"Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be rejected?” (vs5)
Examine yourself: not everyone else by their doctrine and life, but YOURSELF first and most importantly. Three times in half a verse, Paul says, “examine yourselves”, “prove your own selves”, and “know you not your own selves”, because he wants us SURE that we are saved.
Assurance comes by making your election sure and KNOWING that you believe the gospel. We are to examine if we’re “in the faith“, if we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ from salvation from sin to salvation to holiness. Do we believe that He saves freely, and the free gift is obedience to God by faith and love to men? Do you believe that you’re not condemned to sin no more, and you have the Holy Spirit to help?
The gospel isn’t you doing, and it isn’t nothing being done. We believe God WITHOUT any works unto good works. Do you believe this electing grace is yours, that’s unto godliness?
If we believe on Christ, then we have ASSURANCE before doing good works, and by faith, good works and MORE assurance comes (2 Pet 1:10).
Secondly, we are not to minister for our own names and welfare but for the good of others. He sent ministers to help the church, not so that we get a name for ourselves (because only One Name is honored in the church) but for the GOOD of those who hear us (Eph 3:21). We are not selfish sinners using people to help ourselves, but we are SELFLESS children of Christ, using our gifts, not to destroy or gain attention, but to honor the Son of God so that others may experience the love we have in God - (vs6-10) “But I hope that ye shall know that we are not reprobate. Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting. For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down”.
Thirdly, if we do things God’s way, then we’ll have love, joy, and peace EXPERIENCED. There is a reward to obedience, so Paul teaches us to obey, so that we can experience the blessings of Christ, because they come no other way - “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be [perfect] made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (vs11).
Recently, I was at the café studying, and I saw a horribly painful scene. A mother and father, adults in their 30’s, had a two-year old boy in the car seat. The family had gathered for dinner, and there were several cousins and others around. The parents, after several minutes were “forced” to tell the relatives that they’d catch up, because they couldn’t persuade the toddler to leave his car seat. He shouted, screamed, and acted fierce as they approached. But, rather than parent the child and help him mature, they bowed to the toddler, came under his rule, and had misery as the result.
We cannot have peace in the home, church, or life without order. If we live by faith, receive the comfort of scripture, and rejoice in salvation, then we’ll experience God as promised, tasting the good of the land, and walking in peace.
Friction produced by rebellion can only be remedied by submission to God. You will be glad that you heard, because He is rewards the obedient and He dwells with those who keep His word (John 14:23). Paul writes, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen“ (vs12-14).
Don’t live another way and expect heaven or peace. Live as commanded by the power of the Spirit. Live by faith in the Son’s blood and let LOVE for Him come from the fount of His love to you. He elected and redeemed; He FORGIVES and gives continually.
Let Christ move you to Christian living, and you will have God.
No comments:
Post a Comment