How To Be A Fruit Inspector:

How To Examine The Fruits Of True Biblical Christian Salvation

(things to look for in your life and the life of other professing Christians)

We are briefly going to look at how to examine yourself and other professing Christians for fruits of salvation. In the short term, it is far easier to examine the fruits of individuals rather than a some kind of a revival or religious movement. In that regard, a professing Christian who is bearing good fruit is …

• is going to share the gospel, and sharing it more and more accurately over time.
• is going to hate their own sin more and more over time.
• is going to preach against sin and preach salvation based upon the merits of Christ alone, and not just live some “wordless” gospel.
• is not going to avoid controversy such as preaching against false religions like Catholicism.
• is not going to avoid preaching against wordliness.
• is not going to avoid studying and teaching difficult or controversial subjects like election or end-time prophecy.
• is going to be willing to be persecuted for standing up for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.
• is going to desire TRUE ongoing fellowship with other like-minded Christians, not just playing “Simon Says” with them on Sunday mornings.

Our coverage of this subject would not be complete without mentioning the fruit of the spirit itemized in Galatians chapter 5:22-23 ->
 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 
Paul concludes with these insightful and challenging words: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:24-26).
 
And lest anyone chastise you for being “judgmental” because you dare to examine the fruits of other professing Christians, we have the Lord Jesus Christ directly stating the importance of examining spiritual fruit, of ourselves of course and also of others, especially Christian preachers and teachers who we are looking for guidance from.
 

“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.” (Matthew 7:16-20)

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