2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
We periodically question or examine the salvation "status" of others. Here the apostle encourages his hearers to examine their own faith and salvation.
A helpful way to do this is to consider the types of things that usually lead you question or examine another's faith. What behaviors do you see that make you wonder if another is regenerate? What beliefs about Jesus pique your curiosity to consider and question another's adherence to the one, true Gospel? What endeavors or alliances in which others participate lead you to wonder what their heart desires? What fruit do you pick at in others?
Got your lists ready? Ok, now use all that we just covered and apply liberally to yourself. By liberally of course I mean exhaustively, not liberally like applying them only when and where it feels good or loosely or not at all.
How do you know that you believe in Jesus? How do you know that Jesus Christ is in you? What do you believe and why do you believe it and is that in concert with what the Bible preaches?
These are great questions to ask on occassion and the hope of the apostle Paul and myself is that you would be found to have passed the exam. The goal is not to always be in doubt. The goal is to understand and appreciate the Gospel of God. May it be that this exercise encourages your faith further and that if you find any disappointment in having fallen short, you find faith by which to lean on Jesus the more going forward. May it be that this exam corrects any errors in thinking, believing, acting, or speaking in your heart, mind, and life. May the exam diagnose accurately the disease that the cure may be all the more applied and appreciated for the Name and sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
We periodically question or examine the salvation "status" of others. Here the apostle encourages his hearers to examine their own faith and salvation.
A helpful way to do this is to consider the types of things that usually lead you question or examine another's faith. What behaviors do you see that make you wonder if another is regenerate? What beliefs about Jesus pique your curiosity to consider and question another's adherence to the one, true Gospel? What endeavors or alliances in which others participate lead you to wonder what their heart desires? What fruit do you pick at in others?
Got your lists ready? Ok, now use all that we just covered and apply liberally to yourself. By liberally of course I mean exhaustively, not liberally like applying them only when and where it feels good or loosely or not at all.
How do you know that you believe in Jesus? How do you know that Jesus Christ is in you? What do you believe and why do you believe it and is that in concert with what the Bible preaches?
These are great questions to ask on occassion and the hope of the apostle Paul and myself is that you would be found to have passed the exam. The goal is not to always be in doubt. The goal is to understand and appreciate the Gospel of God. May it be that this exercise encourages your faith further and that if you find any disappointment in having fallen short, you find faith by which to lean on Jesus the more going forward. May it be that this exam corrects any errors in thinking, believing, acting, or speaking in your heart, mind, and life. May the exam diagnose accurately the disease that the cure may be all the more applied and appreciated for the Name and sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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