“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Cor 13:5
Each new year most of us take a look in the mirror or the numbers on the scale and turn immediately toward the gym to shed those holiday pounds. However, most of us neglect what is most important our spiritual health. Let us consider the condition of our spiritual fitness and meditate together on the words of Paul, writing to the Corinthian church as we “examine (ourselves) to see (if we) are in the faith…”
When I read this and considered what it said I was troubled in my spirit as I understood the gravity of the apostle’s words. Is Paul really challenging our salvation here? Is he saying that salvation is more than saying a prayer and believing in Jesus? What does the evidence of our commitment to faith in Jesus look like? How do we know we are saved?
How can "we" examine ourselves?
I believe Paul is talking directly to believers who have grown comfortable in our decision to follow Christ. We may have been convicted of our sins perhaps during a sermon at church or by the words of an evangelist at a conference. We may have publically prayed the “Sinner’s prayer,” but since then perhaps our lives have not changed since making our decision to believe in Christ.
Today’s church is filled with men and women who consider themselves believers but who’s lives look like the secular world. The divorce rate among Christians is just as high as the rest of society, Men in the church still struggle with pornography and infidelity while the women continue to gossip under the popular excuse “we have to know so that we can pray for you.” Teen believers continue to struggle with sexual sin, drug and alcohol abuse, and class consciousness.
Sadly most American Christians, do not know the gospel, do not study the bible on a consistent basis and do not regularly pray. Often it seems our decision to follow Christ has not positively impacted our lives, leaving us ineffective “kings and priests” powerless to tell others the good news. Perhaps we should reflect upon Paul’s advice and examine our commitment to Christ first in the light of our personal conduct.
John’s first letter to his disciples and followers, provides some excellent “test questions” for believers who desire to examine their faith.
• “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth….” (1 John 1:6) Are you walking in darkness (sin) yet claim to follow Christ who is light? What sins that you know are wrong do you regularly (perhaps deliberately) commit? True faith in Christ actually changes your heart such that you “hate” sin. Therefore, a vital component of our receiving Christ is genuine repentance (turning away from your life’s direction) as we are convicted of sinfulness. A new believer begins an iterative transformation process as he draws closer to God through prayer, daily study of His word and repentance of sin as God reveals it.
• “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”(1 John 1:8) “There is no one righteous, not even one...” (Rom 3:10), we are all guilty of sin. If you think you are innocent you’re wrong. Repent and confess your faults one to another and be healed (James 5:16)
• “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.”(1 John 2: 3-4) John states it simply, if we are followers of Jesus, we must read, understand and obey what God commands. If we are deliberately disobeying God, we are walking in darkness.
• “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.”(1 John 2:9) Are you holding a grudge against a fellow brother or sister in Christ? Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Jesus raised the bar from physical murder to hatred in the heart. If you are gossiping or holding something against a fellow believer, you are hurting him or her and you are murdering them in the eyes of the Lord. We must love one another as Christ loved us.
• “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”(1 John 2:15) Is your bank account, IRA, house, car, girlfriend, television, or favorite sports team more important to you than God? Do you spend more time waxing your car each week than you do studying the bible or having fellowship with other believers? Do you put watching television over going to church? If you answered yes to any of these, you may want to reconsider the health of your relationship with Christ. If we love Him, put Him first even above family relationships.
Soon the end will be upon us and like the “thief in the night,” Jesus’ return will be upon us and the rapture of the church will leave us behind. Brothers and sisters when the master returns be sure that you are honoring him with your life and not be found doing something in secret that you would be ashamed of being discovered.
Each new year most of us take a look in the mirror or the numbers on the scale and turn immediately toward the gym to shed those holiday pounds. However, most of us neglect what is most important our spiritual health. Let us consider the condition of our spiritual fitness and meditate together on the words of Paul, writing to the Corinthian church as we “examine (ourselves) to see (if we) are in the faith…”
When I read this and considered what it said I was troubled in my spirit as I understood the gravity of the apostle’s words. Is Paul really challenging our salvation here? Is he saying that salvation is more than saying a prayer and believing in Jesus? What does the evidence of our commitment to faith in Jesus look like? How do we know we are saved?
How can "we" examine ourselves?
I believe Paul is talking directly to believers who have grown comfortable in our decision to follow Christ. We may have been convicted of our sins perhaps during a sermon at church or by the words of an evangelist at a conference. We may have publically prayed the “Sinner’s prayer,” but since then perhaps our lives have not changed since making our decision to believe in Christ.
Today’s church is filled with men and women who consider themselves believers but who’s lives look like the secular world. The divorce rate among Christians is just as high as the rest of society, Men in the church still struggle with pornography and infidelity while the women continue to gossip under the popular excuse “we have to know so that we can pray for you.” Teen believers continue to struggle with sexual sin, drug and alcohol abuse, and class consciousness.
Sadly most American Christians, do not know the gospel, do not study the bible on a consistent basis and do not regularly pray. Often it seems our decision to follow Christ has not positively impacted our lives, leaving us ineffective “kings and priests” powerless to tell others the good news. Perhaps we should reflect upon Paul’s advice and examine our commitment to Christ first in the light of our personal conduct.
John’s first letter to his disciples and followers, provides some excellent “test questions” for believers who desire to examine their faith.
• “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth….” (1 John 1:6) Are you walking in darkness (sin) yet claim to follow Christ who is light? What sins that you know are wrong do you regularly (perhaps deliberately) commit? True faith in Christ actually changes your heart such that you “hate” sin. Therefore, a vital component of our receiving Christ is genuine repentance (turning away from your life’s direction) as we are convicted of sinfulness. A new believer begins an iterative transformation process as he draws closer to God through prayer, daily study of His word and repentance of sin as God reveals it.
• “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”(1 John 1:8) “There is no one righteous, not even one...” (Rom 3:10), we are all guilty of sin. If you think you are innocent you’re wrong. Repent and confess your faults one to another and be healed (James 5:16)
• “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.”(1 John 2: 3-4) John states it simply, if we are followers of Jesus, we must read, understand and obey what God commands. If we are deliberately disobeying God, we are walking in darkness.
• “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.”(1 John 2:9) Are you holding a grudge against a fellow brother or sister in Christ? Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Jesus raised the bar from physical murder to hatred in the heart. If you are gossiping or holding something against a fellow believer, you are hurting him or her and you are murdering them in the eyes of the Lord. We must love one another as Christ loved us.
• “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”(1 John 2:15) Is your bank account, IRA, house, car, girlfriend, television, or favorite sports team more important to you than God? Do you spend more time waxing your car each week than you do studying the bible or having fellowship with other believers? Do you put watching television over going to church? If you answered yes to any of these, you may want to reconsider the health of your relationship with Christ. If we love Him, put Him first even above family relationships.
Soon the end will be upon us and like the “thief in the night,” Jesus’ return will be upon us and the rapture of the church will leave us behind. Brothers and sisters when the master returns be sure that you are honoring him with your life and not be found doing something in secret that you would be ashamed of being discovered.
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