Getting a Conviction

Introduction:

A question about your convictions:

If Christianity were illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

The underlying question: How does anyone know you are a Christian?

I. The Usual Answers to the Question

A. I practice personal separation

B. I make verbal expressions—frequently talk about Christianity

C. I have charismatic signs

II. The Biblical Answers to the Question—Analogy of Fruit

A. The fruit of the Spirit (): “fruit” is singular

B. The fruit of good works (): the purpose of salvation

C. The fruit of souls won (): the idea of winning people to Christ/Christianity

III. The Key to the Answer to the Question—

A. Abide in Him

1. Continue, endure, dwell, remain

2. Find your ultimate source, rest, satisfaction, etc., in Him

B. Let His Word abide in you

1. It takes up residence

2. It becomes the dominant factor in life

C. Communicate with Him

1. Prayer is part of abiding in Him

2. We overlook the fact that fruit is borne as a result of abiding in Him, His word abiding in us, and prayer

IV. The Significance of Your Answer

A. There is a danger in not bearing fruit—this is shown in

B. God’s other work—everyone experiences problems (including Christians, and there are two groups of Christians: those whose problems are to prune them, and those whose problems are to purge them)

C. The danger of not bearing fruit is to experience God’s purging

Conclusion:

If Christianity were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you? How does anyone know you are a Christian? If it were only by fruit-bearing, would they know? Why are you not bearing fruit? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that trials, etc., were the result of God’s pruning rather than His purging?

Wood, C. R. (1998). Sermon Outlines on Gospel Passages (pp. 61–62). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.