Take the Test
2 Corinthians 13. Paul now makes a final appeal to these Corinthians. He did not want his third visit to their church to be a another painful experience for them and him. He had opened his heart to them, explained his ministry, answered their accusations, and urged them to submit to the Word of God and obey the Lord. What more could he say or do? So, he closes with a two-fold warning:
1. Prepare Yourselves 13:1-4
2. Examine Yourselves 13:5-8
This paragraph is an application of the word "proof" that Paul used back in v.3. "You've been examining me", wrote Paul, "but why don't you take time to examine yourselves?" It is sad, but so true that those who are quick to examine and condemn others are often guilty of worse sins themselves. So in an effort to make themselves look better, they condemn others. So Paul said that they should examine their own hearts to see if they were really born again and members of the family of God. Pastor and author Warren Wiersbe tells of a church he pastored where they had a teenager who was the center of every problem in the youth group. He was a gifted musician and a member of the church, but nevertheless he was a problem. Then one summer at a Youth Camp, he got saved. His Chrisitian profession up until that time had been counterfeit.
I too have seen this in ministry and heard similar testimonies from other pastors. Often the biggest trouble makers in the church are lost and have never been born again. Paul sensed this to be the case at Corinth, and admonished them to examine themselves to see if they were truly saved or not. In v7 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. NO. He wanted them to truly be saved and growing in Christ.
What about you? We go to the doctor for checkups. Well it would be wise to go to the best heart doctor I know, Jesus Christ, and have a check up. Are you truly saved? Are you in a genuine relationship with Him? Then are you growing in Him? Are you growing daily in the Word of God? Are you growing in your walk with Him?
1. Prepare Yourselves 13:1-4
2. Examine Yourselves 13:5-8
This paragraph is an application of the word "proof" that Paul used back in v.3. "You've been examining me", wrote Paul, "but why don't you take time to examine yourselves?" It is sad, but so true that those who are quick to examine and condemn others are often guilty of worse sins themselves. So in an effort to make themselves look better, they condemn others. So Paul said that they should examine their own hearts to see if they were really born again and members of the family of God. Pastor and author Warren Wiersbe tells of a church he pastored where they had a teenager who was the center of every problem in the youth group. He was a gifted musician and a member of the church, but nevertheless he was a problem. Then one summer at a Youth Camp, he got saved. His Chrisitian profession up until that time had been counterfeit.
I too have seen this in ministry and heard similar testimonies from other pastors. Often the biggest trouble makers in the church are lost and have never been born again. Paul sensed this to be the case at Corinth, and admonished them to examine themselves to see if they were truly saved or not. In v7 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. NO. He wanted them to truly be saved and growing in Christ.
What about you? We go to the doctor for checkups. Well it would be wise to go to the best heart doctor I know, Jesus Christ, and have a check up. Are you truly saved? Are you in a genuine relationship with Him? Then are you growing in Him? Are you growing daily in the Word of God? Are you growing in your walk with Him?
posted by Royce Hendry at
5:43 AM
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