<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS" Examine Yourselves (13:5) INTRODUCTION 1. As Jeremiah lamented over the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, he called for the people to examine themselves and turn back to the Lord - Lam 3:40-41 2. In teaching on the proper observance of the Lord's Supper, Paul wrote that it was to be a time for self-examination - 1Co 11:27-31 3. Paul later challenged the Corinthians to "examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves." - 2Co 13:5 a. In doing so, he employs the present tense for the verbs "examine" and "prove" b. Indicating that such examination was to be an on-going activity! 4. This should naturally raise some important questions... a. Why should we examine ourselves? b. By what standard should we examine ourselves c. What sort of questions should we be asking ourselves? [In this lesson, I would like for us to focus our attention on this call to "Examine Yourselves". As we do so, let's answer the questions already raised, beginning with...] I. WHY SHOULD WE EXAMINE OURSELVES? A. TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE ARE IN THE FAITH... 1. Paul said, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." a. The expression "in the faith" refers to being a faithful Christian b. Thus we are to examine whether or not we are remaining faithful to the Lord! 2. We need to remember that the danger of drifting is ever present a. It is possible to drift away if we neglect our salvation - cf. He 2:1-4 b. It is possible to develop an evil heart of unbelief - cf. He 3:12-14 3. What our text implies, however, is that it is possible to KNOW of one's standing before God a. In fact, the Bible was written for this purpose, that we might know b. One book in particular has this purpose in mind - 1Jn 5: 13; 2:3; 3:14,24 B. TO DETERMINE IF JESUS CHRIST IS IN US... 1. Paul challenged the Corinthians to consider whether Jesus Christ was in them 2. That Christ indwells the Christian is a wonderful thought a. It was promised by Jesus Himself - Jn 14:21-23 b. It begins when we put Christ on in baptism - Ga 3:26-27 3. We may wonder at times "how" He indwells, but the key here is... a. To know that He does! b. To realize there are ways we can KNOW whether He does! -- Which is why we need to periodically examine ourselves! C. TO DETERMINE IF WE ARE DISQUALIFIED... 1. It is a given that Christ is in Christians, unless they have become "disqualified" 2. What does "disqualified" mean? a. Here is how some other translations read... 1) "ye be reprobates" (KJV, ASV) 2) "you fail the test" (NASV, NIV) b. Literally, "not standing the test", and in the context it refers to the test of... 1) Being in the faith 2) Having Christ in you 3. This verse is simply another among many that reveal that a Christian can indeed fall away from grace! a. Paul warned of falling from grace - cf. Ga 5:4 b. Peter likewise warned of falling from one's own steadfastness - cf. 2Pe 3:17 c. Jesus described what would happen to those branches who did not bear fruit - Jn 15:1-2,6 -- Again, through self-examination one can KNOW what their true condition is! D. TO DETERMINE IF WE REALLY KNOW OURSELVES... 1. As Paul calls for self-examination, he asks "Do you not know yourselves...?" a. We can easily fall into the trap of self-deception - e.g., Jm 1:22-25 b. The religion of such a person is "useless" - Jm 1:26 2. Only through periodic self-examination can we avoid deceiving ourselves! [So the need is ever present to "examine yourselves", to "prove yourselves". That leads to the next question...] II. BY WHAT STANDARD SHOULD WE EXAMINE OURSELVES? A. NOT BY THE ESTIMATE OF SELF... 1. We cannot trust solely upon what we may think of ourselves a. We are approved only if the Lord commends us - 2Co 10:18 b. Therefore even though we might "think" we are right, we are not the final arbitrator - cf. 1Co 4:4 2. We can be wrong in our basic assumptions, which can lead to wrong conclusions about ourselves a. Paul had thought persecuting Christians was pleasing to God - Ac 26:9-11 b. There will be many people at the Judgment who thought they were pleasing God during their lifetime - Mt 7:21-23 -- We must therefore look for a standard outside of ourselves by which to examine ourselves! B. NOT BY THE ESTIMATE OF MEN... 1. We cannot compare ourselves with others, or trust their approval a. To compare ourselves with others is unwise - 2Co 10:12 b. The approval of others is a small thing - 1Co 4:3 2. People are often wrong in their thoughts and evaluations a. The majority will find themselves lost on the day of judgment - Mt 7:13-14 b. Even many religious will be surprised - Mt 7:21-23 -- We must still look for yet another standard by which to examine ourselves C. WE MUST TRY OURSELVES BY THE STANDARD OF GOD'S WORD... 1. Again, it is the commendation of the Lord that makes one approved - 2Co 10:18 2. It is the Lord who is the ultimate Judge - 1Co 4:4; 2Co 5:10 3. As the Lord Himself has said, we will be judged by His words - Jn 12:48 [The only appropriate standard to use when we examine ourselves is the Word of God. We cannot trust our feelings, or what others might say. Finally, let me share some...] III. QUESTIONS TO HELP US EXAMINE OURSELVES A. IS CHRIST IN ME...? 1. Have I put Him on in baptism? - Ga 3:27 2. Am I keeping His commandments? - Jn 14:21 B. ARE THE "MARKS" OF DISCIPLESHIP PRESENT IN MY LIFE...? 1. Am I abiding in His word? - Jn 8:31 2. Do I love my brethren like Christ loved me? - Jn 13:34-35; 1Jn 3:14-19 3. Am I bearing fruit? - Jn 15:8 a. Such as the fruit of the Spirit - Ga 5:22-23 b. Such as the fruit of our lips in praising God - He 13:15 c. Such as the fruit of good works - cf. Tit 2:14; 3:8,14 C. DO I HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF THOSE WHO WERE TRUE DISCIPLES...? 1. Under inspiration, Paul wrote 2Co 13:6; what was his frame of mind? 2. We can glean the mind of a true disciple from Php 3:7-14 a. We read of his goal in life (7-11) b. We read of his attitudes in attaining that goal (12-14) 3. We will ALL have this "frame of mind" if we are "in the faith" and "Christ is in us" - cf. Php 3:15-17 CONCLUSION 1. Other questions might be appropriate to ask when examining ourselves, but I hope this illustrates how we need to use the Word of God to "prove" ourselves 2. Consider the sad plight of those who are "reprobate", "disqualified", who "fail the test"... a. Paul describes some of them in Php 3:18-19 b. Because they set their mind on earthly things, their end is destruction! -- How much better to be like those described in Php 3:20-21! To ensure that you will not be "disqualified", then frequently "Examine Yourselves" in the light of God's Word!<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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