Would I Even Be On Trial?

What does fruit look like in the life of a believer? What is the evidence?

This seemed like a simple question. Until I attempted to answer it.

At first, I thought about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This would be the obvious answer.

But then I considered what we were before we knew Christ—liars, thieves, and gossipers. The true fruit of our becoming a Christian would reveal we no longer live according to our old sinful ways.  If we were liars, we would no longer lie. Thieves would no longer steal. Gossipers would no longer gossip. Our daily actions, attitudes, and behaviors would show significant change.

Then I dove a bit further into this rabbit hole of thought. What evidence convicts a person of being a follower of Jesus in a court of law?

The Research

I once held court in my fourth-grade classroom hoping to gain a confession from whoever threw the crayon across the room and beaned someone in the head. But with that being my only experience, I decided to do some research. What kind of evidence presented in a traditional court of law convicts a person of a crime? Could that same evidence be used to convict someone as a sold-out, Jesus follower?

Documentary Evidence

This type of evidence would include contracts, letters, journal entries, newspapers, and emails.

Demonstrative Evidence

Evidence in this category would include “visual, graphic, or sound aids that illustrate or explain a witness’s testimony.”

Real Evidence

The items presented in this category would be tangible and real. Objects held, touched, inspected, and seen by others in the court.

Circumstantial Evidence

This would be evidence that points to the existence of a fact but doesn’t directly prove it.

Testimonial Evidence

These are people who have witnessed an event or were privileged to information and can testify to these facts under oath. They are considered eyewitnesses or primary sources of information.

Forensic Evidence

This would be DNA, fingerprints, or things left behind that show that the evidence points to a person. This scientific evidence is used to prove whether a person is innocent or guilty.

Exculpatory Evidence

This evidence can show the truth about a person and helps to absolve them from any fault.

On Trial

My brain started spinning, and immediately I looked inward. Would there be enough evidence to prove that I am a Christian? Or would I even be placed on trial?

I thought of Paul in the Book of Acts. Time after time, we see him standing before the Jewish and Roman authorities, on trial for being a follower of The Way. I look at his life, and without a doubt, he was a follower of Jesus. But what evidence would be used as proof in a court of law?

Paul’s Proof

The opposing side could present documentary proof he killed and punished Christians and intended to kill and punish more. They could produce the letters he carried with him when he was traveling on the Damascus road and also present eyewitnesses who were at the stoning of Stephen and saw Paul there approving and applauding.

Immediately they could follow up with an eyewitness testimonial account from Ananias. He was one of the first eyewitnesses to be in the presence of Paul after his Damascus road experience. Also, the companions of Paul could testify to and demonstrate the great light they experienced, along with the drastic, immediate change they saw in Paul.

The apostles, including Barnabas, could stand as eyewitnesses and share the way Paul changed from being a murderer of believers to a follower of Jesus. The opposition might question his mental state. The man who had once killed Christians, was now His follower? They may think he’s unreliable or a spy for the Pharisees. But that’s when people from Damascus, Jerusalem, and Tarsus could be called as eyewitnesses to testify he was now a true follower of Jesus.

Records of Paul’s public beatings could forensically reveal scars, bruising, and marks left on his body. His regular confrontation of the religious leaders, arrest records, and miraculous unexplainable jail breaks could be mentioned in his defense as both testimonial, eyewitness, and documentary evidence. In every town Paul visited, eyewitnesses could attest to the healings that took place and the demons that were cast out by his words. There is no denying the radical change in Paul, and many could present exculpatory evidence of his radical change. He would absolutely be convicted of being a follower of Jesus.

My Trial, Your Trial

But that leaves me wondering, what evidence is there that proves I am a follower of Jesus? Would there be any? Or would there be more evidence that I’m not than I am? Would I even be put on trial?

How about you? Would you be convicted? Is there enough evidence to one hundred percent prove that you are follower of Christ?

This is where the rubber meets the road. They will know us by our fruit.

 

(for more on producing good fruit, please read: The Fruit of the Spirit in My Real Life – Inspire A Fire)

Copyright Christy Bass Adams, February 2025; all images from Canva