Identifying The Ungodly

Every one of the New Testament writers warned that false prophets would pervert God’s word and mislead people.  In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus tells one way of identifying false prophets.  “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.” 

While Matthew 7:1 tells us we are not judge people on the basis of first impressions or personal prejudices, Jesus says that seeing how they live and what they do, we can tell what kind of person they really are, because their words and actions reveal what is really in their heart according to Matthew 15:19.  “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”  By listening to what they say we can make legitimate judgements as to what they are really like because as Luke 6:45 tells us, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”   I John 4:5-6 builds on that same idea.  “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.   We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”  If they are living or teaching in way that goes contrary to God’s word, they are not of God.   

We must not fall into the habit of assuming everyone who claims to be a preacher or Christian really is.  Matthew 7:21-23 warns, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Even many of those with the biggest and best known ministries are not truly Christians despite their religious activities or speaking in tongues and doing miracles.  A far better indicator is their obedience to God’s word, as Jesus stresses, in Matthew 7:24-27. 

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27.

Quite simply, a person who is not obeying God’s word has founded their life on a lie that will be destroyed when judgment comes, no matter how impressive their credentials or record may appear.  A person who is acting in obedience has nothing to worry about, no matter how little of minor their accomplishments may seem.    We need to exercise discernment and discriminate between those who are truly of God and those who are just pretending to be.