Can you be saved but not bear any fruit?

[JesusSaves91]

I am wondering because I am fairly new as a Christian (6 months) and I don't want to make it seem like I'm bragging but I can definitely see me bearing much fruit as mentioned in the book of Galatians. My question is can you be saved and not show any signs of being saved whatsoever. My mom claims that she has been saved since her earlier years, I'm guessing teenage or right around that time. She says that she has spoken in tongues before but as of right now her life is in total shambles. She has an outrageous anger problem that can flare up at any moment, she is very very deceptive (she ran up a $1200 electric bill in my name and still hasn't told me about it to this day even though I already know she did), and her words can cut through steel.

I know it is not right to judge but how can someone claim to be saved and talk about how much she loves Jesus but act the same way that the world acts? I cannot see any fruit coming from her at all.

[iSong6:3]

Your mother may or not be saved. There will be those who lose rewards at the Bema Seat Judgment, the one for believers, because of what they do or don't do with their lives.

Imo, the best thing you can do is pray for her (including conviction of sin) and continue to grow in the Lord in meekness and honoring her the best you can with God's strength. Let your very life witness to her how salvation is not the end but a beginning of an eternity with God and also the beginning of our being conformed into the image of Jesus/sanctification. Let your walk with the Lord provoke her to jealousy.

[Tall Timbers]

Hi JesusSaves91. Keep your eyes on Jesus, pray often, and study His Word regularly. Good things will result from your prayers alone, and the Lord will certainly use you. Ditto what iSong says with regards to your mother. There are as many reasons why people behave unrighteously as there are people. You might just become an important example to your mother, and/or others in this world. We're different parts of the same body. I'm probably an arm pit or some such thing but I know that God uses me even as He draws me closer to Him, and any good that comes out of it is for His glory. It'll be a wonderful day when our understanding becomes deeper and wider and we can see how God worked in our lives and how He used us to touch others and build His Kingdom. It is my prayer that your own example helps your mother find the Lord and/or draw into a closer relationship with Him.

[LightOfMyLife]

I am wondering because I am fairly new as a Christian (6 months) and I don't want to make it seem like I'm bragging but I can definitely see me bearing much fruit as mentioned in the book of Galatians. My question is can you be saved and not show any signs of being saved whatsoever. My mom claims that she has been saved since her earlier years, I'm guessing teenage or right around that time. She says that she has spoken in tongues before but as of right now her life is in total shambles. She has an outrageous anger problem that can flare up at any moment, she is very very deceptive (she ran up a $1200 electric bill in my name and still hasn't told me about it to this day even though I already know she did), and her words can cut through steel.

I know it is not right to judge but how can someone claim to be saved and talk about how much she loves Jesus but act the same way that the world acts? I cannot see any fruit coming from her at all.

JesusSaves91, When we do not Walk in the Spirit, we are fulfilling the lust of the flesh. I am of these scriptures in Galatians 5:14-26. We have 2 natures and they are warring against each other. Our enemies are the flesh, the devil, and this world. for your mother, and let your light shine so others may see that Jesus Spirit lives inside of you. I you see an improvement in your mother, and sanctification is a process in all Christian's lives. None of us are perfect only by the blood of Jesus are we justified & sanctified.

[acceptedintheBeloved]

We're different parts of the same body. I'm probably an arm pit or some such thing but I know that God uses me even as He draws me closer to Him, and any good that comes out of it is for His glory.

I'm sorry, I had to laugh at this picture... . At any given moment, any one of us could be an armpit.
Oh, wait, that's a different conversation.

JesusSaves91, When we do not Walk in the Spirit, we are fulfilling the lust of the flesh. I am of these scriptures in Galatians 5:14-26. We have 2 natures and they are warring against each other. Our enemies are the flesh, the devil, and this world. for your mother, and let your light shine so others may see that Jesus Spirit lives inside of you. I you see an improvement in your mother, and sanctification is a process in all Christian's lives. None of us are perfect only by the blood of Jesus are we justified & sanctified.

As I was reading this thread (and before I got to this one), this is where my thoughts were going, as well. But you said it much better. Great post! Fruit-bearing comes from our union with Christ (our relationship with Him; Romans 7:4), but not every believer has a good grasp of that union, and very often our flesh gets in the way and hinders that. For some, the flesh is evidenced in "self-effort," for others, in basic "self-ishness"... We all have areas we need for Him to control more and more fully.

