Genuine Saving Faith

Examine Yourselves: The Call to Genuine Faith

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Summary: In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul urges the believers in Corinth to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith. This calls for introspection, a critical self-assessment of one's spiritual state.

Application: This message encourages Christians to confront their spiritual lives honestly. In a world filled with distractions and false assurances, believers need to ensure their faith is rooted in a genuine relationship with Christ rather than mere religious activity.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that genuine saving faith requires self-examination and repentance. It emphasizes that true believers will show evidence of their faith through their actions and lives, which must align with the teachings of Jesus.

How this passage could point to Christ: The call for self-examination points to Christ as the ultimate standard of faith and righteousness. In Him, we find the perfect example of what genuine faith looks like, culminating in His sacrificial love and obedience to the Father, which we are called to emulate.

Big Idea: Genuine faith is not merely a profession but a transformative relationship with Christ, evidenced by a life of obedience and holiness.

Recommended Study: In preparation for this sermon, consider exploring the cultural context of the Corinthian church and the implications of Paul's challenges. Utilize Logos to evaluate various translations of 'examine' in 2 Corinthians 13:5 and how they may impact the understanding of self-assessment. Additionally, look into commentaries that focus on the nature of authentic faith in Paul's letters, which will help address any potential challenges in application.

1. Prompt for Personal Reflection

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

What does Paul mean by urging believers to 'examine yourselves' in 2 Corinthians 13:5?

Perhaps you could encourage the congregation to critically assess their own beliefs and actions to ensure that their faith is not just a cultural identity or habitual practice, but a genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ. Highlight the importance of examining the evidence of one's life in the context of living out Christ's teachings, displaying His love, and growing in holiness as the true manifestations of faith.

What implications does the call for self-examination have for the way we live our daily lives?

Evidences that neither prove nor disprove one’s faith

A man walks into a church, dressed impeccably and carrying a Bible. He volunteers for every ministry, attends every service, and is acclaimed by many as a model Christian. Yet, at home, he is unkind, addicted to vices, and neglectful of his family. While his outward appearance shines, his heart remains untouched. Genuine faith goes beyond external actions; it’s a heart transformed by grace, leading to authentic love and kindness. Are we merely putting on a show, or is our faith truly lived out in every part of our lives?

Visible Morality:

Matthew 19:16–21 “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.””

In this passage Jesus is not denying His Deity, but rather teaching that all but God are sinners. This young mans most serious issue was his hesitance to confess he was a sinner. In Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does Jesus mean by being poor in spirit? The opposite of being self-sufficient. Deep humility in recognizing we’re spiritually bankrupt without God. The passage describes those who are acutely aware of their own lostness and hopelessness apart from grace. Picking back up in the passage Jesus says” If you would enter into life keep the commandments. This is Law, not gospel. Before Showing him the way to life, Jesus wanted to impress upon him both the high moral standard required by God and the absolute futility of seeking salvation by his own merit. This should have elicited a response about the impossibility of keeping the law, but instead the rich young ruler confidently declared he qualified for heaven under those terms.

In verses 18-19 These are 5 of the 6 commandments that make up the second table of the 10 commandments- all dealing with human relationships ( Exodus 20:12–16 ““Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” ; Deuteronomy 5:16–20 ““ ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “ ‘You shall not murder. “ ‘And you shall not commit adultery. “ ‘And you shall not steal. “ ‘And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” ( Jesus summarizes the whole law later in matthew 22:40 under 2 categories love for God-first 4, and love for neighbor last 6. Christ omits the 10th which deals with coveting and added Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Lets continue in the passage back at verse 20, He says I have kept; the self righteous young ruler would not admit to his own sin. In verse 21 , go sell what you possess and give to the poor. Jesus was not setting forth terms for salvation, but rather exposing the young mans true heart. His refusal to obey here revealed two things: He was not blameless as far as the law was concerned, because he was guilty of loving himself and his possessions more than his neighbors; and he lacked true faith, which is a willingness to surrender all at Christs bidding. Jesus was not teaching salvation by philanthropy; but he was demanding that this young man give him first place.

In what ways might distractions in today's world hinder our ability to genuinely assess our faith?

How does the evident lack of genuine faith in the rich young ruler serve as a warning for believers today?

Matthew 23:27 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”

whitewashed tombs Tombs were regularly whitewashed to make them stand out. Accidentally touching or stepping on a grave caused ceremonial uncleanness ( Num 19:16) A freshly whitewashed tomb would be brilliantly white and clean looking and sometimes spectacularly ornate, but the inside was full of defilement and decay.

Visible morality refers to people who appear to be good, moral individuals. These are people who are honest, forthright, grateful, kind, and exhibit an external, visible form of morality.1 However, this outward morality does not necessarily indicate a genuine relationship with God. Such individuals may be honest and loyal in their dealings with everyone except God, ultimately resembling the rich young ruler who claimed to have kept all the commandments but lacked true spiritual understanding.

In your family environment, it's easy to evaluate faith based on how well everyone adheres to moral principles, but remember that outward behavior doesn’t capture the whole picture of one's relationship with God. If you notice a family member exhibiting a lack of visible morality, rather than judging their faith, approach them with empathy and compassion. Have an open conversation about their struggles and how they see God’s grace in their life. Create a safe space for honesty, which might reveal a profound spiritual depth that isn’t readily apparent.