The Proof of a Christian
By Matthew Kalliman
Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 8:9; Matthew 7:22-23; I Corinthians 13:1-3
Would you have to travel far
To find out who God’s people are,
If you had to make a search
To try to find the One True Church?
What would you be looking for
When you started to explore?
And, after you looked all around
How would you know if you had found
The Christians of the earth?
Would you have to go to college,
Study books and gather knowledge,
Tracing Christianity
Throughout the course of history?
Would you have to learn to speak
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek?
And, if you spent ten thousand dollars
To learn religion from the scholars,
How much would it be worth?
CHORUS
Well, the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within
The truly Christian mind
So, my friend, closely listen
And be sure that you hear it!
If you’re looking for the One True Church
Then here’s what you should find:
Love, joy, peace, patience,
Gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and self control
’Cause the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
Jesus said there’d be a day
When many would come to Him and say,
“Lord we’ve spoken in Your name
And done great works,” but just the same
The Lord will say, “Depart from Me,
You workers of iniquity;
You may have used my name, but still
You haven’t done My Father’s will,
And I don’t know who you are!”
Well, "If I had no love,” said Paul,
“It wouldn’t profit me at all
If I were God’s great orator
And gave my goods to feed the poor
And if I knew the prophecies
And understood all mysteries
And even gave my life, and died,
My works would still be nullified
Unless love dwelt in my heart”
CHORUS
And the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within
The truly Christian mind
So, my friend, closely listen
And be sure that you hear it!
If you’re looking for the One True Church
Then here’s what you should find:
Love, joy, peace, patience,
Gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and self control
’Cause the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
Would you have to travel far
To find out who God’s people are,
If you had to make a search
To try to find the One True Church?
What would you be looking for
When you started to explore?
And, after you looked all around,
How would you know if you had found
The Christians of the earth?
CHORUS
Well, the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within
The ones you’d want to find
And, my friend, closely listen
And be sure that you hear it!
You can know if you’re a Christian
By the spirit in your mind, if there's:
Love, joy, peace, patience,
Gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and self control
’Cause the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
Oh, the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
To find out who God’s people are,
If you had to make a search
To try to find the One True Church?
What would you be looking for
When you started to explore?
And, after you looked all around
How would you know if you had found
The Christians of the earth?
Would you have to go to college,
Study books and gather knowledge,
Tracing Christianity
Throughout the course of history?
Would you have to learn to speak
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek?
And, if you spent ten thousand dollars
To learn religion from the scholars,
How much would it be worth?
CHORUS
Well, the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within
The truly Christian mind
So, my friend, closely listen
And be sure that you hear it!
If you’re looking for the One True Church
Then here’s what you should find:
Love, joy, peace, patience,
Gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and self control
’Cause the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
Jesus said there’d be a day
When many would come to Him and say,
“Lord we’ve spoken in Your name
And done great works,” but just the same
The Lord will say, “Depart from Me,
You workers of iniquity;
You may have used my name, but still
You haven’t done My Father’s will,
And I don’t know who you are!”
Well, "If I had no love,” said Paul,
“It wouldn’t profit me at all
If I were God’s great orator
And gave my goods to feed the poor
And if I knew the prophecies
And understood all mysteries
And even gave my life, and died,
My works would still be nullified
Unless love dwelt in my heart”
CHORUS
And the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within
The truly Christian mind
So, my friend, closely listen
And be sure that you hear it!
If you’re looking for the One True Church
Then here’s what you should find:
Love, joy, peace, patience,
Gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and self control
’Cause the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
Would you have to travel far
To find out who God’s people are,
If you had to make a search
To try to find the One True Church?
What would you be looking for
When you started to explore?
And, after you looked all around,
How would you know if you had found
The Christians of the earth?
CHORUS
Well, the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within
The ones you’d want to find
And, my friend, closely listen
And be sure that you hear it!
You can know if you’re a Christian
By the spirit in your mind, if there's:
Love, joy, peace, patience,
Gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and self control
’Cause the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
Oh, the proof of a Christian
Is the fruit of the Spirit
Oh, a Christian isn’t perfect but he’s growing toward that goal
©℗ Copyright 1981 Matthew Kalliman