Fruit From Being Righteous

By: David Chapman | Date: 2026-02-28

Jesus found a fig tree that had no fruit. There are over 700 varieties of fig trees (each with its distinctive fruit). Like other fruit trees they can be fruitless. There are four main reasons for this: soil, sunlight, stress and sickness. And within these are all kinds of things that need balance: nutrition, water, position, pruning, pests and more!

John 14:15-18

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (NKJV)

John 14:23

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (NKJV)

Love and obedience to His commandments- love and truth. Fruit of a life that truly loves the Lord Jesus. In John Chapter 15, we read about fruitful life through being branches of the True Vine. This is a doctrine or spiritual teaching for believers. Love, commandments, truth, doctrine, are all connected in the One Faith we have in Jesus the Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This calls for obedience through faithfulness. God’s word provides doctrine, teaching, that leads to a godly life. We all love to remember the BIG doctrine about loving God and our neighbour. We understand that this is the fruit of being a real Christian. However, this fruit has nine flavours. The overall flavour being LOVE.

Galatians 5:22-25

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (NKJV)

Love does not exist unless accompanied by faithfulness and self-control (for example). A good Curry does not exist without all the ingredients that make it a ‘curry’! A fig tree does not need any further command than the one God gave at creation - to bear figs. It might produce good and bad ones in this sin-spoiled world! Creation follows the commands made at the beginning – except for humans! Humans need constant reminding and commanding in order to be fruitful for Jesus.

The people of Israel were given commandments which, if they did their best to keep them, brought evidence (fruit) of godly, holy lives. We follow those same commands but at a higher, more spiritual level. This is made clear by the Lord Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount and in teaching like this:

Romans 13:8-10

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” (NKJV)

Commands are doctrines. Our motive is not fear of hell and punishment but love for the Triune God Who has made a way for us to belong to Him through all that Jesus the Son has done. Sin is dealt with, forgiveness, mercy and grace are always there for us. So, the test for us is: are we living by faith and obedience to God and bearing good fruit, or: are we allowing the world to deceive and distract us from God’s commands?

The great thing is that, if we are working at living in the Spirit, then God’s grace is guaranteed for the mistakes and failures. God honours His Word and recognises our motives and sees that we are aiming to live where His grace abounds. However, if we are not bothered about being obedient, then we cannot expect God to be merciful. Unless, of course, we confess our sins and show more willingness to walk in His light.

So, doctrine relates to truth and commands set down in Scripture. We believe the Truth in Jesus Christ and receive God’s Spirit to help us walk in His ways (commandments).

Hebrews 12:11

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (NKJV)

The commands of God are a training ground. They direct us to Jesus and His Kingdom. They, when kept, help us to show what His Kingdom is like. When we are disobedient then we experience God’s ‘extra help’. His loving discipline. If no godly fruit and no discipline we might ask the question: “What kind of tree am I; am I bearing good fruit for God? After all, if I plant a fig tree, I expect it to bear figs!!!

Luke 6:43-45

 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (NKJV)