The Value of a Mid-Term Exam

Image result for examine yourselves

 2 Corinthians 13:15
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"

 As Paul closes out the difficult letter he needed to write to the Corinthians, he ends with this challenge. Though he has given them many exhortations, there is perhaps none more important than this.  Paul asks them to test and examine themselves as to whether they are really Christians.  I don't think Paul is saying this in a "snarky" way.  I think he is really concerned about their salvation.  Their behavior is so unbecoming of a Christian, he worries if they are saved.  In this concern he does not presume to be their judge. Far from it he speaks more in a pastoral tone.  

 In reality, the Corinthians were judging him based on their own worldly standards.  Paul is saying before you judge me, take a hard look at yourselves.  Examine your own life.  And for Paul the lithmus test was if Jesus was in them.  To put it another way, did they have a relationship God through Christ.  Jesus came to restore our relationship with him, and as we trust in Him, He lives inside of us.  

 Paul says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

 And, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20-21

 Again I don't think Paul is judging anyone's salvation as only God can do that, but he is asking them an honest question.  As we examine ourselves, our eyes should be on Christ. Is my behavior increasingly in alignment with Jesus' character?  Am I becoming more Christ-like in the way I treat others?  Am I sensitive to the Holy Spirit and obedient to His promptings? 

 The one good thing about a test is it shows you where you are at. We take mid term exams in school to see how we are doing so far.  It helps us see where we are at when we will eventually take the final exam.  

 It is good every now and then to step back and look at our lives in relationship to who we claim to be.  If someone were to watch us day in and day out, would there be enough evidence to convict us of being a Christ follower?  Paul posed this question to the Corinthians and I think it is good for us to examine and test ourselves too.  

 Remember too it is the Holy Spirit who lives in you and reminds you daily that you are in Christ.  He is a downpayment guaranteeing our future inheritance! It is only by relying on the Spirit of Christ can you be the person God created you to be.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more