Examination Time

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) 5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.

The reason Paul calls on them to examine themselves was, Paul was concerned that many of them had been deceived. It had happened in the church in Corinth before. Many had been ignorant of the truths of the Christian religion. It was important for them to institute a strict and impartial examination to determine whether they had been deceived.

1. Examine

To put on trial.

Who is on trial?

2. Yourselves

Refers to each individual as well as the group collectively.

What is on trial?

3. Genuine faith

Define genuine faith.

True repentance for his sins

True faith in the Lord Jesus

A sincere desire to live the life of a Christian

To be like the Son of God

4. Test

or prove

to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals

The Greek word used here is stronger than the one used and translated as “examine”. This word, test, refers to trying metals by the powerful action of heat; and the idea here is, that they should make the most thorough trial of their faith, to see whether it would stand the test.

5. Pass/Fail.

Is Christ in you?

What areas of your life are you excelling at?

Are their areas of your life you’re just getting by?

Are their areas of your life you’re failing at miserably?

What grade would you give yourself in the subject of being a child of God?

What grade is the Holy Spirit giving you in the subject of being a child of God?