Enter ye into the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there will be that go in threat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth into life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:13-21For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whoesoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: Luke 6:44-47
There is a narrow path we must walk to enter the kingdom of heaven. Not everyone that prays, goes to church, and calls themselves a Christian will go to heaven because they are not doers of the will of God. They hear the word, say amen, and keep doing what they are doing. You can't be a part-time Christian. God wants full custody, not just weekend visitations. If you just give him weekends then you are attempting to serve two masters which is not possible. This is how we know Christians and false prophets by their fruit.
A false prophet is one that preaches something not true of the word of God, or a false interpretation of the word of God. It is easier to spot a false prophet than a false Christian because they openly preach falsely, but you can also notice them by the way they live. If they tell you something and it's not in the bible or the opposite is in the bible you know they are a wolf in sheep's clothing. Stay away from them so they don't lead you to hell with them.
A lukewarm/ part-time Christian can be spotted by the way they live, their actions, and behaviors. If they do not live according to the word of God, and tell you things opposite the word, then you are able to spot them by their fruit. If they are doing drugs, getting drunk, having outburst of anger in a violent way at people, showing forms of hate and coveting, practicing witchcraft in any form-horoscopes, psychics, palm readers, the actual craft, or are sexually immoral, homosexual, having sex outside of marriage, watching pornography, or committing adultery, then you are seeing bad fruit.
A true Christian may make a mistake every now and then but are truly repentant and will do their best to do God's will. They find things that are not the will of God unwelcome or disheartening. They do not wish to see such things even on television. They dress appropriately, without everything hanging out. They help those that they are able to in need, read God's word, pray often, put God first in their life, and don't hang around people who aren't of the Lord if they can help it unless it has to do with God's work such as witnessing or feeding the hungry, etc.
We as Christians are required to bring forth good fruit or we are cast into the fires of hell. Verse 19 makes that painfully obvious. We can go to church every weekend, and give $500 a week or more in tithes but if we do not show good fruit and do the will of God we are not going to enter the kingdom. More scripture that backs this up can be found in James 1:22, Revelation 3:15-16, and Matthew 25:14-30. It is important enough that God has repeated it multiple times throughout the bible.
We must walk the narrow path to keep our salvation. By the grace of Jesus, we are covered when we slip up, but that doesn't give us a free ticket to do what we want. It is not once saved always saved. We must be doers of the will of God. Help us do the will of God by donating today. God bless you and may Jesus keep you.
