Warning! Not All "Christians" Are Christians

I have seen several examples this week that prove "Warning! Not All "Christians" Are Christians" is an accurate title for this post. You may think that I am being judgmental but I point you to the scriptures. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus, when describing the false prophets, said "You will recognize them by their fruits." Then He said verses in 17-20 "So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."

Now, notice the very next verse. Jesus said in verse 21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Don't miss this. I once heard a preacher say "It is not the PROFESSION of faith that counts. It is the POSSESSION of faith." and Jesus clearly demonstrated that in this passage. He said that some will come to Him saying "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" (verse 22) And how will Jesus answer them? "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (verse 23)

"You will recognize them by their fruits." I have told our congregation over and over "If you see the right fruit, fellowship with them. If you see the wrong fruit, call them to repentance." Look at what Jesus said in John 15:8 "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." When we bear the right fruit, we do two things. We glorify God and we prove to be true disciples of Jesus.

So be careful lifting up someone who claims to be a Christian but does not bear the right fruit. Just because a person quotes the Word of God doesn't mean that person has been saved by God. When Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness, the devil tried to use scripture to defeat Jesus. People who use scripture to defend their sinful ways are misleading themselves and many others at the same time.

And before we finish today, I am totally aware of Matthew 7:1 (ESV) — 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. That verse has been so abused and misunderstood. Jesus did not say "Do not judge the actions of others" or "Do not hold people accountable". In fact, Jesus said in John 7:24 "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” People are not always who they claim to be as we saw above in Matthew 7:21-23.

Let me close with these words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:12–13 (ESV) — 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” We are not called to judge the outsiders but we are called to judge those who are or claim to be within the body of Christ. Again, "If you see the right fruit, fellowship with them. If you see the wrong fruit, call them to repentance."