Proverbs 12:12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
If the branch of the righteous (the believer in Christ) is connected to, is rooted in, and abides in Christ, the true Vine, then it yields much fruit. Jesus picks up this proverb and says: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” Our purpose in life is to bear fruit, and Jesus promises that we will. Jesus is the root from which all the life, fruit, flowers, and leaves come.
The branch (the person) cannot produce fruit by itself, no matter much effort he puts into it. “You can do nothing.” It is the root that produces the fruit through the branches. It is the root of the person that yields the fruit. Christ-in-you makes you look good.
We need to believe this promise because we do not see it happening, It happens because He says it happens. Our focus and attention needs to be on Christ and His Word, not on cleaning up our outward lifestyle or trying to fix up the flesh. We focus on the root, not the fruit. Trust the promise: The root will yield fruit.