[$teve]

As a young Christian I use to think some people were so holy that I was, seriously, afraid to be around them. Later in life discovered that absolutely nobody is perfect or anywhere near approaching. Of course we cannot comment on your mother's salvation because we only have your word for it and we don't know what is going on in her heart. She may very well be bearing 'fruit' but it isn't made apparent to us. Besides that, it can be difficult to determine if one is a Christian by their behaviour alone, as many unbelievers can be very good people too, yet they are not saved. The bible indeed stirs us to good works because we are saved, in loving response to Jesus. We're not going to be perfect this side of heaven though.

[moosejive]

I'm sorry, I had to laugh at this picture... . At any given moment, any one of us could be an armpit.
Oh, wait, that's a different conversation.




As I was reading this thread (and before I got to this one), this is where my thoughts were going, as well. But you said it much better. Great post! Fruit-bearing comes from our union with Christ (our relationship with Him; Romans 7:4), but not every believer has a good grasp of that union, and very often our flesh gets in the way and hinders that. For some, the flesh is evidenced in "self-effort," for others, in basic "self-ishness"... We all have areas we need for Him to control more and more fully.

I agree this is a great post, LightofMyLife! Welcome to RR, JesusSaves91 ! Very good site to come for answers about questions relating to this life and the one to come!

AcceptedintheBeloved, I got a giggle too when reading TT's description of himself in the body of Christ. Little does he realize that armpits play a very special role in identifying a person! we humans have a nose that isn't as sensitive as as many other creatures, however that doesn't cancel out the importance of the lowly armpit's role in the Body.....so says the gluteus maximus (aka the behind). Apt for me because I'm always running a little late.

[LightOfMyLife]

I agree this is a great post, LightofMyLife! Welcome to RR, JesusSaves91 ! Very good site to come for answers about questions relating to this life and the one to come!

AcceptedintheBeloved, I got a giggle too when reading TT's description of himself in the body of Christ. Little does he realize that armpits play a very special role in identifying a person! we humans have a nose that isn't as sensitive as as many other creatures, however that doesn't cancel out the importance of the lowly armpit's role in the Body.....so says the gluteus maximus (aka the behind). Apt for me because I'm always running a little late.

Speaking of armpits there is a certain word that is used in the church. They are called pews! That word always struck me funny. God gives us a sense of humor!

[acceptedintheBeloved]

^^^ (Moosejive and LightOfMyLife )

As a young Christian I use to think some people were so holy that I was, seriously, afraid to be around them. Later in life discovered that absolutely nobody is perfect or anywhere near approaching. Of course we cannot comment on your mother's salvation because we only have your word for it and we don't know what is going on in her heart. She may very well be bearing 'fruit' but it isn't made apparent to us. Besides that, it can be difficult to determine if one is a Christian by their behaviour alone, as many unbelievers can be very good people too, yet they are not saved. The bible indeed stirs us to good works because we are saved, in loving response to Jesus. We're not going to be perfect this side of heaven though.

These are some very good points as well, $teve.

Sometimes our family members see the worst in us. (Sometimes that's ALL they see. I know that, at a certain point in my young life [loooong ago], I was focused on certain "negatives" in my own mother's character... and didn't really see the good that was there.) Not that that's what you (JesusSaves91) are doing, necessarily, mind you. Just a thought that occurred... (based on my own distant memories).


Welcome to RR, JesusSaves91.

[iSong6:3]

JesusSaves91 - Here's a short thread about salvation and bearing fruit. One question quoted (#3) is similar to your OP: http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=152641

[moosejive]

Thanks, isong-that thread was very helpful for me also.

[LightOfMyLife]

Thanks, isong-that thread was very helpful for me also.

Thanks iSong6:3, great scriptural based thread!

[iSong6:3]

Thanks, isong-that thread was very helpful for me also.

Thanks iSong6:3, great scriptural based thread!

Praise God, agreeing it's a good thread.

[tbrian40]

This is called the Darth Vador complex or the Samson complex. I don't mean to jest a very biblically real subject here but it does exist. We are told to seek the Lord while He can still be found. But there are those children of God who are so scarred by traumatic events in their lives that God uses them in extraordinary ways for His extraordinary purposes. Jesus extolled upon this when He explained to Nicodemus about His Spirit. John 3:8. We will never know how, when, and who the Holy Spirit decides to move upon someone. Can someone be saved but not show the fruits of the Spirit? Yes---in the beginning but not the end. The end of the testimony is all that matters to God. Does He want us to live a holy life? Absolutely!