“Examine Yourselves!”

One of the most difficult tests of friendship is the willingness to confront your friend when he or she has done something wrong.

An equally important challenge is how one responds to such a rebuke!

In the closing of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we see both aspects in play as Paul openly discusses the possible reactions to his letter.

Paul, at the risk of losing his relationship with them, lays it all on the line and challenges them in (v.5) – “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves…” to see if Christ is in them!

KEY: A person’s response to authority (be it in the family, the government, or the church) is key to whether they even belong to Christ!

Now I realize that’s a rather strong statement, so let me give you some Scripture:

Family – (Ephesians 5:21-22; 6:1-4)

Government – (Romans 13:1-2)

Church – (Hebrews 13:17)

THREE WEEKS AGO, we examined the love that Paul had for the Church in Corinth—a love that was not necessarily returned – (12:15)

YET PAUL had the courage to confront them, and THAT is true love!

(READ TEXT – PRAY)

2 Corinthians 13:1–10 CSB

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 2 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power. 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test. 6 And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 7 But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail. 8 For we can’t do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. 10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

I. His Concern about Their Response to His Authority – (13:1-4)

A.  His REFERENCE to the Law of Sufficient Evidence – (v.1)

Deuteronomy 19:15 CSB

15 “One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

1 Timothy 5:19–20 CSB

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.

B.  His REASON for this letter – (v.2)

His planned visit will be his THIRD WITNESS!

2 Corinthians 12:21 CSB

21 I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.

Proverbs 27:5–6 CSB

5 Better an open reprimand than concealed love. 6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

C.  His REMARKS concerning Christ speaking through him – (v.3-4)

In other words, Paul is coming with the POWER and AUTHORITY of Christ!

Matthew 18:19–20 CSB

19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

Paul is binding them to the power of God!

II. His Challenge to Them to Do Some Self-Examination – (13:5-8)

“Test yourselves…Examine yourselves.” 

The Greek text puts the word “yourselves” first – in the emphatic position!

A. The Practice of self-examination – (v.5a)

(1 Corinthians 11:26-32)

B. The Purpose of self-examination – (v.5b) - “…to see if you are in the faith”

1 Corinthians 16:13 CSB

13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.

Titus 1:13 CSB

13 This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith

1 Peter 5:9 CSB

9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

C. The Priority of self-examination – (v.5c) “…that Jesus Christ is in you?”

Colossians 1:27 CSB

27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Why do I need the presence of Christ? Can’t I just be forgiven, and go to heaven when I die?

John 15:4–5 CSB

4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

John 17:21–23 CSB

21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

D.  The Problem of self-examination – (v.5d) – “…unless you fail the test.”

KJV – “…except ye be reprobates”

αδόκιμοι – ‘rejected, depraved, disqualified, unworthy.’  Used eight times in the NT, three in this passage. Its basic meaning is “not passing the test.”

2 Timothy 3:8 CSB

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith.

Hebrews 6:8 CSB

8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.

Matthew 7:17–20 CSB

17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

1. The TESTIMONY of Paul – (v.6) – “…that we ourselves do not fail the test.”

2. The TRUTH for which he prayed – (vv.7-8)

A PRAYERFUL desire for HOLINESS! – (v.7)

“…that you do nothing wrong” (Gk: kakon)

“…that you may do what is right” (Gk: kalon – “good”)

3. A POWERFUL dependance on TRUTH! – (v.8)

III. His COMMITMENT to their spiritual growth & maturity – (13:9-10)

A.  It involved their Perfection – (v.9)

katartisin (from katartizo). Used about seventeen times (Matthew 4:21) – “…preparing [mending] their nets”(cf. v.11).

More next week!

B.  It involved their Edification – (v.10) – “…not for tearing down.”

We are to build people up, not tear them down!

CONCLUSION

The PURPOSE of this message is NOT to tear down your confidence in your salvation, but to strengthen it!

Let me give you three tests you can take to see if you are “…in the faith”

A.  The test of the HOLY SPIRIT! – (Romans 8:9-17)

B.  The test of OBEDIENCE! – (1 John 2:3-6)

C.  The test of LOVE! – (1 John 3:10-15)

The SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE, and LOVE—are PROOF that you are SAVED!