Believer’s Self-examination 1Corinthians 11:28
Introduction:-
I am sure you have been hearing to great and well-known preachers of the word of God. I don’t think I can share anything new to you. But I have been exercised to help
you examine yourself in the light of those precious truths you have heard in the past.
Simply to keep on hearing is of new value. Word of God should work in our life. There should be some changes, benefit as a result of such gathering, if not
it’s a waste of time. So in these three days meetings we will see those passages that can help us examine our spiritual life, the condition of our faith and heart etc.
Notice what Apostle Paul wrote to Corinthian assembly. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…” 2Cori 13:5. He wrote to them earlier
too: - “But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” 1Cori 3:10c. Here it is in connection with the Christian ministry.
In chapter 11 he writes in the background of partaking from in the Lord’s Supper. “But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
1Cor 11:28; “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged”. V. 31 cf. Gal 6:4:- “But let each one test his own work”.
That means whoever we are, a church member, pastor, preacher, evangelist, or whatever may be our position in the congregation we attend, the Bible calls upon everyone
to a self – examination.
Seven things about self – examination:-
1. Not to examine others. Matt 7: 1.
“Judge not, that you be not judged”. Cf. 1Cori 4: 5:- “Judge nothing before the time”. .John 7: 24a: “Do not judge according to appearance.”
The Lord as well as Paul forbids us from examining other’s life. Yes, for some it’s entertaining! Fallen man finds joy in finding fault with others. That’s self-
deceiving and destructive. That leads to arrogance and self-righteousness. In fact we can never judge the mind of another individual. God alone knows the heart of man.
Cf. Jer 17: 10.
Our judgement is based on what we see and hear for we don’t know what is inside. Cf. 1Sam 16: 7. So if we try to examine and judge others, not only we make a
mistake, but it’s also a rebellion against God, who is the only true judge. For we are trying to take His place!
Nevertheless, an assembly can examine the members! Cf. Reve 2: 2 – the Lord appreciates them for testing false teachers / apostles in Ephesus. Cf. 1Jn 4: 1, 2; 1Timo
3: 10; 1Cor 5: 1 – 5. With the help of the Holy Spirit and exercising the gift of discernment, the elders have to do it, if not accountable to the chief shepherd. Cf.
Reve 2: 14, 20.
2. Our knowledge is limited and imperfect. 1Cor 4: 3b, 4.
“I do not even judge myself” – what is the reason why we should not judge others? We are not capable to do that. Even to examine ourselves, we are not really fit! Cf.
Pro. 16: 25:- “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (ESV) - Our way always seems right in the beginning but end utter failure.
Pro 16:2 “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.” (ESV) – Always right in his own eyes!
Two possible mistakes:
a. Too much introspection – ‘I am nothing”; “Failed”; like Elijah mourned. Cf. 1Jn 3: 20: Ob. Sometimes our heart condemns us – it may not be from God. Devil can
also do it to discourage us. – inferiority complex.
b. Too much self-confidence – “I am OK”; “feeling very good” – Even when we feel everything is right, there may be much failures or sins concealed, ignored. –
superiority complex
Why is it so?
Not only because of our limited knowledge, even our heart is deceitful of all. Cf. Jer 17: 9:- “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can
understand it?” It’s very subtle – hard to understand. “Who can understand?” – No one can!
That’s why Job does not want to justify himself. Job 9” 20:- “Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me
perverse.” (ESV) Job says even if he is right he cannot justify himself. So our conclusion about others or even about ourselves cannot be reliable or true.
3. God knows exactly and respond accordingly. Jer 17: 10.
Jer 17:10:- I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Jer 16:17:- “For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.”
1Sa 16:7:- But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees:
man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
1Chro: 28: 9:- “the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you.”
Job 34:21:- "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.”
Pro 5:21:- “For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.”
Rev. 2: 23:- “And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”
Nothing is hidden; all things open to the Lord. He does search our minds, ways and even intentions and react accordingly.
4. We can examine ourselves only by the help of God. 1Cori 4: 4.
In the light of the above 2 points – that our knowledge is imperfect and God knows fully – then the only way to examine ourselves is by the Lord’s help. Seek the help
of the Lord. Because we do not know the hidden things but the Lord knows fully well.
Paul says, “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” 1Cori 4:4.
Job 31: 6 – “Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!” – Job wanted God to examine Him. His friends tried but it was only hurting. Job says
in 9: 15, 20 ‘even if he is right, he will not say it before God, because God may find something wrong.’ But later on Job was sure the result of God’s examination.
Cf. 23: 10 - ‘come out as gold’. – We cannot depend on what others say or even our own assumption.
