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
Bad tree – evil hearts – produce bad fruit / evil things
So far we get this. But look closely at these next two verses
Matthew 12:36–37
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.”
Every Idle words – we usually take this to mean that we need to be careful able what we say. Being careful about what we say is important but that is not what these verses are saying. When we are careful about our words, we say things right and proper. Here in church with all our church people here, we say nice things, we give “Sunday Schools answers” we don’t
smoke
drink
Cuss
Chew
But what we say when we’re not here. When we’re home
When we are cut off on the road –
someone takes our parking place,
when we are not thinking.
Character is revealed in the routine events of ordinary life when we're not trying to be particularly religious or admirable or anything other than who we really are. It is in those unguarded moments when the heart expresses its true nature.
It is not who you are in when you are in church,
it is who you are when get out to the parking lot.
when you are at Wal-Mart
when you are at work, at school, at home or out recreating.
That is when the heart speaks.
Can the world tell you have been transformed when you are away from this place?
Let us take a few minutes and look at what a transformed Christian looks like
Taken from article written by Dr. Gordon MacDonald, Chancellor of Denver Seminary
Not an exhaustive list.
A Transformed Christian Is one who …
1. Has an undiluted devotion to Jesus.
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
Jesus is the most important thing in life
2. Pursues a biblically informed view of the world.
This means aiming to know the Bible well as a basis of viewing the world – not like the world but as Jesus views the world.
John 17:14–16
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
3. Is intentional and disciplined in seeking God's direction.
Romans 12:1–2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
4. Worships, and has a spirit of continuous repentance.
John 4:24
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Repentance is not a onetime event, it a continual action.
5. Builds healthy human relationships.
In church and out of church
1 John 3:18
. . . let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
6. Senses a personal "call" and unique competencies.
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
1 Corinthians 12:7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
7. Is merciful and generous to those who are weaker.
Luke 6:36
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Hebrews 13:16
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
We do not leave benevolence to some else, or to the government to do.
8. Appreciates that suffering is part of faithfulness to Jesus.
Acts 5:41
So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
1 Peter 4:13–14
but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
9. Overflows with thankfulness.
In light of trail we may be going through
1 Thessalonians 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
10. Is eager and ready to share Jesus.
Includes a burden for the lost.
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Transformation changes our very being,-not just what we do, but who we are. True transformation goes deep. Authentic transformation means the formation of new character-the character of Christ. Our task is to grow a community of transformed people. If people are not more loving, joyful, peaceful, gentle, more concerned for the poor and oppressed than they were a year ago, we've lost.
Spiritual growth is hard to quantify. Psychologists can't even agree on how to measure emotional health or gauge how therapy helps people change. Spiritual maturity seems forever beyond the ability of tests to measure. And yet, when you meet a person who has been truly been transformed, spiritual depth is unmistakable.
Transformation requires training.
Richard Foster talks about the difference between "training versus trying" to live like Christ. If I haven't trained to run a marathon, when the moment of the race comes, I'm not going to make it, no matter how hard and sincerely I try. I must first make certain preparations. And trying to live like Christ is at least as hard as trying to run a race.
We can fake it for a while.
But faking transformation is like holding in your stomach while being photographed.
Have you been transformed or are you just faking it?
Excerpts from: www.ctlibrary.com
How to Spot a Transformed Christian by Gordon MacDonald
http://www.ctlibrary.com/le/2012/summer/transformedchristian.html
WHAT CHANGES AT CONVERSION? Francis of Sales
http://www.ctlibrary.com/le/1991/summer/91l3052.html
