EXAMINE YOUR HEART

“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?” 2 Corinthians 13:5 

       The Corinthian believers were questioning Paul’s Apostleship, so he challenged them to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith of Christ.  Paul’s thinking was thus, if they find they are in fact in the faith, then it proves his own Apostleship based on their response to his teaching and preaching on his first two visits.  Their response brought about a spiritual awakening. 

        This examination is a healthy process that today’s believers should also partake in.  We will know we are in the faith of Christ if we practice the following:  place our full trust in Christ ¹; obey His will for us ²; grow in holiness ³; exhibit the fruit of the Spirit ⁴; have love for the brethren ⁵; become a positive influence to others ⁶; adhere to apostolic (pastoral) teaching ⁷ and testify to the Holy Spirit that is within us ⁸.

        Without these things our faith will be weak, if not nonexistent.  We must spend time with our Heavenly Father to truly know Him.  To know Him is to realize His great power and by contrast His great mercy and grace.  God wants you to delve deeper into His word, for it is there that you will find nuggets of gold that will lift your faith to heavenly heights.  Knowing Him as we are known should be the goal of every true believer.  How can this be accomplished if we do not dig deep into the heart of God?  Surrender your heart, soul, life and will over to the leading of His Holy Spirit and learn first hand what it means to be truly born again.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible and The Reformation Study Bible.

1  Hebrews 3:6

2  Matthew 7:21

3  Hebrews 12:14; 1 John 3:3

4  Galatians 5:22-23

5  1 John 3:14

6  Matthew 5:16

7  1 John 4:2

8  Romans 8:15-16