Can you prove you follow Jesus?

Yesterday, I heard an exceptional sermon on John 15 from a master preacher.

Our church is incredibly blessed to have Dr. Rick Byrd as our Pastor Emeritus. Yesterday, Dr. Byrd opened God’s Word for us, and the truths he shared landed on my heart in a way that was both beautiful and arresting.

As I’ve reflected on the sermon, and on the challenge he issued for us to bear spiritual fruit, my mind has kept returning to John 15:8.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Prove.

(I added the italics for emphasis.)

I can’t be certain, but I suspect the average Christian would be at least a little offended if you asked whether they could prove they are a follower of Jesus. I understand why. Faith is deeply personal—and deeply meaningful.

However.

In this passage, and again and again throughout the New Testament, Christians are challenged to examine themselves, evaluate their fruit, and honestly assess the evidence that their hearts and lives have truly been changed by Jesus.

Jesus says in John 15:8 that bearing fruit is how we prove we are his disciples. And I love the clarity of his point. Branches (that’s us) cannot bear fruit on their own. They only bear fruit by being connected to—abiding in—the vine (Jesus).

Growing up as an evangelical kid, one of the most common ways I heard people talk about their faith was by referring to “their relationship with God.” That language can sound like Christianese or insider talk. But as I’ve matured in my faith, I’ve kept using it because I honestly don’t know a better way to describe what it means to abide in Jesus.

We abide in him as we grow in relationship with him. And the more we abide, the more we grow. The more we grow, the more fruit we produce.

It’s a pretty simple formula.

So here’s the question: When people look at your life, do they see the fruit?

Is it evident—to you and to those around you—that you have a living, life-giving relationship with Jesus?

Or do they just see someone who goes to church and acts religious?

If you’re not sure what to look for, start with Galatians 5. As we abide in Jesus, the Spirit produces fruit in us—fruit that makes us more and more like Jesus. And this is no accident. It’s all by design.

Galatians 5 lists nine ways this transformation shows up. We become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled—just like Jesus.

But let me add one caveat.

Many men instinctively dismiss the fruit of the Spirit because it sounds soft—or even feminine. If that’s you, let me encourage you to work backward.

I believe self-control is the measure of manhood.

Men are defined by strength and courage, by might and power. But there is nothing manly about using strength to intimidate others or to force your will.

Power under control. Strength in service to others. That is the way of biblical manhood.

And as you practice self-control, you will inevitably become a blessing to everyone around you as you also become more patient, more joyful, more reliable, more kind.

So, can you prove you’re a disciple?

I suppose it starts with a look in the mirror. What kind of fruit do you see? What evidence is there of spiritual growth? And how much evidence?

If you’re really brave, consider asking the people you trust most to help you assess these things. Where are you strongest? Where do you most need to grow?

Don’t be afraid to acknowledge where you fall short. 

As Jesus says in John 15, the Father prunes every branch that bears good fruit. And as Pastor Rick reminded us yesterday, the branches that bear the most scars from pruning often go on to bear the most fruit.

Here’s to making 2026 a year of spiritual growth. The kind of growth where the fruit proves itself.