How To Spot A Transformed Christian

Matthew 12:33–37 (NKJV)

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

A book by military journalist, Thomas E. Ricks, called Making the Corps, a boots-on-the-ground account of the process in which young people are transformed from recruits into Marines.

Recruits, Ricks writes, are normally bused into the training camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, late at night. There's a sign at the front gate that all of them see. It reads,

"Parris Island: where the difference begins."

What difference might that be? How would one distinguish a fully-prepared Marine from anyone else? The answer might begin with the new ramrod body posture, the spotless uniform, the steely sense of focus and determination that marks conversation. Other characteristics? The obvious self-discipline, the toughness, the readiness to follow orders and to function as a member of a combat team.

Even when not in uniform, you can always spot a Marine around town – their shoulders broad as a bull's, their hair cut, the modest bravery in their countenance that somehow emanates even as they go about their business in civvies.

The Marines are by no means the only people who take such transformative experiences seriously. Colleges and seminaries talk a lot about this process, each claiming that it turns out world class leaders.

How about churches and their goal of making of devoted followers of Jesus? What does the difference look like there?

Ned has attended the same church for more than four decades. He was, by all accounts, a crabby little kid who grew into a crabby young man. After his religious conversion, he joined the church and became a crabby Christian. He gives no evidence of uncertainty in his faith.

He believes the Bible from cover to cover, and he believes the cover is genuine leather. But there doesn't seem to be any record over the last forty years of Ned ever changing his disposition, his mind, his expression, or his pew.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Today we Christians determine other Christians around doctrinal positions, or denominational affiliation.

In recent years we mark “True Christians” in the negatives, they do not smoke, drink, chew, swore, or voted Democrat.

What does Jesus say?

In today’s passage, Jesus was answering the Pharisees’ accusation of Jesus’ casting out a demon from a blind and mute man as a work of Beelzebub.

Matthew 12:33

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Good tree produces good fruit

Bad tree produces bad fruit - no mystery here.

Jesus tell us to be fruit inspectors when it comes to false teacher and prophets – as he said in his Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:18–20

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

But now Jesus comes to heart of the matter

Matthew 12:34

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

The Pharisees – they were the epitome of good. They did everything by the letter of the law – yet they stood in danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit – the unforgivable sin.

Jesus called them a brood of viper – family of snakes

Snakes –serpent have long been a symbol for Satan

Jesus call them in John 8 – being of their father, the devil

out of the abundance of the heart – the heart referred to the seat of physical, spiritual, and mental life.

Who you really are boils down to the heart

The fact of the matter – the Pharisees’ own word were their own worst enemy. Why is that?

Matthew 12:35

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Good tree – Good hearts – good fruit / good things