Last week, I was called upon to pray that “believers will examine themselves to ensure that they are really saved” (2 Corinthians 13:5). The request was direct—almost piercing. If we are saved, where is the fruit?
It made me pause. Often, when we hear a prayer request, we rush to pray for others. But this one required self-examination. Am I saved? Am I bearing fruit? And if not, what must I do?
Are We Saved?
One of the first Bible verses I ever memorized as a child was John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
It sounded simple enough: believe and be saved. But as I grew older, I wrestled with the question: Is belief alone enough? I saw many people attending church for years, who professed to believed, yet their lives showed no real change.
The book of James challenges us here. James 2:17–26 reminds us that faith without works is dead. He points to Abraham:
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:21–22)
And then there’s Noah. He didn’t just “believe” God’s warning about the flood. Noah acted. He built an ark—a massive, never-before-seen structure—according to God’s instructions. His faith was made evident through obedience.
Both Abraham and Noah showed us that salvation is not passive. It demands faith expressed through action, and need I say love, even when the task seems impossible or costly.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
Are All Works Accepted?
Here’s the sobering truth: not all works are accepted by God.
Why was Abraham justified when he offered Isaac? Isaac represented the promised child, the thing most precious to him. God tested Abraham to see if he loved the gift more than the Giver.
Why was Noah’s work accepted? Noah’s obedience was tied to God’s command, not his own ambition.
And let’s not forget Abel and Cain. God accepted Abel’s offering, but He rejected Cain’s (Genesis 4:2–5).
This forced me to wrestle with my own story. For most of my life, my identity was wrapped up in science. I pursued biochemistry with everything in me. Before I even completed my PhD, I had secured an Assistant Professor position in Canada—an accomplishment many would admire.
But then God disrupted everything. He called me away from the familiar, away from the path I had sacrificed so much for, into something completely different: writing, coaching, consulting, and ministry.
At first, I struggled. Lord, how could You lead me this far in science, only to ask me to give it up?
In hindsight, I see His wisdom. My years in science were not wasted, they trained me in discipline, research, persistence and many other skills. Yet those skills had to be redirected into His calling. I had to surrender my false identity in science to embrace my true identity in Him.
That sacrifice was painful, but it was accepted because it flowed from obedience. It taught me that works rooted in ambition, pride, or people-pleasing may look good on the outside, but they are not accepted by God. Only works done in obedience to His will and for His glory bear lasting fruit.
Do we know the will of God for our lives?
Why Are Believers Not Bearing Fruit?
If we are saved, why do so many believers seem stagnant? Where is the fruit?
A Time To Tear Down And A Time To Build
I am all for building up and encouraging others about themselves and their dreams. Yet there is a season for everything, even a time to tear down and a time to build. (Ecclesiastes 3:3 NIV). One reason many believers are not bearing fruit is that God’s assignments are seasonal. What He calls us to in one season may not carry over into the next. Seasons are usually ten, five, one year, three months, and sometimes even days. Yes, a whole season in a day, I believe we experienced some of those in New York this past summer. Yet we cling to old instructions, making them into traditions, refusing to release them even when God has moved on.
Jesus said in John 15:2:
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Pruning hurts. It feels like loss, setback, or even failure. But pruning is not punishment—it is preparation. God removes what no longer serves our growth so we can flourish in new ways.
I know this firsthand. For years, I tried to push doors in science that God had already closed. I pursued publications, recognition, and a paycheck. Yet nothing bore fruit. Only when I surrendered to His new direction did I begin to see true growth—fruit that brought life to others, fruit that keep multiplying.
Proverbs 13:19 (NLT) says:
“It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.”
So often, we hold tightly to our own dreams while ignoring God’s. We glorify hustle culture, staying busy but never fruitful. We sit in jobs that stifle our creativity, claiming that we must eat while giving up our inheritance. We confuse productivity and earning with purpose.
God calls us not to restless striving but to rest and surrender in Him. From that place, true fruit emerges, fruit that blesses others and glorifies God.
The Sin That So Easily Entangles
Some time ago, I wrote a blog on blindspots that resonated deeply. Blind spots are those hidden areas where we lack clarity and awareness—patterns that quietly shape our lives. Left unchecked, they can entangle us in destructive habits.
The Bible warns us about “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1). These habits may not look dramatic, but over time, they weigh us down, robbing us of peace, joy, and fruitfulness.
Here are a few habits we must watch out for:
- Treating ourselves and others wrongly – Words can heal or harm. What do we say to ourselves on a daily basis? Is it building up or tearing down. When we gossip or criticize, we plant seeds of division instead of life.
- Unforgiveness – Holding on to past hurts keeps us trapped. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the wrong but frees us from bitterness. Unforgiveness keeps us stuck.
- Unkindness – Even sharp words or impatient responses can wound deeply. When we use our gifts, talents, and natural abilities to bless others we are being kind. When we do not use what God gave us according to His will, we are being selfish. Kindness reflects the love of Christ.
- Lack of compassion – Compassion softens our hearts and moves us toward others. Compassion moves us to help others. Without it, we miss opportunities to love like Jesus.
- Stagnation (Not Growing) – Living things grow. If we are not growing spiritually, physically, mentally (in our gifting), emotionally, or relationally, we will get stuck.
We all have blind spots. But the beauty of God’s grace is that He doesn’t leave us there. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and gentle correction, He reveals these hidden places and sets us free.
Are we free?
What Should We Do?
So, what do we do if we’re unsure about our salvation or fruitfulness?
- Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- Examine ourselves honestly – Ask the hard questions: Am I in the faith? Do my actions align with what I profess to believe?
- Surrender our works – Lay every ambition before God and pray, “Thy will be done.”
- Obey in faith – Like Abraham and Noah, let belief be proven through radical obedience.
- Embrace seasons – Finish assignments so you can step fully into the new.
- Endure pruning – Trust that what God removes is making room for greater fruit.
- Love one another – Show love not just with words but by sharing your gifts, talents, skills, and experiences to bless others.
A Final Reflection
When I prayed about this request—that believers examine themselves—I realized it was not just for others. It was a divine nudge for me too.
Am I saved? Yes, by faith in Jesus Christ.
Am I bearing fruit? By His grace, yes and no—I pray and seek God asking what to do.
The real question is not whether we are busy or accomplished. Are we bearing fruit that remains?
Jesus said in John 15:16:
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”
May we live so that our faith is not only confessed with words but expressed through works—works that honor God, bless others, and leave behind eternal fruit.
With grace and growth,
Sanchia and team.
Audio Version
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