How should we understand good and bad fruit in a Christian's life?

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus teaches that we can discern the nature of a person by their fruits. Good trees bear good fruit, which signifies the work of Christ within believers. This contrasts sharply with bad trees producing evil fruit, which represents our sinful, unregenerate nature. The key understanding here is that a person's fruit is not merely measured by outward behavior but is indicative of their relationship with Christ. As believers are transformed and receive the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) manifest in their lives. Therefore, the presence of good fruit is evidence of Christ working within, while the lack of it points to reliance on one's flesh.