Often times people find the difficulty in doing something when they do not know the reasons for doing it. In name, fruit-bearing appeared in the teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and Paul. However, the concept of bearing fruit appeared in the teachings or sayings of all the holy men of old who taught the people to do right. These are some good reasons to bear fruit as a Christian:
You are called to bear fruit
First of all, fruit-bearing is very necessary because it is for the purpose of bearing fruit that God has chosen you to be a Christian. Jesus Himself, the giver of salvation, the One who called you into Christianity says –
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (John 15:16).
It is for the purpose of bearing fruit that we have been called to become Christians. Therefore the need to bear fruit cannot be overemphasized in our lives. That is why everything is wrong with Christians living in sin – the sin of lying, fornicating, corruption, etc.
Your prayers are answered only when you bear fruit
Secondly, Jesus said, “…. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:13-14); and He also said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you (John 16:23).” This is an assurance that when we pray in Jesus’ name to ask for something, God will do it.
However, when we read to John 15:16, the Bible makes it clear that for the Father to grant you the request you have made in Jesus’ name, you would have to be a fruit-bearing Christian. Therefore, it is necessary for a Christian to bear fruit so that God will answer his prayers.
You identify yourself as a Christian when you bear fruit
Thirdly, while Jesus was still explaining the subject of bearing fruit to his disciples, He said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples (John 15:8). Jesus meant to tell his followers that they would be reckoned as His disciples if only they bear fruit. Your identity as a Christian and disciple is directly connected to bearing fruit, such that if you bear fruit, you shall be reckoned as a disciple or Christian, but if you do not bear fruit, God does not regard you as a Christian.
God is glorified when you bear fruit
What we do as Christians can shape the unbeliever’s view about God positively or negatively. Fruit-bearing is all about good works that result from obedience to God’s word. Whenever a child of God, a Christian, is doing good works, it translates to glory to God; that is people, both unbelievers and believers, will glorify God on account of his good works. Therefore Jesus said,
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples (John 15:8).
John 15:8 is said differently in Matthew 5:16 that: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’
You can win souls for Christ through fruit-bearing
Some people will never believe the gospel we preach. However, something else can lead them to Christ – our good works. Jesus was the first to demonstrate to Christians how bearing fruit can win souls. Whiles He was on the cross with the two criminals, though Jesus did not preach nor say anything in his own defense, one of the criminals boldly declared Jesus innocent and not worthy of death. Why do you think this criminal was so certain about his opinion about Jesus? Jesus lived his life amid a crowd of witnesses of which this criminal was part. Many were those who watched His going in and coming out and could not find any fault in his deeds and words. Jesus was a fruit-bearing person; hence He was holy, perfect, etc.; and that criminal knew that very well. Therefore, though Jesus was condemned to death, he believed in Him to his salvation.
Some people will never believe the gospel we preach until they see us live up to it. Bearing fruit which is doing good works would automatically draw the line of difference between Christians and unbelievers. And when the unbeliever compares his sin-stained life to the Christian’s life of righteousness and sees the difference, then he would also see what it means to be saved, and what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and the essence of accepting Jesus into his life.
Conclusion
You cannot be a Christian without bearing fruit. Bearing fruit is so indispensable in Christianity that an unfruitful Christian does not make any sense to anyone to call himself a Christian. It is important to note that fruit-bearing is the result of living by God’s word; and we can acquaint ourselves with God’s word by our daily study of the Bible.