Getting A Faith Check-Up

Paul’s final warning to the Corinthians is found in 2 Corinthians 13:1-10. Before he comes to see them, he tells them that they need to repent of their sins. If they do not turn from their sins, no one will be spared Christ’s punishment. When Paul carries out Christ’s potent discipline among them, they will observe that Christ speaks through Paul. He prays for their restoration and exhorts them to examine themselves to determine whether Christ is in them. Paul is aware that he is authorized by God to stand up for Christ among them, but he hopes that when he gets there, he will not have to.

However, today we will look specifically at verse five, where we are told to “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?”

The Corinthians were to look at themselves, to check whether they truly were Christians. Similarly, as we get a physical examination from our doctor, Paul urges us to give ourselves a spiritual examination. We should search for a developing consciousness of Christ's power and presence in our lives. We will know whether we are genuine Christians or frauds when we do a spiritual self-exam. If we are not finding a way to develop that close relationship with God, then we are pulling back more distant away from Him.

• John 14:20, At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

• John 17:23, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

• Romans 8:10, And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

• 1 Corinthians 9:27, But I keep under my body, and bring it to subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

• 1 Corinthians 11:28, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

• Colossians 1:27, To whom God would make know what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

For all Christians, this statement provides a crucial perspective: to contemplate one’s own life and stroll with Christ. Paul wrote in this passage that the Corinthians were looking for evidence that Christ was speaking to them through him as an apostle (2 Corinthians 13:3). He now tells them to look at themselves instead. Are they truly believers? Not only is cautious skepticism a part of biblical faith (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1), and it also means looking into our own lives with honesty and care (1 Corinthians 13:10; Revelation 4:13). That encourages honesty rather than doubt (Galatians 6:4-5), as opposed to doubt (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Even though this letter was written to a specific church, it was intended for a wide audience. As a result, a question about salvation is at the heart of the message. An honest assessment of one’s genuine faith in Jesus Christ is an essential part of spiritual self-examination. In addition, it encourages Christians to examine their faith’s specifics and outcomes to determine whether they are consistent with the truth. It would include examining one’s own conduct and behavior to perceive how, or on the other hand, if they actually follow the desire of God for their lives.

In a nutshell, Paul is challenging them to determine whether or not they truly possess Christ in their hearts. Do they still hold the same beliefs that Paul shared with them when he first introduced them to Jesus? Or will they discover that someone or something else has gained their trust?

Paul expects that the response will be positive. He probably means that the Corinthians will turn away from sin once they realize that Christ is present within them. Additionally, it implies that their sincere response, which demonstrates that Christ is in them, will demonstrate that Christ is also in Paul and speaking through him (2 Corinthians 13:6). This is correct because Paul was the one who first introduced them to Christ. They must also reject Christ as a false individual before they can reject Paul as a false apostle.

We are to prove ourselves not to be reprobates, which means to examine ourselves. We ought to know if Christ Jesus is in us by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit. Search ourselves, make sure we are what we say we are.

We are instructed to:

• 1 John 3, love in deed