SELF-EXAMINATION: A SPIRITUAL CHECKUP
2 CORINTHIANS 13:1-6
(DISCERNING HEAD KNOWLEDGE FROM HEART RELATIONSHIP)
Introduction: Recently I was asked, "How does one know whether one merely has a head knowledge of Christ or has been truly born again and has a true heart relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?" Is there any merit or value in questioning one’s salvation? The Bible gives strong warrant for each of us to conduct self-examination of our faith. It not only gives us the reason for self-examination but also provides us with the measures for examining our profession of faith.
I. The Reason from Self Examination
A. Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
B. 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.
C. Examine – peirazô – to scrutinize, try, examine / Test (Prove) – dokimazô – to discern, try, prove, refers to assaying or trying metals by the powerful action of heat
D. Distinguish from emotional decisions, head decisions, decisions of convenience, and superficial insincere decisions with that which is genuine conversion and a true heart relationship with Jesus Christ.
E. Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
F. In one of Gypsy Smith’s missions a young fellow came to him, a fine character who had been put in a most prominent place in that particular mission. He was delegated to take the hand of every inquirer during the week long meeting and give the last word of advice and counsel. He filled his position from Monday to Saturday, and on Saturday evening he said to Gypsy Smith he wanted to talk with him on Sunday. Gypsy asked him what he wanted to see him about, thinking he wanted to see him about some special case. He said, "About my own soul." "Why," Gypsy asked, "what is the trouble?" He said "I am not converted; I have never been born again." He said, "My parents supposed I was a Christian and urged me to join the church, and I did so. My pastor supposed I was a Christian and I was made a Sunday School teacher and an officer in the church. Because they supposed and kept on supposing, nobody has ever looked me in the eye and said: "Harry, are you right with God?" --Gypsy Smith
1 John 5 tells us that John wrote the epistle under the leadership of the Holy Spirit to give us assurance to the reality of our salvation. The entire book of First John provides tests for evaluating the authenticity of one’s Christian experience.
II. Evidences that distinguish between head knowledge and heart knowledge of Christ.
A. The evidence of a changed life and changed desire
1. 1 John 1:6 MKJV If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
2. 1 John 2:15 NKJV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
3. John 3:19 MKJV And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil.
4. When a person comes to Christ there should be a change of desires and motivation. You cannot be satisfied with the things of this world. The very word conversion means a change or transformation.
5. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
6. II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
7. In the song, ’The Change’ by Steven Curtis Chapman, Chapman talks about having all of the Christian gadgets T-shirts and bracelets, Bible magnets and bumper stickers, but asks ’what about The Change?’ A Believer is a new creation there will be a change.
B. The evidence of an obedient life
1. 1 John 2:3-5 MKJV And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.
2. 1 John 3:24a NKJV Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.
3. The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are at opposite sides of the same coin. – A.W. Tozer. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 4
C. The evidence of a perseverant life
1. I John 2:19 NKJV They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
2. Proverbs 4:18 MKJV But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
3. "A Kansas City church’s slogan: WAKE UP, SING UP, PREACH UP, PRAY UP AND PAY UP - BUT NEVER GIVE UP OR LET UP OR BACK UP OR SHUT UP UNTIL THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THIS CHURCH AND IN THIS WORLD IS BUILT UP. – copied
4. John 8:31 MKJV Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed.
D. The evidence of an unashamed life
1. I John 2:23 NKJV Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
2. Matthew 10:32-33 NKJV Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
3. There is NO such thing as a secret Disciple.
4. Matthew 10:38 NKJV …he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
5. Judas the Gaulonite (of Galilee) led an insurrection against the Roman occupation of Israel. Varus, governor of Syria, entered Palestine with 20,000 men and crucified Judas and 2000 rebels on crosses along the roads of Galilee as a lesson and warning to others. (Will Durant, Caesar And Christ, pp. 542–543). Those crucified had to carry the crossbeam to their death. When Christ said to would-be followers to take up their crosses he was calling them to identify with Christ to the point that they would be willing to face death rather than to deny Him.
E. The evidence of a holy life
1. 1 John 3:6-9 NKJV Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
2. All of us are guilty of sin. But if you can continually sin without remorse, conviction, chastisement or repentance, then you had better question the reality of your profession.
3. Hebrews 12:6 NKJV For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you, as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
4. A man was asked if he thought the Lord loved him. He replied, “I know the Lord loves me. He says in His book that he chastens those that He loves, and He chastens me so much I know He has to love me a whole lot”
5. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
F. The evidence of a fellowshipping life
1. 1 John 3:14-15 NKJV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
2. Dr. Gregory Frizzell says that the greatest mark of a saved person is a loving compassionate spirit. (Returning to Holiness, Frizzell, p 92)
3. Do you harbor hatred for or an unforgiving spirit toward anyone?
4. ... you can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. - Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 8.
5. Are you faithful in regular fellowship with God’s people in the local church? Are you able to skip church attendance for weeks at a time without any conviction over it? Do you look forward to fellowship with on-fire Christians?
6. A backslidden Christian can stay out of church and away from other believers, but it is an absolute certainty that the true believer will never be comfortable remaining outside of God’s house.
7. Hebrews 10:25 NKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
G. The evidence of a Spirit led life
1. 1 John 4:13 NKJV By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
2. 1 John 3:24b NKJV …And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
3. Romans 8:14, 16 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
4. The Spirit bears witness through the fruit that He produces in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).
5. Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
H. The evidence of a surrendered life
1. 1 John 5:2-3 NKJV By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (grievous).
2. Some object that much of God’s laws and what God asks of us are unreasonable; that they impose improper restraints; that they are not easily complied with and often too austere. But no such complaints come from true Christians.
3. A true believer has a desire to do whatever God wants him to do – not out of legalism and compulsion but out of a heartfelt submission to Christ as Lord
4. Romans 10:9 NASB That if you confess with your mouth JESUS AS LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
