The Fruit of the Spirit and Good Works God Gives Us to Do
There is an important distinction in scripture between what the fruit of the Spirit produces in us and the good works God gives us to do. God has prepared good works for his people when we are saved and following him. Yet scripture also shows us that what God is producing in us differs from what he accomplishes through us.Good Works Are Something God Gives Us to Do
Paul tells us, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10We can say then that good works have a rightful place in our walk with God.
This may translate into serving others, helping those in need, preaching, teaching, encouraging, giving, praying, ministering, and being active in many other works, which is an expression of our obedience to God.
The Holy Spirit can and does work through a believer in healing, deliverance, prophecy, discernment, revelation, tongues, interpretation, or other spiritual manifestations.
Paul explains where these manifestations originate: "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." 1 Corinthians 12:11
The Holy Spirit is the source, and the believer is the vessel through which the Holy Spirit works.
Fruit Is Something the Spirit Produces in Us
Paul describes something different when he speaks of the fruit of the Spirit."But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23
These describe what the Spirit is producing within us and why I believe fruit deserves careful consideration when thinking about spiritual maturity.
A believer may be used by God to accomplish many things while he is still working deeply on that believer's own character. God can work through us while he is still working in us.
Being Used by God Is Not the Same as Being Mature
The church at Corinth gives us a good biblical example. Paul said, "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” 1 Corinthians 1:7They were not lacking in spiritual gifts. Yet Paul also had to tell them:
“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?" 1 Corinthians 3:3
That should cause us to consider carefully. The presence of spiritual gifts does not automatically tell us the level of spiritual maturity in the person being used.
The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to his will. Fruit, however, concerns the work God is doing within us.
The Vine and the Branches
Jesus gives us the clearest picture of this in John 15.1. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."Jesus then says, "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2
Our Father is looking for fruit. But notice what happens to the fruitful branch. He prunes it.
Why? “That it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2
The Lord is not just interested in getting more activity out of us. He is interested in greater fruitfulness and pruning is part of that process. We may spend a lifetime being pruned and producing fruit, transforming us into his likeness as we become closer in our relationship with him through obedience to his will. This may translate into dealing with our attitudes, motives, priorities, ambitions, reactions, relationships, and other areas of our lives because he wants to remove what hinders the fruit he is producing in us.
Remaining in Him Comes Before Fruit
Jesus says, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4The branch does not produce fruit independently. It must remain connected to the vine.
Jesus continues, "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit." John 15:5
This brings us back to relationship.
Our relationship with Christ is more fundamental than our activity for Christ. We can become very focused on what we are doing for him while overlooking what he is doing in us. Scripture tells us that the branch must abide in him.
What God Does through Us and What He Does In Us
What God does in us includes the formation of Christ's character and the fruit of the Spirit.What God does through us may include ministry and spiritual gifts.
In us, God may be producing compassion. Through us, God may minister healing.
In us, God may be teaching us humility. Through us, God may bring deliverance.
In us, God may be producing love and patience. Through us, God may give a prophetic word.
In us, God may be removing something that does not belong in our character. Through us, God may reveal something to another person.
Neither should be confused.
What Is the Lord Looking For?
We naturally tend to measure spiritual life by what has been accomplished through his gifts, for example: preaching, teaching, healing, deliverance, ministry, the gifts, and the good works.But fruit can reveal something deeper. Jesus said, "Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 7:17
Fruit tells us something about the tree. We need to ask ourselves, what is being produced in my life?
Am I becoming more patient? more gentle? more faithful? more self-controlled? more humble? more forgiving? more like Christ?
These questions concern the fruit we are producing.
Good Works Are Important, But They Are Not the Fruit
This distinction does not mean that good works are unimportant. They are important because God has given them to us to do. However, good works and spiritual fruit should not be treated as though they are the same thing. A person may accomplish many good works and may even be greatly used by the Holy Spirit. Yet God may still be pruning that person's life and dealing with the heart. I can attest to that personally. As a new believer and growing in Christ, I found that many times, the good works God gave me to do were extraordinary, but my heart had to go through many adjustments. The closer you remain in him, the more fruit you bear.This is why Paul could speak of spiritual gifts and then place such emphasis upon love.
"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2
The gift matters. Good work matters. But love matters most profoundly.
The Question Is Not Just About What We Are Doing
Perhaps we should ask ourselves two different questions: What has God given me to do? And what is God producing in me?The first concerns our works. The second concerns our fruit.
God may give us works to accomplish for the benefit of others, but through our relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit is also producing something in us.
And Jesus tells us where this ultimately leads: "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:8
So perhaps the measure of our spiritual lives should not only be about the mighty works he had prepared for us to do beforehand but also about what God has been producing in us as well.
Angelina 28/08/2026
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