II Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.
(I don't know about you, but for years, I always thought this was for me, an individual, to check out if I was really saved, or not.
However, I have come to understand that this is not what this scripture is doing here.
I believe that it is still addressing something very important here, but not a call for individuals to see if they are saved.)
(If that was the case, then two kinds of individuals would read it that way: lost people and saved people.
Is that how lost people get saved? Are they told to check themselves out, to first determine if they're saved or not?
If so, then the assumption would be that there were lost people in the church at Corinth, hearing or reading this.
How would a lost person examine themselves, to see if they are saved?
Do they not usually consider whether they were baptized, attending church, and are thus, "good to go"?
Lost people cannot, on their own, examine themselves, to determine if they are saved.
No, that is supposed to be the work of the Holy Ghost, through the word of God:)
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
I Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
(No, lost people, cannot bypass the Holy Ghost and the word of God, to examine themselves whether they are saved or not.
That is not what is going here, so, what about saved people being told to check out if they are really saved, or not?
Why would a saved person need to exam themselves whether they are saved or not?
Because if they are not, we already looked at that, it's not what's going on here.
Is it so that they might be encouraged to realize that they are saved?
That would not be the way to do that, to imply to saved people that they actually need to examine themselves to verify salvation.
No, rather, that would be done by encouraging them to remember that they were lost, but now they are saved:)
I Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
(Or, what about where some may think Paul is asking them to exam themselves, to check if they're still saved?
First, that would be denying the eternal security of the eternal blood of Jesus.
Also, if someone thinks they can lose their salvation, how would they then measure themselves, whether they're still saved?
Because if they believe it can be lost, then they would believe that it would be by their works, or lack thereof, they lost it.
So, in that case, their self-examination would focus exclusively on their works, i.e., are they good enough?)
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
(If, "in the faith", means saved, then is Paul here speaking of those who are only "weakly" saved, or barely saved? No!)
I Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
(Is Paul telling them to stay saved, and to not quit being saved? No!)
II Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
(Is Paul saying that he kept himself saved? No!)
(None of those things can be what is going here - it's not referring to an individual examining whether they are saved or not.
So, if the phrase, "in the faith", does not equate to, "saved", then what is going on here?
Who is being addressed, and what, then is being referred to?)
(First, in the actually wording, and in context, Paul is addressing in the plural, the collective body of the Corinthian church.
(In the Bible, we see "you" and "ye" are 2nd person plural, whereas, "thee" and "thou", are 2nd person singular:)
II Corinthians 13:1a This is the third time I am coming to you.
13:2a I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present,
13:3a Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
13:7a Now I pray to God that ye do no evil;
13:9a For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong:
(In both letters to the Corinthians, Paul is addressing the Corinthian church collectively.
He speaks about what they should do, and should not do, how they should think, or not think, as a body of believers.
So, in line 5, he is referring to this, as he speaks to them collectively, as the body, the church:)
II Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.
(The body, the Corinthian church, is being challenged to examine and prove themselves collectively, whether they are in the faith.
What can a body of believers do, collectively, regarding the faith?)
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Jude 3b and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
(Earlier, in the same letter was talking about one way that a church collectively proves itself, by how it gives back to the Lord.
So, after all that Paul wrote to them in the two letters, they need to examine themselves collectively, based on that.
How are they doing as a church? What should they do differently as a church? How will they deal with the things Paul told them?
It is not enough to only read, or hear, Paul's two letters, but they must, collectively, do some honest examination.
Only after they are aware of the truth of those things, and are willing to allow the Spirit to help them, can there be real change.)
(What about our own church? How do we examine ourselves collectively?
First, and foremost, when we come together as a body.
During preaching and worship services, do we allow the Spirit to help us examine ourselves collectively and individually?
How about congregational prayer meetings do we also allow the Spirit to help us examine ourselves collectively & individually?
At the Lord's supper there's definitely self-examination, but since it is a common-union service, why not collectively, as well?)
(Paul was speaking about examining and proving, collectively as a church.
Do the scriptures also mention examining and proving, as individuals? Yes.
However, it is not us, examining ourselves, by ourselves, but where the LORD, himself, does the examining:)
Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
(The same words, examine and prove, yet here the LORD is asked to do the examining and the proving.
Are we willing to allow Jesus, by his Spirit, to examine us?)
Psalms 7:9c for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Psalms 17:3a Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me,
Psalms 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Then, are we willing to accept the truth of how he finds our hearts? Or will we dismiss it, or deny it?
How did the churches written to, receive the collective rebukes from Jesus?)
Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(How do we handle an individual or collective rebuke from Jesus?)
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
(How did those churches, and how do we, receive individual or collective encouragement?)
Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
6 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
(When we hear preaching, will we allow Jesus to examine us individually, and will we then act accordingly?
Will we also allow Jesus to help us to examine ourselves collectively as a body?
We have no idea what someone else is thinking at that moment, but Jesus does.
And do we believe that he can so work that we can collectively begin to think and do some same things at the same time?
If so, we should individually, and collectively, hand Jesus the keys, and let him take us where he wants us to go.)
(What about for those who have not yet let Jesus save them?
Some family, friends or coworkers, may need our encouragement, so that they'll allow Jesus to examine their hearts.
Then, they may be willing to allow us to give them the gospel, and that they may then repent and believe on Jesus.)
(Have we prayed for this? Have we told them the truth? Have we shown them these scriptures:)
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Revelation 1:5b Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(Do we totally believe those scriptures?
What about our family, friends, or coworkers? Do we think that they believe these scriptures?
Do we believe if they simply trust Jesus as their Saviour, that he will save them?
If so, we must pray for them, and offer ourselves to Jesus to bring them the gospel.)