The fruit of a believer's relationship with Christ is other believers, people who come to Christ through the believer's witness and concern for the lost.
Les Feldick teaches that believers are not left dead after being delivered from the law; they are joined to the risen Christ in order to 'bring forth fruit unto God' (Romans 7:4). That fruit begins in this earthly life as a testimony and concern for lost people, resulting in other believers coming to faith. He also says God gives the increase, so the believer plants and waters but does not have to see the actual salvation.
Romans 7:4 — Paul directly states that believers are joined to the resurrected Christ in order to bring forth fruit unto God.
Romans 6:22 — Paul says those who are now servants of God have their fruit unto holiness, with the end being everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 3:6 — Paul describes planting and watering, with God giving the increase, showing that the fruit ultimately comes from God.
The apostle Paul tells believers in Romans 7:4, 'Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.' In Romans 6:22 he writes, 'But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.' Paul uses the language of fruit to describe what happens when a person is joined to Christ and serving God. In 1 Corinthians 3:6 he also says, 'I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase,' showing that even when human servants are involved, God is the one who makes the fruit grow.
Les Feldick teaches that the believer, having been made dead to the law by Christ's crucifixion, is joined to the resurrected Christ in a marriage-like union. This union is not meant to be barren; it is meant to bring forth fruit unto God. In practical terms, Les says the fruit is the new life produced in and through the believer: a concern for lost people, a testimony that points them to faith, and a lifestyle that is visibly good citizenship. He describes the saved person as having 'fruit unto holiness' (Romans 6:22), in contrast to the old Adam's fruit of condemnation. Les also stresses that the believer can leave the results to God: we plant or water, but God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). He sees the whole purpose as a harvest, with God bringing human beings to Himself and the Church Age being the main harvest.
Romans 7:4 literally says believers are made dead to the law by the body of Christ, married to the risen Christ, 'that we should bring forth fruit unto God.' The context is not about keeping rules but about a living union with Christ. Les Feldick explains that this fruit is produced in the believer's earthly life as soon as one becomes a child of God through faith in the Gospel.
Les teaches that the practical fruit is a genuine concern for lost people and a testimony that points them to faith in Christ. He describes new converts being overwhelmed with the lost condition of their family, loved ones, neighbors, or coworkers. That burden leads to witness, and God uses it to bring other people to Himself.
In the saved estate, being made free from old Adam and becoming servants to God, believers have fruit unto holiness for this life, with the end being everlasting life. Les contrasts this with the old Adam, which produced fruit only to condemnation and evil.
No. Les says a believer does not have to always see the fruits of witnessing and testimony. One person may plant the seed, another may water it, and maybe someone else will help further, but God is the final cause and God gives the increase.
Les uses the analogy of a harvest to explain what God is looking for. God considers bringing human people unto Himself a harvest. He compares the history of redemption to Israel's harvest: first the firstfruits, then the main harvest, then the corners and gleanings. The Church Age is the main harvest, while Old Testament believers were precious few.
The Indwelling Spirit Takes the Place of the Law
Les explains that believers are no longer under the Ten Commandments because the indwelling Holy Spirit becomes the believer's inward law, and the Spirit never leads contrary to God's basic laws.
Joined to the Risen Christ to Bear Fruit
Les teaches that the believer is dead to the law but not left barren; he is married to the resurrected Christ so that the union produces fruit unto God immediately in this life.
Fruit Unto Holiness Versus the Old Adam's Fruit
In a saved state, the believer is a servant of God and produces fruit unto holiness with everlasting life, whereas the old Adam produced fruit to condemnation and evil.
Concern for Lost People as Fruit
Les teaches that the natural result of saving faith is a burden for lost family, loved ones, and neighbors, and a testimony that points them toward faith in Christ.
Good Citizenship as Visible Fruit
God does not leave new believers stagnant; salvation becomes visible to friends, relatives, and the community as a true child of God being a good citizen.
God Gives the Increase
A believer does not need to see the result of witnessing; we plant the seed and someone else may water it, but God alone brings about the increase.
The Harvest of Human Beings
Les says what God considers a harvest is bringing human people unto Himself, which is the fruit-bearing purpose of the believer's relationship with God.
The Church Age as the Main Harvest
Les contrasts the Old Testament's precious few believers with the Church Age, which he calls the main harvest, showing that fruit is counted in people coming to God.
Romans 7:4: Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
This is the central verse for the question because it directly connects the believer's union with the risen Christ to bringing forth fruit unto God.
Romans 6:22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
This verse shows that the believer's fruit is unto holiness and leads to everlasting life, in contrast to the old life of sin.
1 Corinthians 3:6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
This verse shows the role of human witnesses in producing fruit while making clear that God alone gives the increase.
In Romans 7:4, Paul connects fruit to being joined to the risen Christ. The context shows that the believer is no longer under the law but is productive in this new union. Les Feldick teaches that this fruit is other believers, people who come to Christ through the believer's witness and concern for the lost.
Les teaches that a true born-again child of God will be a good citizen, and salvation should become visible in lifestyle. However, he also stresses that gospel fruit is primarily a concern for lost people and a testimony to them. Good works do not save, but they accompany the new life in Christ.
No. Les points to 1 Corinthians 3:6, where one plants and another waters, but God gives the increase. The believer does not have to see the person saved; God is the final cause and gives the increase.
Les compares believers to a harvest. God considers bringing human beings to Himself a harvest. He sees the Church Age as the main harvest, while Old Testament believers were precious few.
Watch the Teaching: Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means