How to Spot Real Christians

The Context: Women Following Jesus

Jesus went through cities and villages proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

These women demonstrate genuine faith. In first-century Israel, it was countercultural for women to follow a religious teacher like this. Yet Mary Magdalene, healed of seven demons, Joanna from Herod's household, Susanna, and many others gave everything they had for Jesus and his disciples. They were convinced Jesus is the Messiah and committed to following him no matter the cost.

This sets the tone for the parables that follow, instructing us on genuine Christianity. These women show authentic faith by giving costly devotion to Jesus. They endure and demonstrate consistency.

The Parable of the Sower

A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.

As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Why Parables? A Divine Purpose

Jesus explains the parable to his disciples: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.’”

This fulfills Isaiah 6, where God commissions Isaiah to preach in a way that hardens hearts. Isaiah saw the Lord's holiness, confessed his unclean lips among an unclean people, and was cleansed. Yet God sends him to a people who will not repent. Jesus preaches similarly: to those God chooses to save, the secrets are revealed; to those loving their sin, the message seals their rejection.

If you understand this, take care how you hear. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.

The Meaning: Four Soils, Four Responses

The parable is this: the seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

1. The Path: Devil Takes the Word

Some hear the word, but the devil takes it away so they do not believe and be saved. This explains why some reject Christ outright.

2. The Rock: Joy Without Root

These receive the word with joy but have no root. They believe for a while, but in testing fall away. They profess faith publicly but lack private conviction. Testing—suffering, trials—reveals them. Like students who cram but fail the real test, they endure temporarily but not truly.

James 1 calls us to count trials joy, for testing produces endurance, making us complete and content. True Christians improve through suffering; pretenders fall away.

3. The Thorns: Choked by Life's Cares

These hear but are choked by cares, riches, and pleasures. They prioritize worldly anxieties, temporary enjoyments over God. They avoid gospel costs like rejection or loss, preferring drinking, immorality, or comfort. Their fruit never matures; they fall away.

4. The Good Soil: True Christians

These hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience (endurance). They cling tightly to God's word, valuing it above all—even physical sustenance, as Jesus did in temptation, living by every word from God.

In suffering, they endure because the word sustains them. If in your heart you truly value and hold fast to God's word, you will bear fruit through every trial. This marks the real Christian.

Conclusion: Examine Your Heart

Nothing hidden will remain secret. Take care how you hear. Do you hold fast to the word in your heart? True Christians endure unimaginable suffering, clinging to God's word. That's how you spot them.