Identifying Genuine Christians Through the Fruit of the Spirit

Genuine Christians will be known by their fruit

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.  Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20 . Mathew 7:15-20 is parallel to Luke 6:43-45

Let's analyze this. Matthew, originally a Jewish tax collector, became a disciple of Jesus. This Gospel serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew aimed his message mainly at a Jewish audience to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus cautioned us about individuals whose speech sounded religious, yet their actions and character did not align. You could identify them by their tendency to downplay Jesus' teachings while elevating themselves.

Jesus uses an agricultural analogy for clarity and simplicity: a healthy tree yields good fruit, whereas bad fruit indicates a bad tree. Upon believing in Jesus Christ, everyone receives the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, include love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, in which there is no law against these things. The Holy Spirit will cultivate these qualities within us as we become more like Jesus. We need to completely surrender to Christ, relinquishing control and allowing Him to guide us. Our spiritual fruit will flourish when we live in harmony with Jesus, loving, remembering, and emulating Him. By doing so, we will achieve the intended purpose of the law.

False teachers will face God's judgment because their actions will reveal they never had a genuine spiritual connection with Jesus in the first place. Their lack of fruit will make this clear. Therefore, we should always assess the words of "teachers" by observing their lives for good conduct and high moral standards as they strive to embody the truths of Scripture. However, we all have weaknesses and are prone to sin. Additionally, No one can fully comprehend the teachings of the Bible. We will make mistakes as we attempt to study and understand it. In knowing this, we must always extend mercy to others as we hope to receive it ourselves. Remember, when Jesus speaks of cutting down bad trees and throwing them into the fire, He is referring to those who deliberately teach false doctrine and openly lead immoral lives.

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide us in distinguishing between those who bear good fruit and those who do not. Help us extend mercy to those who unintentionally spread false teachings or have stumbled into sin. We are all sinners, and you grant us mercy daily. Grant us the wisdom to recognize deceit and the courage to inform those misled by false teachers. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!