Discerning whether someone else has truly experienced this transformation is not always straightforward. While every Christian has made this choice themselves, determining the authenticity of another person's conversion can be challenging. In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches about discerning between a good tree and a bad tree, implying that Christians should make these judgements.
At the outset, it is important to acknowledge that ultimately, only God knows who truly belongs to Him. As the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy, "The Lord knows those who are His" (2 Timothy 2:19). However, the New Testament also calls believers to make discerning judgements about the spiritual condition of others, particularly within the context of the church.
Consider the life of Abraham's nephew, Lot. He had grown up under the godly influence of his uncle and understood the truth and promises of God. Yet, he made questionable life choices, deciding to live in the notoriously sinful city of Sodom. If it were not for Peter's testimony regarding Lot, "who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)" (2 Peter 2:7-8), we might not believe that Lot was truly a saved person. This example underscores the importance of heeding Paul's exhortation to Timothy: "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).
While it is crucial for each believer to examine their own faith, the New Testament also instructs the church to discern, where possible, the spiritual condition of others. When, after being baptised, a person is received into church fellowship, the church is acknowledging their faith as genuine. However, these judgements are often made with limited information. In Acts 2:41-42, we read that people were saved, baptised and added to the church on the same day “having gladly received His word”. There was little time for the church to observe the long-term fruit of these new believers, yet their initial profession of faith was sufficient for baptism and church fellowship.
Later, if a person's life demonstrated a lack of genuine faith – whether through sinful behaviour or unbiblical theology – the church was responsible for addressing the issue. This is exemplified in the case of Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25). Simon made a profession of faith and was baptised, but later, when he tried to buy the power to impart the Holy Spirit, Peter rebuked him sharply, saying, "Your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of your wickedness . . . " (Acts 8:21-22). Simon's theological error revealed that his conversion was not genuine.
This responsibility of the church to be discerning is vital, not only for the holiness of the church community (1 Corinthians 5:6) but also for the clarity of the gospel message to the world. The church must ensure that those who are in its fellowship are truly saved and that their lives reflect the transforming power of the gospel. As Peter writes, "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:17).
Jesus illustrated this principle in His parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). Tares, or weeds, look very similar to wheat in the early stages of growth, but when they are fully grown, their true nature is revealed. Jesus instructed His followers to let both grow together until the harvest, illustrating the reality that people who are not converted may exist in the church among the true believers. However, at the end of time, God will separate the wheat from the tares, revealing who was genuinely saved.
This parable emphasises that we cannot always accurately discern the true nature of someone's faith, but we are still called to be vigilant and discerning. The church is not to tolerate known sin or false doctrine but must uphold the truth of the gospel and the holiness of the company of believers. This is why Paul instructed the Corinthians to "put away from yourselves the evil person" (1 Corinthians 5:13) when dealing with unrepentant sin in the church.
In another parable, Jesus spoke about different types of soil in which the seed of the gospel is sown (Matthew 13:1-23). Lasting fruit is produced only by the seeds that fall on good ground, representing those who genuinely repent and believe. Other seeds fall on hard, rocky, or thorny ground, representing people who either reject the gospel outright (the seed on the path), or initially respond positively but later fall away due to trials (the seed in the shallow soil) or worldly distractions (the seed in the thorny soil). These parables illustrate the reality of false professions – people who appear to accept the gospel but do not possess true saving faith.
This pattern was evident in Jesus' ministry. Many followed Him initially, attracted by His miracles and teachings, but when His message became too challenging, they turned away (John 6:66). These individuals were not saved and then lost; rather, they were never genuinely saved in the first place. Their superficial response to the gospel identified them as the shallow or thorny ground.
Ultimately, while God alone knows the true state of each heart, the church is called to present the gospel clearly and to affirm only those who demonstrate true repentance and faith. The mere profession of faith is not enough; genuine conversion results in a transformed life, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). As believers, we must be diligent in our own walk with God, examining our hearts and ensuring that our faith is genuine. At the same time, we must lovingly and wisely discern the faith of others, upholding the purity of the church and the truth of the gospel.
Conversion is a personal matter but it also has significant implications for a local church. Therefore, it requires both self-examination and communal discernment. Through this process, the church upholds the integrity of the gospel and ensures that it faithfully represents Christ to the world.
