Conversion Fruit

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” Luke 19:8 (NIV)

The fruit of conversion is a life of obedience. When you are genuinely converted from being a slave to sin to being a slave to righteousness, the evidence of that transformation shows up in your daily talk and walk (Rm 6:17-18). Salvation transforms your conversation and your conduct. From the moment of conversion, you embrace a lifestyle of working out what God has worked in (Php. 2:12).

Zacchaeus experienced authentic conversion. Upon placing his faith in Jesus alone for salvation, Zacchaeus had an immediate desire to make things right with those he wronged. His saving faith in Jesus was producing in him the appetite for living righteously. Convicted of his personal sin, Zacchaeus chose to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times the amount to those he cheated.

It is possible to profess Christ and not possess Christ. Is Christ in you? Do you have the Spirit of Christ (Rm. 8:9)? In order to claim to live in Christ you must walk as Jesus did (I John 2:6). Possessing Christ is demonstrated through instant and perpetual obedience. To know Christ is to obey Christ.

Are you giving clear evidence of your salvation to those in your sphere of influence? Is there anyone you need to forgive? Is there anyone you need to extend an apology to? Are your horizontal relationships right and unbroken? Let others see Jesus in you!

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor