Few Bible phrases have done more for the cheesy Christian t-shirt industry than this one: “Bear fruit.” Maybe you’ve seen a shirt or two with a bear holding a bowl of fruit, along with a verse like John 15:5-8 written on the back.
I don’t blame them. It’s low-hanging fruit, after all.
But what does it even mean to bear fruit as a Christian? And what does the Bible say about bearing fruit? Let’s find out together.
Bearing Fruit Meaning
The Bible uses many agricultural metaphors to describe spiritual growth. One of those metaphors involves fruit, which refers to the tangible, visible outcomes of our character and actions.
Here’s what this looks like practically.
Examples of Fruit:
- Encouraging a friend in crisis is the fruit of compassion.
- Yelling at a slow driver is the fruit of impatience.
- Sticking to your promises is the fruit of integrity.
- Enjoying pineapple on pizza is the fruit of good taste.
You get it. Fruit helps you see what a person is like because their actions often reflect their character.
Of course, this comes with a massive, polar bear-sized caveat. People can, of course, fake fruit. People can display traits like kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness to pretend they’re someone they’re not. Don’t worry, we’ll talk about that later.
Bearing Good Fruit Definition
So what does the Bible mean when it tells us to bear good fruit? Well, first, I’ll give you a short and sweet definition, which we’ll unpack using the verses below.
Bearing good fruit is the natural outcome of imitating Jesus, which leads people toward restoration and flourishing.
3 Bible Passages About Bearing Fruit
Now, let’s dig into this definition by exploring some verses from the New Testament about bearing fruit. As you read, ask God to show you ways to bear good fruit in your life today.
Remain in Jesus to Bear Fruit (John 15:5-8)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5-8 NIV
We all know what happens when we let a fruit or vegetable sit out for too long. It doesn’t become healthier. Instead, it withers, rots, or tries to sprout. Fruit needs a source of life to grow, and the same is true of the fruit God calls us to bear.
Jesus is our source of life. He saved us from sin through His death on the cross, and He provides us with the perfect example of what it means to be human. When He tells us to be “in Him,” He invites us to trust Him, imitate Him, and seek to become more like Him every day.
Jesus’ Character
Jesus lived an others-focused, generous, service-oriented, and loving life. His character led Him to bear fruit. As we imitate Jesus, we begin to see good fruit in our lives and in the world around us. For example:
- When we give, we grow in generosity and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
- When we serve, we gain humility and meet the needs of others.
- When we forgive, we let go of pain and create the potential for restored relationships.
The list could go on for a while, but you get the picture. Jesus shows us what it looks like to bear good fruit, and He empowers us to bear fruit through His presence (which we’ll explore more in a bit).
2. Our Actions Reflect Our Character (Luke 6:43-44)
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.” Luke 6:43-44 NIV
Everyone bears fruit, but not all fruit is good. When you read the stories of Jesus, you’ll see how He spoke to people who bore the wrong kind of fruit. One common group of people Jesus criticized was the religious elite. These people were meant to lead people to live and love like God, but instead, they let their titles and power go to their heads.
On the outside, these people looked holy. They performed the right rituals, said the right prayers, and offered the right offerings, but Jesus wasn’t fooled. He knew they were just showing fake fruit to the world and hiding their true fruit. Their true fruit included exclusion, harsh legalism, marginalization, and compromise, just to name a few.
Jesus saw their true fruit, and it was rotten. That’s why He tells us that a tree is identified by its fruit. We can only perform or pretend for so long. After a while, our true colors start to show.
Jesus’ Grace
This verse doesn’t tell us to be perfect all the time—no one can live up to that standard. Instead, it invites us to reflect on the fruits of our lives.
Do you ever get frustrated easily? Do you ever feel defeated in some area of your life? Do you ever turn to unhealthy ways of coping? These are fruits—the outcomes of your character, beliefs, and attitude. Listen to them and reflect on how Jesus’ example might help you bear healthier fruit.
Don’t pretend to have it all together. Sure, you can fake good fruit, but God doesn’t ask us to bear pretend fruit. He invites us to live a joy-filled, others-focused life.
3. The Holy Spirit Helps Us Bear Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
For a Christian, bearing fruit isn’t our ultimate goal. Instead, our goal is to become more like Jesus every day. As we do, we discover our purpose and inevitably do our part to make Earth more like Heaven. In Galatians, we find a famous Bible passage about the fruit of the Spirit. For a deeper dive into the fruit of the Spirit, check out this article.
God Is Working in You
Good fruit isn’t the goal of following Jesus—it’s a natural by-product of living and loving like Jesus.
Here’s the basic idea. The fruit on this list isn’t the fruit of self-discipline or hard work. They’re the fruit of the Spirit. Good fruit isn’t the goal of following Jesus—it’s a natural by-product of living and loving like Jesus. It’s the evidence of God’s transformative work in you.
Does it take discipline and hard work to grow closer to Jesus? Of course. But life isn’t a county fair, where the person with the most or best fruit wins. Instead, it’s a communal pursuit of Jesus, surrendering to His plans and purposes for our lives.
You’re not alone in bearing fruit. God is at work in you every day, and He’s inviting you to lay down your preferences and step out of your comfort zone. As you do, you’ll receive His strength as you bear fruit alongside others.
Bearing Fruit Takes Time
A grizzly bear can eat a bowl of apples in seconds, but bearing spiritual fruit often takes time. So don’t feel pressure to rush the process. Instead, remain faithful in big and small ways, and ask God to show you how your life is bearing fruit.