EXAMINE YOURSELF 2 Corinthians 13:5
Intro: Since my salvation I have a deeper appreciation for the things of God. Church, baptism, the Lord ’s Supper, God’s Word, Giving, Serving and Witnessing
All along I’ve seen people and known people who did not hold these same things dear to themselves.
And I thought “well maybe they just don’t understand, maybe their just disobedient, maybe they are just living carnally.
After studying God’s Word, I wonder if they are even saved.
Some say “I made a decision”, or “I invited Christ in to my life” a long time ago. Is that enough, is that all it takes ?
1 Cor. 11:27-28-------Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
2 Cor. 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?
So, How do you know if you in the faith?
Matt. 5 ---The Jews had already set up a system for deciding what it was to be holy, they had it all in place. And Jesus comes and shatters the system they had set up.
You want to know if your in faith or not----Then you take your life and compare it to the truth of God’s Word from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
The result will be an examination of your life and then you will know.
Here is the standard….The key is Righteousness
Matt. 5:20---Your Righteousness must exceed the scribes and Pharisees---Temple everyday, tithe, prayed---Religious freaks
2 Tim. 2:19—The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Titus 2:19----They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Profession means nothing without righteousness
2 Cor. 5:17----Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Jn. 1:9-----If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Jn. 2:9 -----He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
James 4:4----Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
1 Jn. 3:6---Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (continual reduction)
If your really saved they’ll be Righteousness, a whole new outlook
When sin happens you’ll hate it, confess it, turn from it, repent of it, and hunger & thirst for that which is right, you’ll obey, you’ll love your brother, you’ll hate this evil world.
You can not say I’m a Christian & keep walking the same path.
PROVE IT ---not years ago, not long time ago, what about right now?
Maybe it’s possible you’re a Christian living carnally and just the same it is possible that your not a Christian at all.
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA ? Matt. 5
I. PROPER ENTRANCE Matt. 5:1-11
II. PROPER TESTIMONY 5: 13-16
III. PROPER OBEDIENCE 5: 17-20
IV. PROPER THINKING 5: 21-30
V. PROPER TALKING 5: 33-37
VI. PROPER ACTING 5: 38-42
VII. PROPER LOVING 5: 43-48
VIII. PROPER WORSHIPING 6: 1-4
IX. PROPER PRAYER 6: 5-15
X. PROPER PRIORITIES 6: 19-34
How can I get myself to Heaven? Matt. 19:23-26
The only way is to drop Sin, Self. Satan and the World
Matt. 7: 13-14
Many never cut the cord, and therefore go the through the “Wide” gate
A lot of people are buying tickets for the “broad” gate.
Notice both gates are labeled “Heaven”
Notice “Many” enter in to the “Wide” gate 7:13
And “Many” finally arrive in 7:22
Few are willing to come on God’s terms 7:14
