Fruit Inspector!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,  self-control. Against such things there is no law.   Galatians 5:22-23

Throughout history, there have been people who counterfeit the original and people who impersonate others. Some people will pose as veterans for benefits and favors only veterans deserve. It is called stolen valor and is a crime only if the person tries to finically benefit from saying they are a veteran. Some unscrupulous people are far more dangerous. Some impersonate doctors, nurses, and even law enforcement. Sometimes, it is tough to catch these charlatans before they do a great deal of harm.

Inside the body of Christ, we also deal with imposters and counterfeits. The Bible refers to the false teachers, these imposters, as wolves amongst sheep (Acts 20:29). Every church has to be on guard against these wolves. There will be false believers along with the false teachers in the flock. What are we to do? You are called to be fruit inspectors. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth,  Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness( 2 Cor. 6:14)?       In order to obey God and not be unequally yoked we need to distinguish between a believer and a non-believer. Paul told the church in Galatia what the fruit  of a believer looks like.

If someone tells you they are a Christian, examine their spiritual fruit. If their lives reflect more the deeds of the flesh, Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish       ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn      you,

just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of  God ( Gal. 5:19-21) than their actions speak louder than their words.

An apple tree will produce apples, not peaches. A Christian will produce fruit indicative of a follower of Christ.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark