cannot continue to produce fruit (Hebrews 11:6). Examine your life. Are you bearing fruit worthy of your King? Or are you satisfied with the things of this world, content to live in the now at the expense of forever (1 John 2:15–17)? Repent, seek the Lord with all your heart, and bear fruit in keeping with your salvation (Acts 26:20).