I have been around fruit trees all my life. When you order a fruit tree to plant in your yard it will be in a dormant state, nevertheless if you ordered an apple tree it is still an apple tree. It will not bear fruit for the first few years after it is planted. Simply put, it will be fruitless. I have never seen an apple tree bear any fruit other than an apple. I have however seen many rotten apples on an apple tree, yet they were still apples. Rotten apples become so, usually because they are not picked once ripened, or because of insects and birds feeding upon them. The fruit which a child of God bears will always be good fruit, just as an apple tree will always bear apples. It is when we become unfruitful that we find ourselves in sin. Our fruit can become rotten if it is not properly used when it is ripened, or when evil devours it.
In scripture there are several references made to three different types of trees. These three types are trees which bear good fruit, no fruit at all, or bear wicked fruit.
Scripture makes it very clear that a fruit tree can only bear the fruit in which it was created to bear.
Genesis 1:11-12 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.
Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
In order for a tree to bear a fruit other that which it was created to bear, it would require the creator to change that tree into a different kind of tree. Our mighty God can do just that with a mere word. And this is exactly what occurs when a person is born again or regenerated. They are changed from one who can only produce wicked fruit into one who can only bear good or righteous fruit.
As already stated, a tree can become unfruitful or barren. When a tree is in such a state, the tree has become unproductive, unprofitable, or simply stated, worthless. It is this description that is used in scripture to describe the disobedient child of God, or rather a child of God who walks in sin.
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When a child of God walks in the ways of wickedness they are not referred to in scripture as bearing wicked, bad, or evil fruit. This would be impossible just as it is for an apple tree to bear peaches. They are always referred to as being unfruitful or barren. Notice how the following verse instructs the child of God not to fellowship with the unfruitful works rather than instruct them not to bear evil or wicked fruit.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
It should soon become more evident as we continue that a child of God cannot bear evil or wicked fruit, just as a wicked person cannot bear good or righteous fruit. What I hope you will begin to see is that a child of God either bears fruit of righteousness in obedience to God, or when in sin bears no fruit or becomes barren. Likewise, only the wicked can bear fruits of wickedness and, although not specifically stated in scripture, when attempting to perform righteous acts become fruitless or barren.
Consider this closely; if a child of God is to be obedient, he will be productive in doing what his father commands him, otherwise his is unproductive. If a child of Satan is to be productive, he will be doing what his father commands him, otherwise he also would be unproductive. It is a matter of standing in the right place to gain the proper perspective of what you are attempting to understand.
In the first part of John 15 we have a reference to the children of God. It states that the unfruitful is taken away. Those who walk in sin draw away from God and as a result are restricted from receiving His blessings. When we do not abide in Christ and His ways, trying to do things our own way, we become unfruitful. We must be grafted into the vine in order to partake of the blessings it provides. If we become as a sapling that only drinks and does not bear fruit, then we have become worthless and will be removed.
John 15:1-9 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
These descriptions of the children of God either produce fruit or become fruitless. It does not state nor suggest that they can bear fruit that is wicked or evil.
In Luke we find yet another description of disobedient children of God who are not being fruitful as they walk in sin. It first states that if they do not repent, they will perish. This is to draw away from God and have their access to His blessing restricted. It then continues with a parable about a fig tree, upon which is found no fruit, for it has become unfruitful. It is given several years to begin producing fruit which is demonstrative of Gods longsuffering toward His children.
Luke 13:3-9 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]: And if it bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down.
Let us now look at scripture that includes an examination of a person’s heart while also looking at the type of fruit they bear.
In Luke we find further scripture that states that a tree of one kind cannot bear fruit of another kind, but here we have an inside look at their hearts. A good man, when out of the treasure of his heart brings forth only good fruit. An evil man, out of the treasure of his heart brings forth evil.
Luke 6:43-45 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
When studying this passage, one must consider a few very basic pieces of common sense. If a tree is unfruitful or barren the type of tree cannot be determined. If a tree is unfruitful or barren its fruit will not be gathered. Therefore, this passage is referring only to those who are bearing their fruits.
Being children of God, our nature has been changed and God is the only one who is capable of changing the nature of a tree. Having had our nature changed we have become trees which are only capable of producing fruit, which is good and righteous, but this is not to say that we cannot sin, and thus become unfruitful. To become unfruitful is a description of a tree which has become worthless, dormant, or dead. It no longer is doing that which it was intended to do, it is in a sense contrary to it nature. When we do that which is contrary to the purposes of God we are in sin. When we become fruitless, we have become worthless and dead to Him and His works. The example that best describes the point I am trying to make is that of an assembly worker. The assembly worker can only put together the parts which are being delivered to him. He can do the work which he was employed to do and be righteous, or he can be sinful and neglect his work. He cannot do assembly work for a competitor since he does not have the competitor’s parts before him.
We as children of God who have been given a new nature can no longer produce wicked fruit because we no longer have that capability. Again, this is not to say that we cannot sin, the act of omission or neglect to bear righteous fruit is the sin. There is something that differentiates true wicked fruit from the unfruitfulness of a child of God. To say that a child of God can produce true wicked fruit would open the door to the argument that a wicked person could produce truly righteous fruit, and we know that to be impossible without the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.
Reference to fruit trees is also made in Matthew 3 and Luke 7; please see “The Winnowing Fan” for further study.
In the following passage from Matthew our Lord speaks of false prophets and refers to their hearts when describing them as corrupt and bringing forth evil fruit.
Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In Matthew 21 we find a parable that describes what can happen to a child of God when they walk in the ways of sin and become unfruitful. This may be the worst thing that could ever happen to a child of God. I believe it would be much worse than anything that happened to Job. To lose those privileges given to us by the Holy Spirit and to have the Holy Spirit, our best friend, quenched because of our unwillingness to yield the fruits thereof. If we do not use it, we will lose it. I believe this parable makes the same point as two other parables mentioned above. If we become saplings who only try to partake of the blessing of the vine without honoring the vine, then we will be counted as worthless and be removed from the vine. Again, this is not our eternal inheritance, but our access to the fruits and blessing given to us by the earnest of the Spirit. If we are as fig trees that live off the benefits of the soil of the vineyard in which we are planted, but offer no fruit in return, then the vineyard owner will count us as worthless and we will be removed.
Matthew 21:18-20 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw [it], they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
Take heed for this is describing the “sin unto death”. Let me say it once more, this sin unto death, and the removal from the vineyard, the tree which bears no fruit and is cut down, are all referring to having the blessings which are afforded to us by the earnest of the Spirit removed or taken away. This is not our eternal salvation. This is what Paul was referring to when he mentioned falling from grace.
It is the labor of the child of God to bear righteous fruit. When we do not labor, we sin. It is the labor of the wicked to bear evil fruit and that also is sin. When they do not labor it takes on the appearance of righteousness. But we who walk in righteousness are able to know and identify true righteousness and we will know them by their fruits.
Proverbs 10:16 The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
When we labor and bear our righteous fruit, we partake of the blessings afforded to us by the work of Jesus Christ through the earnest of the indwelling Spirit.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
Our root is holy and righteous and when we partake of that root, we yield its fruit, the only fruit we are capable of producing. When we try to yield our own fruit, we are fruitless and worthless because without Christ we can do nothing.
Proverbs 12:12 The wicked desireth the net of evil [men]: but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit].
Once again, when we bear that fruit that comes from the root, the only fruit we are capable of bearing, we partake of that fruit.
Isaiah 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
I urge you to continue in the ways of our Lord or if you have fallen from grace, repent and return to those ways now before you are hewn down and cast out. For myself I cannot think of anything that should be more feared. Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
