How can people tell that we are a Christian?

How can the world look at us and see Jesus in our lives?

All these things are good, but they are not necessarily how people can tell that we are Christians. I have seen some people leave some remarkable services where God defiantly moved and then did some really bad things that did not represent God.

I have seen people that can quote scripture like a machine gun and then turn around and curse someone out. I know people that can pray up a storm; however treat people like dirt.

When we are born again we are changed on the inside. We receive the life and nature of God. Our sin nature is removed and God replaces it with his love. But it is up to us to transform ourselves into God image.

Romans 5:5 says the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

But how can the world look at us and see this change that has taken place in our heart?


They cannot look inside us.
It must show on the outside for the world to see!

Sadly to say many Christians are born again for years, but they have not allowed the change in there hearts to affect their thoughts and actions. They still think the same old bad thoughts about people which results in them treating people bad.

The world should see the difference God has made in our hearts.

Jesus said in Luke 6:44 every tree is known by its own fruit.

If we saw a tree in a field how would we know what kind of tree it is?

We would look to see what type of fruit it was bearing.
If it is an apple tree it will have apples on it.
If it is an orange tree it would have oranges on it.

The fruit is the proof of what kind of tree it is.

Well if Jesus said that every tree is known by its own fruit then what is the fruit or proof that we belong to Jesus?

Jesus said in John 15:5 that he is the vine and we are the branches.

Where does the fruit grow? It grows on the branches. The nature of the tree produces fruit on the branches.

Then Jesus made this statement. "If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. If any one does not remain in me he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers."

If we become separated from Jesus, we become like a branch that is cut off from a tree. It lies on the ground and dies. It no longer produces fruit.

Believe me the world is looking at us every day to see if we look and act like Jesus.

They are inspecting our fruit.

 Are we a nice, juicy, sweet piece of fruit or are we a sour, dry piece of fruit?

Do people look at us and say "Man if that's a Christian, I want to be one." or do they look at us and say "If that's a Christian, I do not want anything to do with Christianity."

 Sadly to say to many people have come in contact with people that are bearing sour, dry fruit? They have cut them selves off from the vine and have stop producing the type of fruit that attracts people to Jesus.

 John 13:35 says By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 

1 John 3:14 says We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. 

 Gal 5:22-23 says But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

 
The fruit or proof that we are a Christian is love.  

This love is manifested in joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 People are inspecting our fruit every day, at work, at school, in our neighborhoods, everywhere we go. Will they find the fruit that show the life and nature of God or will they find sour, dried up, good for nothing fruit that make you want to throw up?

We need to start living the difference that God has made in our lives, so the world can see Jesus through us.

 We are Gods ambassadors.

We are his representation to the earth.

We are his hands and feet.

Who we touch, he touches.

Let people see the difference God has made in our hearts by allowing the fruit of the spirit to grow in our lives so people can see God through us.