A mango tree bears mango, a pear tree bears pear, so does a pawpaw tree, etc. All things being equal, you would not find grapes on a fig free, nor blackberries on a guava tree. Every tree bears its own fruit. Jesus said,
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit (Matthew 7:16-17).
In the same vein, you can never hide your true nature for your fruits, which are your works, will eventually give you up. An evil person by his deeds will prove himself to be evil; so will a good person by his deeds prove himself to be good. If a person claims he has accepted Christ, and is born of God, and is saved, and has received the Spirit of righteousness, then that person should demonstrate this positive spiritual transformation in good works.
Fruit-bearing is the act of doing good works by obeying the teachings of the Bible. In the context of John 15, fruit refers to good works.
Bearing fruit is indispensable in a Christian’s life. God so required it of us. The question is what are the fruits a Christian should bear? In times past, God inspired His holy men to teach the people to do good works. Those good works are fruits worth bearing. This lesson will look at some of them:
Jesus’ teachings on the fruit Christians should bear
Jesus Christ taught so much about bearing fruit in His ministry. Notable of His teachings on fruit-bearing is found in Matthew 7:15-20 and John 15:1-8. Some of the fruits Jesus Christ taught Christians to bear are:
- Faith, Mark 11:22-24
- Love, Matthew 5:44
- Generosity, Matthew 5:42
- Abstinence from sin, Matthew 5:29-30
- Etc.
Paul’s teachings on the fruit Christians should bear
Paul, the apostle, also taught extensively on fruit-bearing. The most notable of his teachings on fruit-bearing is found in Galatians 5:22-23: ‘22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.’
In the book of Titus, Paul put the church into various categories based on their sex and age and instructed Titus to teach them some specific fruits to bear:
Aged men
- Sober
- Grave
- Temperate
- Sound in faith, charity, and patience.
See Titus 2:1
Aged women
- Holy behavior
- Not false accusers
- Not given to much wine
- Teaching good things
- Teaching young women
See Titus 2:3-4
Young women
- Sober
- Love to their husbands
- Love to their children
- Being discreet
- Chastity
- House keeping
- Good
- Obedience to their husbands
See Titus 2:4-5
Young men
- Sober minded
See Titus 2:6
Servants
- Obedience to their masters
- Pleasing their masters in all things
- Not argumentative
- Not pilfering
- Showing all good fidelity
See Titus 2:9-10
More fruits to bear
See Titus 2:7-8
- Uncorruptness
- Gravity
- Sincerity
- Sound speech
- Mercy
- Kindness
- Humbleness
- Meekness
- Longsuffering
- Forgiveness
- Charity
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Longsuffering
- Gentleness
- Goodness
- Faith
- Meekness
- Temperance
John the Baptist’s teachings on the fruit Christians should bear (Luke 3:11-14)
John the Baptist started teaching fruit-bearing before Jesus. Notable of his fruit-bearing teachings is Luke 3:9: ‘And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.’
When the people heeded John’s teachings and repented, they came to John and asked him what they should do so as to bear fruit. And John the Baptist said:
Fruit for all to bear
- Generosity: He that has two, should give one to him that has none. Luke 3:11
For the tax collectors
- Exact no more than that which is appointed you. Luke 3:13
For the soldiers
- Do violence to no man,
- Do not accuse any falsely
- Contentment: Being content with one’s wages
See Luke 3:14
More about the kind of fruit God wants us to bear.
Generally, fruit-bearing refers to good works that result from obedience. When a Christian reads the Bible and learns the truth, and puts it into practice, he bears fruit to glorify God.
1 Corinthians 6:18: ‘Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.’ —Any Christian who obey this teaching bears the fruit of chastity.
1 Thessalonians 5:17: ‘Pray without ceasing.’ —Christians who keep this teaching, happen to develop a daily prayer habit, and that is bearing fruit.
Colossians 3:13: ‘Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.’ —Any Christian who obeys this teaching bears the fruit of forgiveness.
2 Timothy 2:22: ‘Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.’ —Any Christian who applies these teachings in his life bears the fruits of chastity, modesty, discipline, etc.
Matthew 5:23: ‘23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.’ —Any Christian who keeps this teaching bears the fruit of peace.
Galatians 6:10: ‘As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ —Any Christian who keeps this teaching bears the fruit of generosity.
Romans 12:20: ‘Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.’ —Any Christian who applies this teaching in his life bears the fruit of mercy and love.
John 13:13-14: ‘13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.’ —Any Christian who keeps this teaching will bear the fruit of humility and serviceability.
Ephesians 4:32: ‘And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ —Any Christian who keeps this teaching bears the fruit of kindness, forgiveness, mercy, etc.
John 3:11: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.’ —Any Christian who keeps this teaching bears the fruit of truthfulness.
Conclusion
The word of God is all necessary in the bid to produce fruit. Therefore Christians ought to make Bible studies a part of their daily lives. Bearing fruits is not far-fetched, for any time we humble our heart and keep God’s word, we bear fruit.