Bearing Fruit

Jesus said we would recognize Christians in the same way as we would recognize a good tree – because it bares good fruit. As Christians though, we continue to sin and constantly bear ‘bad fruit’. Does this mean that we are not truly saved or born of the Spirit?

Q. I have a question for you regarding ‘the fruit of the Spirit’. Jesus said we would recognize Christians in the same way as we would recognize a good tree – because it bares good fruit. As Christians though, we continue to sin and constantly bare ‘bad fruit’ – easily recognizable by our un-Christlike behavior. Does this mean that we are not truly saved or born of the Spirit?

A. In John 15:5-6 Jesus said that if we remain in Him we will bear much fruit, and without Him we can do nothing. Being saved and bearing fruit are not the same. Salvation requires only belief. Bearing fruit is what we do after we’re saved. So the evidence of fruit in our life is not evidence of salvation, but of the power of God working through us.

Many Christians live defeated lives because they lack that power, and the reason they lack it is because they’re out of fellowship. They haven’t “remained in Him” because they fail to confess the sins they continue to commit. They’re still on the right side of pardon, but they’re on the wrong side of power and their lives bear no testimony to the incredible blessing that the Lord provided for them.