Have you ever heard someone ask the question: “Is that the real deal, the genuine thing?”
Genuine is defined online as: “not pretended, sincere, honest.” Not pretended could be worded as “not counterfeit”.
I’ve been considering this with regard to those who say they are Christians.
How do we know if someone is truly a genuine follower of Jesus – not simply a believer (after all, the demons believe), but someone who truly loves and wants to follow and submit to Christ’s leading?
I know that I want to be known as a genuine follower of Christ. I want people to know they can come to me for Biblical guidance and help, and know that I will provide them with insight from God’s Word.
Can we always know someone is a genuine follower of Jesus? I believe we can, but God doesn’t always want us to cast out those who are not followers of Jesus: Consider these words from Jesus: Matthew 13:24-30: “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
There are those within our churches and Bible studies who truly don’t have a relationship with Jesus, but God will deal with them in His way and in His timing. As we continue to pray for them, we hope they will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.
God, in His Word, provides us with help so that we can be discerning in recognizing those who are genuine followers of Jesus.
God’s Holy Spirit indwells each person who has a genuine commitment to Christ. The Holy Spirit’s work is what helps us discern the genuineness of those who follow Jesus.
We need to be careful when we are “assessing” people for evidence of a relationship with Christ, when they profess Him as Lord and Savior. We need to be certain that our motives in doing so are pure. We need to be careful to not jump too quickly in coming to a conclusion. After all, I’ve walked with Jesus for 37 years, and there is still much work God is doing to refine my character. If someone took a snapshot of my life, and that is what they utilized to judge me, someone could wrongfully conclude that I don’t love Jesus. We must walk with people for a season before we make a determination.
We must consider why we would need to discern someone’s genuineness as a follower of Jesus. It might be due to the person wanting to serve in a ministry in the church, such as teaching children. We want people who truly love Jesus to teach children, because you cannot share God’s love if you don’t have it yourself. You can fake it for a while, but without the empowering of the Holy Spirit, it will lack longevity.
Perhaps someone wants to be baptized, as a testimony of their love for Jesus. Does that always indicate a true conversion to Christ? No, I don’t believe so. Emotions can sometimes mask truth. It is longevity that often proves the truth. It is not our job to prove that every person who gets baptized is truly a follower of Jesus. If his or her profession gives an understanding of the Gospel and its components – our sinful state, Jesus as the only way to be saved – then baptism can be the next step. What follows helps us to discern (for ourselves and for others) where we truly stand with Jesus.
For instance, these are some evidences of God at work in a person’s life: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.
Evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work is not complete in a day or even in a complete lifetime. This is why we need to be careful in judging. But God provides this evidence to give us assurance of His permanence in our lives, and as a testimony to others that He exists, and produces a new character in those who love and truly follow Jesus. A genuine faith is an abiding and pursuing faith of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 provides a perspective on why we must be discerning: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
We have a foe, and he is excellent at deceit.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 provides more insight: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
As we pay attention to our world today, and the “teaching” that is touted as solid, so often it falls apart when we hold it up to the Bible. We must be discerning for genuine Biblical teaching.
I was reading a great book on God, and His holiness. It is filled with Scripture. As I was reading, I found an error in one of the verses: Genesis 2:17: “God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”
The portion I’ve highlighted is not accurate. That was from another Scripture where Eve in Genesis 3:3 added to God’s word the part about touching the fruit. Somehow this well-respected author missed this error in her book. It is an excellent book. I’ve corrected my copy, and contacted the author.
People who do not know God’s Word, or check what they read with His Word, can be deceived. The above error is not a salvation point, but this is how Satan works – he gets a person to change a word, and the meaning gets messed up.
In the past, a woman changed Psalm 46:10 from “Be still and know that I am God” to “Be still and know that you are gods”. A simple change, but drastic in its lie.
Genuine believers are those who spend time in their Bibles. They want to know what God has to say. They want to live by His guidance, because He gives the best guidance possible. They want to be able to discern between the truth and a lie.
Genuine believers are people who prayerfully depend upon God. Communication with Him is their lifeline.
Genuine believers are people who want to share the Gospel, because they understand how great a salvation we have received.
Genuine believers are patient and merciful with others, because God is patient and merciful with us. This takes time, but the more time we spend in the Bible, the greater our character development.
I believe the greatest test is that we love one another. John 13:35 states this truth: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Our love for others is constantly being shaped by God as we read the Bible and spend time with Him.
Loving others requires believing the best. Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
This love is not the you do for me, and I’ll do for you type of love. It is love that gives sacrificially. It is love that bears with others when they are unloving, and helps others work through those challenges. This love can only come from a true relationship with Jesus.
Genuine followers of Jesus are willing to confess their sins, repent, and make restitution if necessary. Dealing with one’s sin is not how most people behave today. People often excuse their sin – “what’s in the past is done with” and other excuses are common. But God tells us that true followers of Jesus confess their sins and repent (1 John 1:9).
Are you a genuine follower of Jesus? What “proof” do you have?
If you have any doubts, please talk with someone who truly loves and follows Jesus.
I am also available to talk about your relationship with Jesus. Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!
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Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.