Stop and Examine Yourself!

Paul commands us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine and test ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

He wasn’t talking to unbelievers but to those sitting in the Church at Corinth.

Likewise, we too in the modern church must examine and test ourselves to see whether we are truly Christians or whether we merely attend church and know some information about God.

In this episode, Nathan Johnson talks about Paul’s command to test and examine ourselves and questions whether we have a cruise ship mentality or a battleship one.

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Show Notes / Additional Resources

• Romans 5:3-5 – Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• James 1:2-4 – Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• 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!
  • Both words “examine” and “test” is an imperative (a command), active (you are responsible for the action), and in the present tense (meaning it is the “ever-present tense” – or it is to happen whenever you live in the present – ie: all the time)
• John 17:3 – And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
  • “Know” (ginosko) – knowing through experience, relationship, or intimacy
• 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
• John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
• 4 Examples from Matthew 24-25
  • Faithful and unfaithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51)
  • Five virgins with oil and five virgins without oil (Matthew 25:1-13)
  • Two individuals do something with their talent (money) and one does nothing (Matthew 25:14-30)
  • Sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
• Revelation 21:8 – But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars ​— ​their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
  • The other two passages with “cowards” are: Matthew 8:26 and Mark 4:40

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Question: Why is it important in your mind to test and examine yourself to see if you’re in the faith?

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About NRJohnson

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps other believers understand and apply the Bible as they grow and mature in their faith—desiring that they gain greater intimacy with Christ, experience the victorious Christian life, and transform the world through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Read more about him here.

About the Deeper Christian Podcast

Many Christians feel frustrated because they don’t grow spiritually. The Deeper Christian Podcast helps equip Christians to understand the Word of God and cultivate a passionate love for Jesus that turns the world upside down.

Whether you want to learn how to study God’s Word, grow in your faith, cultivate a powerful and effective prayer life, share the Gospel boldly, deepen your intimacy with Jesus, live victoriously, or transform the world through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit, the Deeper Christian Podcast with NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) will encourage and equip you to grow spiritually and live a Christ-centered life.