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I shouldn’t let my faith go on cruise control. The Apostle Paul urges disciples of Jesus to examine themselves. I need to be critical of how I am doing in my walk with Jesus. I need others to help me.

  • Is it possible to start strong and end weak?
  • Is it about the beginning?
  • What if I run out of energy and can’t finish the race?

Do I think that going to church once a week and occasionally reading the bible is enough?

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus the Messiah is in you — unless indeed you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 13:5

  • My job is to test myself. Is Jesus in me?
  • I can fail. I cannot be ready. No one else can do this for me. It is my job.
  • It isn’t acceptable to just keep moving on and winging it when it comes to my faith.

David was big on considering what was in his heart. He had a heart after God but didn’t take it for granted.

Jesus had harsh words for hypocrites. “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

  • Am I just acting like God is real in my life?
  • Do I really believe Jesus?
  • Or am I a hypocrite?

Paul suggests to:

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4:16

“Examine yourselves!” This paragraph from 2 Corinthians 13:5-8 is an application of the word proof that Paul used in 2 Corinthians 13:3. “You have been examining me,” wrote Paul, “but why don’t you take time to examine yourselves?” I have noticed that those who are quick to examine and condemn others are often guilty of worse sins themselves. In fact, one way to make yourself look better is to condemn somebody else.

We have good news! Want to know how to be saved? Click here or here for more.

 

To begin with, Paul told the Corinthians that they should examine their hearts to see if they were really born again and members of the family of God. Do you have the witness of the Holy Spirit in your heart? Do you love the brethren? Do you practice righteousness? Have you overcome the world so that you are living a life of godly separation? These are just a few of the tests we can apply to our own lives to be certain that we are the children of God.

No doubt many of the problems in the church at Corinth were caused by people who professed to be saved, but who had never repented and trusted Jesus the Messiah. Our churches are filled with such people today. Paul called such people reprobate, which means “counterfeit, discredited after a test.”

Paul made it clear that he did not want the Corinthians to fail the test just to prove that he was right. Nor did he want them to live godly lives just so he could boast about them. He did not mind being despised and criticized for their sakes, so long as they were obeying the Master Jesus. He was not concerned about his own reputation, for the Master knew his heart; but he was concerned about their Christian character.

The important thing is the truth of the Gospel and the Word of God. Paul did not state here that it is impossible to attack the truth or hinder the truth, for these things were going on at that time in the Corinthian church. He was affirming that he and his associates wanted the truth to prevail, no matter what happens, and that they were determined to further the truth, not obstruct it. In the end, God’s truth will prevail, so why try to oppose it? “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against YHWH” (Prov. 21:30).[1]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 678–679). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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