The Fruit of the Spirit and Bearing Fruit

“The fruit of the Spirit” refers to the qualities that naturally manifest in a person’s life when they are led by the Holy Spirit. This result, guided by the Spirit, stands in stark contrast to the desires of the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is not a natural product of human nature, but comes entirely from the power of the Holy Spirit. It encompasses all Christian virtues, which are demonstrated in a Christian’s life. The Bible uses the metaphor of “bearing fruit” in many places to convey a spiritual meaning, emphasizing actions and their effects. These can be divided into two main categories:

Good fruit from a good tree: The Bible often uses grapes to symbolize good fruit, which brings glory to God and benefits to others. Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit as: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” The apostle Paul repeatedly exhorted believers to bear the fruit of sanctification for Christ (Romans 6:22; 7:4; Colossians 1:10).

Bad fruit from a bad tree: This is likened to thorns, symbolizing false prophets and the works of the flesh, which are useless to others. The Bible also repeatedly mentions “not bearing fruit,” which refers to a tree that should bear good fruit but does not. Its ultimate fate is to be pruned or cut down.

If you plant a fruit tree today, what do you most hope to see? Isn’t it fruit? Yes, and not just fruit, but an abundance of good fruit. This is also the desire of the Lord’s heart. In John 15, the Lord uses the parable of the grapevine to explain this truth to His disciples. The Lord says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). A person must abide in Christ to bear good fruit. In the New Testament Gospels, Jesus is called the vine chosen by God: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). Jesus wants His disciples to be branches on the vine, and the sole purpose of a branch is to bear fruit. When we abide in the Lord’s love, we can love others with His love and lead them to faith in Him.

The Bible records:

[Genesis 49:22] Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall.

[Psalm 1:2-3] But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

[Matthew 3:8-10] Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[Colossians 1:10] So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

[John 15:1-2, 4-5] I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.