Examine Yourselves
Text: II Cor.13: 5; I John 5: 13
Intro: Paul’s statement in II Cor.13: 5 was written to a church that boasted of being a spiritual body of believers. As a matter of fact, according to Paul’s own testimony, the Corinthian church possessed all the spiritual gifts (I Cor.1: 7), yet he said they were carnal (I Cor.3: 1-4). So great was the carnality among some of the professing Christians of Corinth, that Paul said they needed to examine themselves to see if they were truly saved.
Carnality is certainly no stranger to the Church of today. Paul’s admonition to examine one’s self is as much justified in today’s Church as it was in the church of Corinth. Some present-day professing Christians can curse a blue streak with the best of them; think nothing of regularly watching “R” rated movies and looking at pornography; consume alcoholic beverages like it is no big deal; and are obliged to slip around on their wife if they can get away with it. I’m not saying a Christian can’t commit these sins. I’m saying that they are not the normal course of conduct for the true child of God. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” God’s Word says.
Ray Comfort, founder of Living Waters Publications and Way Of The Master Ministries, made the same observation concerning the worldliness within the Church, when he quoted a leading religious leader who said the following:
In survey after survey, researchers find that the lifestyles of born-again Christians are virtually indistinguishable from those of nonbelievers. The divorce rate among Christians is identical to that of nonbelievers. Christian teens are almost as sexually active as non-Christian teens. Pornography, materialism, gluttony, lust, covetousness, and even disbelief are commonplace in many of our churches.1
When the professing Christian is more at home with the things of the world than they are with the things of God, they clearly need to examine themselves to see if they’ve really given their heart to Christ. If they truly want to know where they stand, the Holy Spirit will certainly make it clear to them. If they’ve never had a change of heart and life, they’ve never been converted.
I challenge all of us to examine our lives today. If your salvation experience won’t bear examination, it’s not worth holding on to.
Theme: For the true child of God:
I. A NEW CONDITION PREVAILS WITHIN
A. The Christian Is A New Person.
1. The Christian has a new lifestyle.
II 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.”
NOTE: [1] If a person is the same as they were before they made a profession of faith in Christ, they’re deceived about their salvation.
NEW CREATION
London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.
As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
“Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.”
Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God’s, the old life is over (2 Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build.2
[2] Salvation is not spiritual restoration, but rather spiritual regeneration. It is a completely new work.
2. The Christian’s heart no longer condemns him.
Rom.5: 1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
3. The Christian has a desire for the things of God.
Rom.8: 5 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
a. Do you have a desire for the Word of God?
I Pet.2: 2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
Job 23: 12b “…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”
b. Do you have a desire for the worship of God?
Ps.122: 1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
Heb.10: 25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
NOTE: Folks, I believe the true believer feels the need to worship in God’s house. For one thing, the Word of God says that we shouldn’t forsake the Lord’s house (Heb.10: 25). What if we applied the same excuses for being unfaithful at church to sports activities? One pastor jokingly said:
Football in the fall. Basketball in the winter. Baseball in the spring and summer. This pastor has been an avid sports fan all his life. But I’ve had it! I quit this sports business once and for all. You can’t get me near one of those places again. Want to know why...
Every time I went, they asked me for money.
The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.
The seats were too hard and not at all comfortable.
I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me.
The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.
I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites—they came
to see their friends and what others were wearing rather than to see the game.
Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.
The band played some numbers that I had never heard before.
It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do other things.
I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.
I don’t want to take my children to any games, because I want
them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.3
c. Do you love the people of God?
I John 3: 14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
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18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”
B. The Christian Experiences Spiritual Perception.
1. The child of God has the capacity to understand spiritual truth.
I Cor.2: 14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
2. The child of God has a sincere desire to please and obey God?
I Cor.6: 20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.”
Col.1: 10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
C. The Christian Resides In A New Place.
1. The true believer in Christ has been given spiritual life.
Eph.2: 1 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
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4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
Col.2: 13 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him (Christ), having forgiven you all trespasses;”
2. The true believer in Christ has been delivered from Satan’s kingdom.
Col.1: 13 “Who (God the Father) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
D. The Christian Has A New Perspective.
Phil.3: 7 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
NOTE: [1] Folks, when a person comes to know Christ as their personal Savior, they take on a whole new perspective about life. Before they were saved, perhaps a night out drinking with the boys was considered a good time. But now they have no interest in it. Before they got saved, cursing a blue streak was no big deal. But since they gave their heart to Christ, they realize that that type of language dishonors God, Who said, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…” (Eph.4: 29a).
[2] My point is that when a person truly knows Christ as Savior their outlook on sin changes. Places they used to go; they can’t go anymore. Things they used to say; they feel uncomfortable saying now. People they used to hang out with; they don’t have anything in common with anymore.
Theme: For the true child of God:
I. A NEW CONDITION PREVAILS WITHIN
II. A NEW CONDUCT IS PRACTICED WITHOUT
A. A Christian’s Peers Will Change.
1. A new Christian’s desire to please the Lord usually drives away the old crowd they used to follow.
Ps.119: 115 “Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.”
John 3: 20 “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
2. That old wicked crowd that one used to run with generally initiates the distancing process.
John 15: 19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
3. The Word of God warns the Christian not to be pulled back into the things of the world.
Eph.5: 11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
II Cor.6: 14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel.”
B. The Christian’s Practice Will Change.
1. The overall fruit of one’s life indicates what they are.
Matt.7: 16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”
2. Sin is not the norm for the child of God.
I John 3: 6 “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
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9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
NOTE: The words “abideth” and “sinneth” of verse six, and the word “sin” in verse nine, are in the presence tense, which implies continuous action. The idea from the Greek is that which is a habit of life—that which is the status quo of a person’s existence.
Theme: For the true child of God:
I. A NEW CONDITION PREVAILS WITHIN
II. A NEW CONDUCT IS PRACTICED WITHOUT
III. A NEW COMPANION PRESIDES WITHIN
Rom.8: 9b “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
John 14: 17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
A. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Confidence That We Are Saved.
Rom.8: 16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
I John 3: 24b “…And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
NOTE: The question is not, “Has Jesus died to purchase forgiveness of sin and salvation for the world?” but “Do you know that your sins are forgiven and that you have been saved?”
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, “Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?”
“Well,” he answered, “Jesus Christ died for the whole world.”
“Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?”
Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation.
“But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?”
It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity. Latimer wrote Ridley once that when he was settled and steadfast about his own salvation he was as bold as a lion, but if that hope became eclipsed he was fearful and afraid and was disqualified for service. Many are disqualified for service because they are continually doubting their own salvation.4
B. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Counsel That Is Sure.
John 16: 13a “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…”
John 14: 26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
C. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Conviction Of Sin.
John 16: 7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
D. The Holy Spirit Gives Us The Capacity To Please The Savior.
1. We please Him by our witness.
Acts 1: 8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
2. We please Him by our obedient walk.
Phil.2: 13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
NOTE: The child of God has an inward desire to be obedient to the Lord, because they realize that He is their Master.
Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master.”5
Theme: For the true child of God:
I. A NEW CONDITION PREVAILS WITHIN
II. A NEW CONDUCT IS PRACTICED WITHOUT
III. A NEW COMPANION PRESIDES WITHIN
End Notes:
1 Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, The Way of the Master, published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 191.
2 Ian L. Wilson.
3 Author unknown.
4 Moody’s Anecdotes, pp. 101-102.
5 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 22.
