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You Will Know Them By Their Fruits

by Zeal Clark
10/12/15
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     There are numerous warnings in Scripture concerning the extent to which we must be careful to discern and thereby avoid the deception that will be prominent in the end times in which we now live. Although it would be nice to expect that all of those we rely on to teach us concerning the Scriptures would do so with the intent to carefully adhere to the truth as written therein, the Scriptures are clear that to do so can open us up to dishonesty and deceit, as not all of our teachers and leaders have the goal of presenting us with truth.

     Jesus, in teaching His disciples in Matthew 24:3-4,11, concerning the end times, cautioned them concerning the issue of false prophets during that would rise up to deceive the people:

     3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

     4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

     11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. NKJV

     Jesus was issuing a clear warning that in the end times in which we now live, we should expect and watch for the proliferation or increase of those who will teach what is contrary to Scripture and present false doctrines that will mislead those who are not careful to study Scriptures. This warning was to alert them about the need to be careful to determine what is truth and what is not.

     Whereas Peter, in I Peter, encourages Christians facing opposition from the world, in II Peter he warns Christians against false teachers within their fellowship who would attempt to lead them into apostasy. In II Peter 2:1-3 he continues on this theme:

     1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

     2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

     3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. NKJV

     Peter was clear in explaining that many will be deceived by the deceptive practices of false prophets.

     Jesus, in His Beatitudes, had taught concerning the issue of false prophets and had given means for discerning them and their words of deceit. In Matthew 7:15-20 He taught:

     15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

     16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

     17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

     18 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. NKJV

     Jesus explains that, contrary to some teaching that Christians are not to exercise any judgment of others, we are to indeed be careful to judge those who are teaching us and to do so specifically by examining their fruit. Our leaders and teachers are producing fruit in their personal lives and their personal activities that are a significant indication of their commitment to the principles of Christianity as found in Scripture. Whenever they show clear disregard for the principles taught in Scripture, this is a clear indication that the fruit they have borne in their own lives is defective. This is also a clear indication that their message to others should be suspect.

     The Apostle Paul, in II Corinthians 11:13-15 declared:

     13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

     14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

     15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. NKJV

     The Apostle Paul is describing how false teachers are able to transform themselves into deceptive instruments in order to influence others with their messages of deceit, despite their own lack of commitment to Biblical Principles. Just as Satan himself was able to accomplish this deceitful transformation, false teachers, using the same principles, are also able to accomplish the same.

     In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote:

     13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

     14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

     16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV

     The Apostle Paul’s instruction is that we are to continue in the things that are contained in Scripture, despite what we are being taught by those with defective fruit. But, of course, this requires that we engage in regular study of God’s Word to enable us to evaluate what we are being taught and discern when we are being deceived by others.

     In his letter to the Ephesians the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:13-15:

     14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

     15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ—NKJV

     And in Ephesians 5:11-14 he wrote:

     11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

     12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

     13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. NKJV

     This explains that we are to be full grown in our understanding of Christianity and not be influenced to the deceit of others.

     It also affirms our responsibility to expose deceit that is being propagated within the Christian community. But in order to do so, we must examine those who are feeding into our lives based on the fruit they are producing in their own lives, and to base our fellowship and support on this.

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