An Easter Epistle of Examination 2024

An Easter Epistle of Examination

The True and Fruitful Servant of The Lord Jesus Christ

My dear Friend,

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus gives professing believers a stern warning that not all of them will enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Many believers confessing Christ as their Lord and Savior will have a horrifying awakening on the day of judgment. They will realize that they have been deceived, believing in a false Jesus, not Jesus of the Bible.  They have created in their own minds a Jesus to suit themselves; they have created a false Jesus. And because of this, Jesus [the Lord} never knew them.  The question we have to ask ourselves is this:  Am I really saved and do I have eternal life?   Jesus answers this question in Matthew 7:16:  "You will know them by their fruits."  Jesus continues:  "Therefore by their fruits you will know them [true Christians] (Matthew 7:17).  It is not what you say, it is what you do. What are you doing for God?   Anyone can say "Sure, I am a Christian."  But where is the proof?  People say many things, but it is the actions taken that prove who they are in Christ.  Actions come from the heart.  "For as he [man] thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). 

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.—Matthew 7:16-20

Jesus said: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit" (verse 18).  A Christian with a pure heart cannot produce bad fruit. His actions are from the heart. Jesus is saying, a true believer, like a good or fruitful tree can only produce good things, things after its own kind. A pear tree cannot produce apples and an apple tree cannot produce pears. Therefore, a true believer produces good fruit which is that good, perfect and acceptable service to God. A bad tree produces nothing and it is soon cut down and its branches used for the fire.

In Matthew 12:33-35, Jesus expands on the actions of the scribes and Pharisees who are fruitless:

 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

A godly person does not produce ungodly fruit. A godly person is known by the good fruit he produces—God is with him and his actions. On the other hand, one who produces ungodly fruit or no fruit (yet, professing to be a Christian) shows the works of the devil. Non action of a professing believer speaks loudly evidencing who he or she is in Christ, lukewarm or an ice cold professing believer with little faith.  A closet Christian is worthless to Jesus for the building of the kingdom.  Does love exist in the unfruitful?  Is faith in the Lord so weak resulting in the absents of any good fruit?  Or has the heart filled with the pride of life?   Has God been placed behind the prideful self? 

As an evil heart cannot produce good fruit and good fruit will not be produced in the name of Christ without the Holy Spirit's work in the person, the new birth may have never occurred. Many professing Christians are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Many are not born again with the Spirit of God (John 3:3). One cannot call himself a Christian without being born again. There is no such thing as a born again Christian, because one must be born again to be a Christian.

Actions always speak louder than words. "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (verse 34).  This also applies to a closed mouth, that is, a professing Christian who is silent in Christ, neither speaking the Word to others or exercising any action shows all the abundance of his or her heart in Christ.

Believers who do good things have good hearts.  All who do evil things have evil hearts (verse 35).  The heart is revealed by the actions a person takes. Likewise, no action (no good fruit), no heart. We work from the inside out. It is what we think on the inside that revealed what we are on the outside.  Jesus continues in Matthew 12:37:  "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  The words we speak reveal what is in our heart. If we do not speak (or confess) Christ, salvation, heaven and the kingdom to come, will we be justified or condemned?  Examine yourself.

True disciples of Jesus Christ do the works of Christ; they are fruitful.  James said "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:18, 26). A true disciple of Christ is compelled with Christ living in him to do the works Christ did and more.  We are saved by God's grace [unmerited favor] through our faith in the work of Jesus.  We are not saved by good works but for good works. Do we believe Jesus is the Son of God?  He voluntarily died on the cross for our sins, taking the punishment that was rightfully for us. He was buried in a tomb. Three days later He rose from the grave. He is in heaven seated at the right hand of God with all authority given to Him by God to rule over the heavens and the earth. He came as a spirit from heaven, became a human being, living as a man and died as a man. He is 100 percent man and is 100 percent God. Jesus has his resurrected body which will remain with Him through eternity. Do you believe this?  If you question any of this, and you produce no good fruit, you are likely not saved and will not receive eternal life, but damnation.

There are millions of confessing Christians believing they are saved, yet God does not know them, for they are still children of the devil.   I plead with you to examine yourself closely.  Repent of your sins now before it is too late. Seek God through His Word and prayer; and ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit.  Humble yourself to the Lord. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul,  and strength.  Love is a choice; it is also a commandment. Now thank Him. Glorify the Lord by doing the things He approves, and turn from those things He despises. Get serious, fear the Lord and renew your mind daily in the Word of God.

Remember what Jesus said:  "You must be born again" (John 3:3)—born again as a new creature in Christ, with new desires.  Old, sinful ways were crucified on the cross with Jesus.  A love for God, a servant to God, and a hatred of sin should be on our heart.

Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, 13:

"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Call on the Lord. Confess with your mouth [aloud] the Lord Jesus believing in your heart that God Almighty has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. The first word Jesus said when He started His ministry was "Repent" (Matthew 4:17). The last words Jesus said to the church was to repent. If you have not repented of sin and you do not have a contrite heart over sin, it is unlikely you are saved. Pray, asking God to reveal the sin in your life. Do not be deceived. You must be honest with yourself. "The eyes of the Lord are in everyplace, Keeping watch of the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).  God sees everything. He knows everything about you, including your secret thoughts, good and wicked.

What is the Character of the New Person, the Born Again?

Paul describes the character of the new man in Colossians 3:12-17; and in verses 18 and 19 wives and husbands are commanded to submit (wives) and love (husbands). Let's read these verses carefully, evaluating each characteristic as it applies to us and whether each are in us:

In verse 14 and 15 we are told "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."  If you have not love, which is the bond of perfection, we have nothing.  Do you let the peace of God rule in your heart?  If you have not love and the peace of God is not in your heart then it may be likely you are not saved and the kingdom of heaven may not be your final destination.  What were the last words in verse 15?  "Be thankful."  Are you thankful for all the Lord has done for you?  Do you praise, worship and thank the Lord daily?  Do you know God?

Do you have the good fruit?

• Do you love God? Ps 421ff, 73:25; Luke 10.27; Rom. 8:7
• Have you repented from sin? Ps 32:5; Prov 28:13; Rom 7:14ff; 2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10
• Have you humbled yourself? Ps 51:17; Matt. 5:1-12; James 4:6,9ff
• Do you want to bring God Glory? Ps 105:3; 115:1; Is 43:7 48:10ff; Jer. 9:23,24;  1 Cor. 10:31
• Do you pray to God? Luke 18:1; Eph 6:18ff; Phil. 4:6ff; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; James 5:6-18
• Do you love others? 1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff
• Do you feel that you do not belong to this world? 1 Cor. 2:12; James 4:4ff; 1 John 2:5-17, 5:5
• Are you growing spiritually in Christ? Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Eph. 4:12-16
• Are you obedient to God's commands? 7:21; John 15:14ff; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 1 John 1:3-5

Can you say "Yes" to these questions?

• Are you growing in wisdom and  knowledge of Christ?  Romans 1:21; 2:17ff
• Are you active with a church or searching for a church to have fellowship with likeminded believers?  Matt. 25:1-10
• Have you been convicted of your sins? Acts 24:25
• Do you have assurance of your salvation:  Matt. 23
• Do you remember when you were born again, when you first received Christ? Luke 8:13-14
• Do you remember when you were baptized in the Holy Spirit and are you aware of the special gifts you have? 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
• Do you witness and share the Gospel with others? Mark 16:15
• Is godliness evident in your life?
• Do people see a change in you?

A Christian Will Have the Fruit of the Spirit:

In Galatians 5:22-23 we are introduced to the “Fruit of the Spirit.”

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Longsuffering [Patience in spite of troubles]
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Temperance [Self-control with food and drink]

These are attributes of God.  Once you become born again the Holy Spirit is with you.  A Christian will gradually develop into these attributes.  Examine yourself to see if you are void of these fruits.  If these fruits are not represented in you, correct yourself; pray that God fills you with the Holy Spirit and with the fruits of the Spirit.

A prayer could be something like this:

Christians should be confident, enthusiastic and bold about sharing the Gospel.  Love is about telling people the truth. The Gospel is truth.  Without Jesus all are condemned (John 3:17).  We must witness daily to reveal God’s plan for salvation to the lost.  Those with contrite hearts will be convicted and God will begin to work in them.  We make the introduction. God does the rest.  We know that not everyone will be saved—very few in fact.  There are a million ways to hell but only one way to heaven. Pride comes before destruction. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

Are You Truly Saved? 

After you have examined yourself, have you determined you are saved?  If your answer is “no” then you must ask yourself why, and take action to correct yourself.  Repent of your perpetual and habitual sinning.   Stay in the word. Read your Bible daily and pray without ceasing.  Ask God to reveal truth to you so that you will understand the gravity of His love and what He did for you. Praise God and worship Him in prayer. Get to know God so that you can love Him. If you love Him you will obey Him.  Remember, in 1 John:  “God is love.”  He loved you first.  If you love me you will obey my commands (John 14:15).  God’s love is both unconditional and conditional.  He loves His children differently than others.  God’s love is action orientated. He shows his love through his actions. He offers all eternal life; but few will accept it. However, there are conditions to salvation.  One, you must believe in and have faith in Jesus (John 3:16); and two, you must obey His commands.  A false Christian turns away from obeying God’s commands, yet they say “I believe in Jesus.”  Even Satan and the demons believe in Jesus. They don’t obey Jesus either.

Love God and obey Him.  Show Him that you are grateful for what He has done for you, offering you eternal life which continues in heaven, and then in the new earth. You will have peace in this life with Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. He will never forsake you. He will never leave you.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). You are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Faithfully yours in Christ Jesus,

Mihran Kulhanjian

Mihran Kulhanjian

President

Christian Revival Mission, Inc.