Examine Yourselves

Examine Yourselves

By Benny D. Horn, February 3, 2002

Introduction: Last Sunday morning, I preached a message on "The Eternal Security of the Believer". I preached on how I believe if you are truly saved that you cannot lose your salvation. Last Sunday night, I preached on God’s chastisement of His children, and how as His child, you can never live a sinful life without His correcting hand in your life. Today, I want to challenge you to "examine yourselves" as Paul told the Corinthians to do. I think it is a very healthy thing for all Believers to take a good look in the mirror and ask this one question, "Do you know Jesus Christ?" The answer to that question will be the deciding factor of where you will spend eternity. Paul once said in I Corinthians 11:31, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."

Prayer

II Corinthians 13:5, "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?"

I. Examine yourself, whether ye be in the faith.

A. Take a self examination. Question yourself.

It isn’t wrong to question your love for Jesus. Remember His words:

John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

What are His commandments?

I John 3:23, "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

If Jesus asked you, "Do you love me? Have you kept my commandments?" What would your answer be?

B. Compare your faith to what the Bible says about faith.

If your faith is what saves you, do you understand what Biblical faith is?

Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:3, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Do you believe in Biblical creation or evolution.

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Do you do what God says to do even when it makes no sense?

Hebrews 11:8, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Would you go where God says to go even when your not sure what you’ll find when you get there?

Hebrews 11:17-19, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." Are you able to trust your loved ones to God in life, in sickness or even in death?

Hebrews 11:24-25, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Would you give up a life of plenty for a life of suffering if God asked you to?

II. Prove it to yourself. Know without a doubt that Jesus lives in you.

A. Look for proof in your own life.

Compare the fruits in your life to those in God’s Word.

Matthew7:17, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." If you are His tree, He will bring conviction and even chastisement in the areas that need to be pruned.

B. You should have no doubt if Jesus lives in you.

I John 2:4-6, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." If you have no convictions to live according to the teachings of Jesus, then you’re probably not saved. Of course only you and the Lord know for sure.