How to Spot a Genuine Christian

Christians Begin with Their Own Sin

Jesus says, "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:37-38

The world often quotes "judge not" out of context as a trump card against confronting sin. But Jesus is describing how to spot a genuine Christian. Christians begin with their own sin before dealing with others' sin.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

Luke 6:41-42

"Judge not" warns against hypocritical judgment. Legalism sins privately while appearing righteous publicly, nitpicking others' specks while ignoring their own log. Christians, however, maintain a constant public awareness of their sin. They deal with their own sin first, enabling them to help others effectively.

Christians judge righteously: they point out sin, offer the gospel, and forgive generously. A hallmark of genuine Christians is their quickness to forgive—not just the act, but the eagerness, mirroring God's forgiveness toward them. Forgive, and you will be forgiven—this describes those whom God forgives as forgiving people.

Give generously, like grain sellers packing containers full—pressed down, shaken together, running over into your lap. Christians give forgiveness, the gospel, and love abundantly, reaping spiritual blessings in return.

Blind cannot lead blind; disciples become like their teachers. Deal with your sin first, or you produce more sinners like yourself.

Christians Bury Treasure in Their Hearts

For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:43-45

Spot Christians by their fruit. Good trees bear good fruit; bad trees do not. A profession of faith without Christian behavior reveals hypocrisy. Unbelievers do not bear Christian fruit—consider this when discerning relationships or marriage.

Humans are born sinful; nothing good resides within unbelievers. Christians pack good treasure into their hearts: God's Word, the gospel, things of God. Treasure God's Word in your heart that you might not sin against Him. Valuing Scripture is not rote reading but treasuring it like hidden valuables—protecting and prizing what is most precious.

Without treasuring God's Word, expect evil to emerge. Problems persist not because Scripture "didn't work," but because it was not valued and applied—like antibiotics held but not taken.

Christians Build on Christ

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 6:46-49

Calling Jesus "Lord" means obeying Him. Genuine Christians hear His words and do them. They dig deep, laying foundations on the rock—Christ. Trials cannot shake them. Those who hear but do not obey collapse immediately, their ruin great.

Trials reveal true faith. Examine yourself: Do you deal with your sin first? Do you treasure God's Word? Do you hear and obey Jesus? These mark genuine Christians.