Detecting a Reprobate Mind
by Dr. John Tetsola

We can depart from the core of our Christian faith even while going through the motions. Because of this, we must question and examine ourselves to determine if we’re still in the faith. Either our faith and love for Christ is alive as we press on to an ever increasing faith while being renewed by the power of Christ, or we are progressively becoming carnal, less Christ-like, and even worse—of a reprobate mind.

...even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 1:15b-16

What is a reprobate mind? A reprobate mind is a morally unprincipled person whose mind is set the wrong way. It is a way of thinking that lacks proper judgment, and is a mindset that has lost all fear and regard for the principles of God’s Word, and for that which is right. Although God’s Word tells us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” the reprobate-minded person rejects and disallows the mind of Christ because he has cultivated his own mind and conscience which are defiled. The purity of our faith is directly related to the effectiveness of our conscience, and when the conscience is defiled, a man’s deeds become increasingly wicked. Ultimately the individual becomes reprobate unto every good work—worthless, good for nothing, and rejected by God. And although they declare that they know God and maintain their Christian profession, they are in effect abominable to God and are ultimately rejected by Him.

The Need for Self-Examination

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 13:5

The above Scripture is a call to self-examination. Just as we get physical check-ups to determine our physical health, we need spiritual check-ups to find out if we meet the biblical criteria of one who is in the faith and accepted by God. You should be able to examine the issues of your life from a divine perspective to see whether you’re producing the proper fruit of your faith—unless you’re a reprobate. Prove and evaluate yourself. Give yourself a spiritual examination by asking yourself a series of questions. Do you manifest the fruit of the Spirit, or the works of the flesh? Do you have the fear of the Lord—the craving desire to honor, please, and reverence God above every other desire that’s contradictory to the will of God? Are you submitted to God and His servants, or have you become increasingly rebellious? Are you spiritually progressive and going from glory to glory? Do you still get convicted of missing the mark? Christ Jesus is in you—unless you fail to meet the test. Either our faith is alive and we’re pressing on to an ever increasing faith and obedience, or the opposite is happening. Either we’re being renewed by God’s divine power and are dying to self daily, or we’re becoming increasingly rebellious and are succumbing to the works of the flesh. 

Understand that it is one thing to be spiritually weak, yet repentant and striving for maturity. Look at God’s servant David. David’s repentant heart positioned him for deliverance, and in spite of his failure, God considered him “a man after Mine own heart” (Acts 13:22). A tender heart goes a long way in God’s sight. But if your heart is no longer succulent to God with the intent of obeying and practicing the truth of God’s Word, and if you are no longer producing the fruit of your faith without any level of conviction, then you may have a reprobate mind.