Bearing Fruit

The following scriptures indicate that real faith must result in someone’s behavior bearing fruit (i.e. improving over time [2 Corinthians 3:18]), in a natural manner:

(NASB)

James 2

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

John 15

2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Romans 9

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

It is important to realize how these fruits of (faith / the Spirit) appear in a person. Please note the following scriptures:

Galatians 5

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 13

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The fruits of the Spirit are actually fundamental qualities (listed in the scriptures above) - and not high-level actions highly regarded by society (e.g. a person appearing to act responsibly) - found in a person's major actions. Therefore it is not the person who works two jobs for his family, and does a lot of volunteer work who necessarily bears fruit, rather it is the person who: is not proud; does not harm others; is kind; is good; and shows the above qualities in a natural and enduring manner.

Another important point (alluded to in Matthew 7:15), is the fact that a person’s fruits are centered at his core - not on his surface. This means that someone who has faith may appear imperfect on the surface, though at his core (seen in his major actions), he is perfect.

The most reliable indicator therefore of a person's faith, is his core behavior: which is constantly good. As a consequence, it is important that you look beneath the surface of a person's behavior, to determine if he truly bears fruit.