Identifying The Fruit

Because he loved us, God has adopted us as his children, and there is nothing that can ever take that love away.  Understanding how much he loves us will have a tremendous effect on how we live our lives.  I John 3:2-3 tells us that if we really believe in his love and forgiveness, we will make the effort to live a proper life.  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”  We are not trying to earn our way into heaven, but to live up to our position as God’s children. 

Because we know he loves us, we make a special effort to obey him.  I John 3;4-6 tells us, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”  People who blithely practice sin with no concern for what God commands have no understanding of who he is or what his love means.  Christ came to take away our sin, and if we appreciate his doing so, we will not go back to it as a way of life.   As a result, the type of lifestyle a person lives indicates whether they are truly Christians or not. 

I John 3:7-10 makes this very clear.  “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 

Because those who have truly believed have received the Holy Spirit, and he gives them a whole new mind, it will be impossible for them to be content living a sinful lifestyle.  If a person can happily live a lifestyle where they consistently violate God’s commands, as expressed in the law, it indicates the Holy Spirit is not in their lives, and as Romans 8:9 tells us, “…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  Thus, a person’s lifestyle gives a very clear indication of whether they are Christians or not. 

Many say we have no right to judge their way of life, quoting Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”  In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”    We may not be able to judge whether an apple has the ideal shape and for its variety, but we can easily tell it is not a banana.  Similarly, we may not be able to judge whether a person is living at the peak of their potential, but we can easily tell whether they are living an evil lifestyle or not.  We don’t have to judge the fruit to identify it. 

Consistent or deliberate violation of God’s commands clearly identifies the lifestyle as wicked, and indicate the person is not truly a Christian.  One very important factor in identifying the lifestyle is whether they love other Christians, as we saw in I John 2:6-11.