And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 9:17

Upon being reassured that it was indeed God’s plan to save and use Saul, Ananias obediently did as he was instructed. Note how he addressed Saul in (v.17) He called him “Brother Saul.” I imagine that felt strange. After all, in vv.13-14, Ananias was fully aware of Saul’s vicious persecution of the “brethren.” Yet when God saves a person—even a notoriously bad person, that person is now a brother or sister in Christ.

There are two somewhat opposite positions we should take when a person is newly converted. First, we should rejoice, giving the benefit of the doubt that the person is truly converted. There is no probationary period in which one who professes faith is a second class citizen in God’s kingdom until proven true.

Second, though we receive a person as a brother or sister with open arms, based on a profession of faith, it is true that full assurance grows as we see the fruit of conversion in a changed life. We embrace, and we watch. But we watch, not skeptically, but with anticipation that conversion will be demonstrated.

There is a static tension here because though only God knows the heart, we are encouraged by the fruit of a changed life.