Maturity in Christ or faking it.

 "We then, who are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves" Rom 15:!

In chapter 14 Paul is writing about those who are weak in the faith. Some were offended by eating meat sacrificed to idols. Now Paul, and those who were tracking with him, knew that "The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost", but for some new believers, who had not yet learned the freedom they have in Christ, such freedom is offensive. Paul tells us to let them be. Don't have a beer when we are with them if they believe that is something Christians "shouldn't" do. Etc. 

Well enough. But how can we tell if someone is a new believer, and just needs to grow, or if someone is just faking it, and has never met Christ? Only God knows for sure, but there are clues. A true believer has been to the Cross, and has seen the immensity of his sin, the offense he was to God, and understands how much God did to save him. He may not yet be free in Christ, but he loves Him, and wants to grow. A hypocrite, on the other hand, just imitates others. They want to be seen as "good", but they are living on their own power. 

The fruit of the Spirit is "Love, joy, peace, patience . . ." against which there is no law. As believers get to know Christ, and abide in him, they will begin to bear the fruit of a relationship with the living God. A piece of plastic fruit looks good, but has no nutritional value. So it is with those who don't know Christ. Jesus called that crowd "Whitewashed graves". They love the praise of men, but lack humility. None of the character of Christ is theirs. They don't know Him. 

Of course, no one is exempt from the flesh. When trouble comes, our first instinct many times is to "take the bull by the horns" and work it out on our own. I think we all know how well this works. It doesn't work at all. A crisis is the opportunity to trust Christ. We can encourage those weak in the faith, letting them know that "This light, temporary, affliction, is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:16). It won't last forever. But the fruit of leaning on Christ will remain forever.