Spiritual Fruit

I recently read a comment by someone claiming to be a Christian, but from whom I’ve neither seen nor heard any real spiritual fruit. I won’t name the individual, but you would, no doubt, recognize the name. What she said, in effect, was that she didn’t see how someone could be a Christian AND a Republican—like somehow, one’s political persuasion has anything to do with her spiritual condition. The ridiculousness of such a comment prompted me to write this brief, but hopefully poignant statement on what I believe God’s Word says about the characteristics of a true follower of Christ.

First of all, for those who still believe that everyone born in America is a Christian (because this is a Christian nation?), let me set the record straight. The Bible makes it clear that becoming a Christian is a personal choice made by every individual in response to God’s gift of His Son. It’s not just a matter of believing. We also must accept God’s provision for dealing with our sinful condition and be willing to testify publicly that we have done so.

“9...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Though becoming a Christian is only possible because of Jesus’ willingness to die in our behalf, no one becomes a Christian through someone else’s efforts. Every individual must first choose to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and then be willing to follow God’s directive to receive Him fully and proclaim Him openly.

Second, let’s draw a distinction between Christianity and religion. Religion is the work of man. It’s man’s acknowledgement of and his effort to reach, please, or appease his concept of some higher power or authority. It is, in effect, our paltry attempt to fill that “God-shaped void,” as Blaise Paschal described it, that resides in every one of us and “which can only be filled by God.” At best, religion provides us with some semblance of moral standards and personal discipline, but it has no power to regenerate sinful human beings.

Christianity, on the other hand, is the work of God. It was made possible when He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live and walk among us mortals as a human being, and ultimately to die for (literally to satisfy God’s judgment against) all the sins we have committed, are committing, and ever will commit. In short, God created us specifically for the purpose of fellowship with Him, and then He sacrificed His only Son to make that fellowship possible. In this respect, Christianity is not a religion at all, but rather a God-initiated relationship with those created in His image.

According to Scripture, the word ‘Christian’ translates as ‘little Christ,’ or ‘Christ-like.’ Quite simply, to be a Christian is to be like Christ. To determine if someone else is a Christian, the first test would be to look for Christ-like qualities in her or his life. Some in the Body of Christ would argue that one’s level of spiritual maturity is measured by the spiritual gifts, callings, and manifestations evident in his life. While these are definitely all from God, they are given, not as evidence of salvation or measurements of spiritual maturity, but for the building up, equipping, and unifying of all believers. According to God’s Word, the true evidence of salvation is the fruit of the Spirit, as mentioned in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia.

“22But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a)

If you want to discern whether or not someone else is a Christian, look for spiritual fruit in that person’s life. Anyone can busy himself with activities that look spiritual or use language that sounds spiritual, but no one can produce spiritual fruit apart from the Holy Spirit. Such evidence is the natural outflow of a life lived through the Spirit of God.

“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

Besides spiritual fruit, there should also be a noticeable absence of fleshly attitudes and behavior in a Christian’s life. One who is led by the Holy Spirit of God is not likely to be influenced by the things of the world.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
(Galatians 5:24)

Finally, one who is truly a Christian will have ‘the mind of Christ,’ which guides him in everything he does.

“5Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. 9Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

Thankfully, the final authority for who is saved and who is not rests with God. I truly believe that when I get to heaven, I’ll be surprised to find out who is there and who is not. I tend to judge people based on flawed human reasoning, personal prejudice, and my own indefensible sense of self-righteousness. God, however, judges people based on what’s actually in their hearts.

Next time you’re wondering about someone’s spiritual condition, remember this:

“The LORD doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person's thoughts and intentions.”
(1 Samuel 16:7b)