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2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 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?
How many people actually examine themselves regularly?
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 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?
How many people actually examine themselves regularly?
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 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?
How many people actually examine themselves regularly?
I would venture to guess it is probably the same amount of people who actually unbiasedly and critically examine the faith they are claiming to believe in.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 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?
How many people actually examine themselves regularly?
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 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?
How many people actually examine themselves regularly?
I find it strange that he did not mention the fruits of the spirit as evidence of ones walk with God. If you ask me that is the most tangible way of determining whether or not a person has a relationship with Christ.
For instance, anger is not a fruit of the spirit. So if you are angry often, regardless of whether you believe you have a righteous reason to be angry, you are not manifesting a fruit of the spirit even if you wrath is due to righteous indignation. Or if you are often controlling or anxious or afraid or confused ...
That is not to say that one who has the spirit is always right, and never succumbs to the temptations of the flesh to be angry or controlling or anxious or confused etc. ...
Also, i believe we should always examine ourselves, not only to verify our faith but also to test our understanding of the scriptures and the message that they are teaching. Many people blindly accept what they are taught to be true, and never question the human authority of the "pastor/teacher" and the traditional teachings to which he or she may subscribe.
Peace ...
Last edited by Ironmaw1776; 09-15-2010 at 10:41 AM..
I would venture to guess it is probably the same amount of people who actually unbiasedly and critically examine the faith they are claiming to believe in.
I agree totally ChristyGrl!! Even takeing it one step further and say that we should unbiasedly and ctitically examine what we are being taught... in light of scripture.
I find it strange that he did not mention the fruits of the spirit as evidence of ones walk with God. If you ask me that is the most tangible way of determining whether or not a person has a relationship with Christ.
For instance, anger is not a fruit of the spirit. So if you are angry often, regardless of whether you believe you have a righteous reason to be angry, you are not manifesting a fruit of the spirit even if you wrath is due to righteous indignation. Or if you are often controlling or anxious or afraid or confused ...
That is not to say that one who has the spirit is always right, and never succumbs to the temptations of the flesh to be angry or controlling or anxious or confused etc. ...
Also, i believe we should always examine ourselves, not only to verify our faith but also to test our understanding of the scriptures and the message that they are teaching. Many people blindly accept what they are taught to be true, and never question the human authority of the "pastor/teacher" and the traditional teachings to which he or she may subscribe.
Peace ...
Ironmaw,
I agree that the fruits of the Spirit are one way to tell if you, or decern if someone else is "In Christ", (you will fully know them by their fruits. - Matthew 7:17-20) but as the article says, "A Christian, of course, is not simply one who joins a Christian church. Nor does adhering to a certain moral standard in your life or the fact that you consistently read the Bible make you a Christian". So you might be able to fool yourself or others as the Pharisees did, by controlling your outward actions. I think that why we must look at the whole picture.
And I agree that we actually have to learn scripture ourselves to make sure that we are not following the "traditions of men" above or instead of the Word of God. God gave us the book, HIS book to teach us. Not that we should continue to be fed like babies, but so we could learn as well.
I agree totally ChristyGrl!! Even takeing it one step further and say that we should unbiasedly and ctitically examine what we are being taught... in light of scripture.
Exactly...way too many just blindly follow what others tell them or teach them without ever finding out if what they are being told or taught is true...education only comes when one unbiasedly and critically examines all sides of the issue.
Spirituality is a very PERSONAL thing...no one will have the same walk as another...true individual spiritual enlightenment only comes when one is willing to search out the TRUTH for themselves.
The point of examining yourself though is to recognize that you are a sinner and lead you to the cross where Christ became sin and died for you, isn't it?
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 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?
How many people actually examine themselves regularly?
I do not believe that is what Paul had meant with that verse for self examination.
Wayward believers nowadays are chasing after the Holy Spirit. They go to Toronto or to Pensacola or to their church for the phenomenon of the "Holy Spirit" coming and going in the worship place.
That verse about examining oneself is in light of that. No one should be chasing after the Holy Spirit when He is in us as promised by Jesus Christ.
To do any chasing is akin to labouring in unbelief and in works denying Him.
Believers would do well to remember their first love and be chaste in their relationship with God by relating to God the Father through the Son: the Bridegroom.... and not be cahsing after other "gods" or "spirits" in the world that seeks to take the spotlight off of Jesus in the worship place... even for a moment.
Granted, we should also examine ourselves in our walk with the Lord, but I read this self examination in regards to our faith is meaning to avoid anything that would be contrary to what we say and believe.
And there are many believers that will say that they believe that the Holy Spirit is in them, but they still chase after the Holy Spirit to get "more" of Him...as if they are not complete in Christ and are a leaky vessel.
Colossians 2: 5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Matthew 9:17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
No believer is a leaky vessel if they wish to be a witness of the Son in what He has done for us. We are complete where we can rest in Jesus Christ as being His to be a witness of Him in seeking the glory of His name and not another's nor any movement of the "Spirit".
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