EXAMINE YOURSELVES--II CORINTHIANS 13:5

EXAMINE YOURSELVES

II CORINTHIANS 13:5,

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Introduction:

The Apostle Paul is defending his Apostleship in this chapter by declaring that the very proof of his apostleship is the changed lives of those that are now members of the Church in Corinth.

Paul challenges the brethren to “examine” themselves whether they are in the faith. I believe that many Christians today need this challenge. They need to look at themselves and find the evidence that they are really born-again Christians and whether or not they are serving Jesus Christ according to His will.

I. THE DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR FAITH

A. Did YOU DEMONSTRATE that YOU were in the faith? 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

B. Did YOU demonstrate that Christ was in YOU by OBEYING His will? Romans 6:16-17, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17- But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

1. To stand the test was to do what was RIGHT, Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

2. To fail was to be DISOBEDIENT and therefore subject to God’s discipline.

a. The results of disobedience, Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

b. Death for all men was the result of Adam’s disobedience, Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

II. THE TEST OF YOUR FAITH

Vv. 5-6, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6- But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”

A. It is absurd to imagine that we can be consistent Christians and live in the world, 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.”

B. Paul expresses his concern regarding the consistency of his own testimony, 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

1. Paul was sure of his testimony and thus he says, “Receive us,” 2 Corinthians 7:2, “Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man,”

a. We have wronged no man, 2 Corinthians 1:12, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

b. We have corrupted no man, 2 Corinthians 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

c. We have defrauded no man, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9, “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8- Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9- Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”

2. You also are sure of where you stand regarding your testimony with the Lord before this world, Romans 8:35-39.

a. God’s mercy is everlasting, Psalm 103:17, “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”

b. His love is everlasting, Jeremiah 31:3, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

C. We can be consistent even though we may fall from time to time, the Lord will stay with us, Psalm 37:24, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 28- For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off .”

CONCLUSION

The evidence of Paul’s apostleship was the living proof of the born-again Christians in all of the places where he had ministered. God’s people make a difference when they are consistent in their testimony for Jesus Christ.

The world may not like us, but they can see Jesus Christ in our lives when we follow the teachings of the Word of God.