Can I Judge A Person’s Salvation By The Way They Live Their Life?

■           Some people believe - If you are REALLY saved your life will show it

■           Those who believe this will quote Matthew 7:20 to prove their point - “Wherefore, by their fruits shall ye know know them”

■           Those who believe this say a righteous life is evidence one is saved; a sinful life is evidence one is not saved.

Does the Bible teach if you are saved your life will show it?

■            No!  It says “we should” not “we will”

■                Romans 6:4

“we also should walk in newness of life”

■                Ephesians 2:10

“created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”

■                Titus 2:11-12

“we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”

The Warning of Jesus Christ

■                Mathew 7:15-20

■            Who was Jesus talking about when he said: “by their

fruits ye shall know them”, Believers or Unbelievers?

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.

■            Answer: unbelievers

The Warning of Jesus Christ cont..

■               How do false prophets come to you?

“in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”

■           Who do sheep refer to in Scripture?

•   Answer: believers

■           The point is false prophets cannot be detected or known by their outward appearance

Another warning concerning False Prophets

■                2 Corinthians 11:13-15

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.”

What did Jesus mean by “their fruits” ?

■            “Matthew 7:17,18

■           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.

■           Jesus did not define fruit in this passage. But it is clear, fruit cannot be defined as one’s works or behavior

 What is the fruit of a False Prophet?

■           Let’s let the one who told us “ye shall know them by their fruits” define what their fruit is.

■                Matthew 12:33-37

■             Jesus made it clear the fruit of a false prophet is the words he speaks.

•   vs.34 “how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

•   vs.36 “That every idle word that men shall speak,”

•   vs.37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”

 Does this agree with other scripture?

■              Isaiah 8:20

“…if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”

■                     1 John 4:1-3 “…Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

 Reasons why the Lifestyle of a Person is not a Good Way to Determine their Salvation.

■          Because of the Biblical teaching of carnal Christians

■          Because of the clean, moral lifestyle of some unbelievers

■          Because of the supernatural ability of many false prophets

 Can some one who is not of God perform miracles?

■                        Deuteronomy 13:1-2

“giveth thee a sign or a wonder,”

“And the sign or the wonder come to pass,”

■            False Prophets: Can deceive you by their works but not by their fruit (words).

“whereof he spoke unto thee, saying Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them”

“Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet,”

Another example that unbelievers can perform miracles.

■           Remember that the first three plagues that Moses brought upon Egypt were duplicated by the Egyptian magicians

■            Why do false prophets perform miracles?

■                Revelation 13:13-14

“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles”

  Summary

■           You cannot judge a person’s salvation by their lifestyle.

■           You can determine whether a person is of God or not by his words.

■           The deciding point is determined by what they believe is the Gospel. What do they preach a person has to do to be saved?

■           Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”

Dr. Peterson's Book: "A Firm Foundation"