A child’s actions do not make a child a child. They merely reveal what kind of child he is.

The same is true of every person regardless of age. One’s actions merely reveal what kind of person one is. Jesus put it this way in Matthew 7:16-20

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

We are not sinners because we sin. Rather, we sin because we are sinners. Our actions merely reveal what is in our hearts. The same is true of our words as Jesus taught in Matthew 12:34.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Two important lessons follow this reality:

First, we cannot change our actions without a change of heart.

Second, this is why Jesus said we must be born again.