“When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.” Poet James Riley

Would you pass the “Duck Test”? Do you look like a believer, talk like a believer, and walk like a believer (in obedience to Jesus Christ)?

“Watch out for false prophets “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then will I tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers.” Matthew 7: 15ff

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed is in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3: 7-10

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 1 John 2:19

“Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God “Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming into and even now is already in the world.” 1 John 4: 3

“He who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” Why is that? Because God has given us this command: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4: 20-21

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God AND carrying out his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith….He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5: 2-5, 12

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him”, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s life is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2: 3-4

DOES YOUR FAITH PASS THE “DUCK TEST”? If it looks like a believer, and talks like a believer and walks like Jesus, it must be a believer.