Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:15-20).
The saint’s way of life proves saving grace, not his doctrine. The point of doctrine is to how to live for God. Good theology leads to good practice. That’s how you know the theology is good—if it tends to lead you into a holy life.
Let me be straight with you. The fact is, anyone can read the Bible, understand what it says about who God is, and what He has done throughout history. Any such reader can gain knowledge of theological doctrines as original sin, our need of a savior, and that God sent Jesus Christ to live and die and be resurrected for us to meet that need. Understanding that requires no special grace or help from God. It is, therefore, impossible to tell simply by one’s profession of faith that the saving grace of Jesus Christ is at work in a person’s heart. We are never told in Scripture to judge our relationship with God solely on what we confess to be true.
Matthew 7:15-20 tells us what we should be looking for—fruit. And what it that? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It is the life that mirror’s the love of Christ that shows the presence of divine grace. Anyone can have good doctrine, but a person whose character is marked with the fruits of the Spirit in addition to having good doctrine—that is a person in whom the Spirit of God lives.
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 