Rev. 3: 18:- “ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your
nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”
The Lord Jesus counsels the Laodecians to by eye salve from Him to heal their blindness. Cf. 17. They could not see their real state. They were poor spiritually.
Christ is outside – yet they never knew of it! Ob. Laodicea was known for three things:-
a. Great wealth - it was a rich city – Christ says ‘you are poor – I will give you real wealth!’
b. Cloth and dyeing industries – yet naked they are - Christ wants to give rob of righteousness to them.
c. Its precious eye salve / ointment they used to manufacture that healed many eye problems. Christ says, ‘You are blind – I will give you better ointment – to
heal spiritual blindness.
How terrible it is to hear, ‘you are poor, naked, and blind’. Yet we think we are otherwise. Because god alone knows the truth, we tend to distort, unable to see full
truth. Let us go to Him, plead with Him to search, try and help us to see exactly as we are.
That’s why psalmist prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting!” Psa 139: 23, 24.
Yes, He alone can do it. Allow the Lord to search us, focus His all-seeing eyes to penetrate in to our innermost being and test us. Just like as we lay quietly for an
ultra sound scan or MRI! We allow those invisible rays to penetrate in to our body to reveal those minute parts that normal eyes cannot see. It’s not easy. Many fear
at MRI especially if it’s a scan involving our head, but no other option. Or let Him do a virus scan. Yield to Him, let Him search thoroughly.
It happens as we come to the Lord, before the scripture – the mirror revealing the truth; the two edged sword piercing the depth of heart and bringing out the hidden
things. Cf. Jam 1: 23; Heb 4: 12.
5. Nothing shall remain hidden / secret forever. 1Cor 4: 5b.
1Co 4:5b. “.. The Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” Cf:
Mat 10:26:- “for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”
Mar 4:22:- “For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.”
Not only that God knows the entire secret exactly, He will make it known. Sooner or later all our secrets will be out! It’s absolutely impossible to keep something
hidden forever.
Few Years ago people could not understand it easily, but today it’s a well-known fact nothing is hidden. Someone is watching our movements, activities. Wikileaks
exposures, Snowden revelations and Radia tapes all tell us even nothing is secret forever. (Conversation between some corporate leaders in India with an agent called
Radia was recorded and brought out to prove some business secrets.) All those secret meetings, schemes are out. What we do today in the comfort of our home in smart
phone or computer is all being noticed by some one! Then how much more it’s known to God, and He will definitely bring it out at the right time.
Some consider God will reveal only in future! Not necessarily He has the right to reveal at any time, may be even here on earth itself to fulfill His purposes. Notice
some incidents:
Joshua ch. 7: Achan thought no one had seen but God worked in such a wonderful way that he was caught and dealt with severely.
1Samuel 2:22:- sins of the sons of Eli. They did it very secretly – but the Lord did reveal at the right time and punished them too.
1Samuel 11:2ff. Sin of David – did very secretly – how cruelly and subtly. For a year God waited that David would repent and confess. Finally sends Nathan to make it
known.
Thus there are many examples. God examines, closely watches the lives of His people and make known the secrets at the right time. Cf. Rev ch. 2, 3 The risen Lord
evaluates those 7 local assemblies and presents His view of them. He refers to even their love and attitude to Christ, which is very much internal. (Dan 5: 26)
Cf. 1Cor 3: 13; 4:5; 2Cor 5: 10:- ob. Motives – secrets behind our spiritual services also will be revealed. Sometimes the very purpose behind such gathering itself is
not spiritual, not for God’s glory! He takes a note of it. Paul mentions that the revelations of such motive in ministry is mostly revealed or defiantly revealed at
Bema to give a reward accordingly. That’s why we should not judge the motive of others. God Himself kept it pending!
But it seems the Lord reveals the sins, failures of God’s people today itself so that we may repent, confess and find cleansing by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Any how the main point is, nothing shall remain secret forever. Sooner or later we will have to face it, it shall be known. God will do it.
6. Sin can never go unpunished. 1Cori 11: 31, 32.
There are some believers who think, once saved they can live in any kind of sin! They misunderstand Rom 8:1:- “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus.” Now read 1Cori 11: 31, 32:- “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that
we may not be condemned along with the world.”
Yes, no condemnation, no hell for a born again believer. Sins of unbelievers will be judged in future. (Judgment at the Beema is only evaluating our work for Christ to
give reward. 2Cori 5: 10 – that has nothing to do with sin.)
1Cori 11: 32. But the sins of believers will have to be dealt with here itself – before we die – in this world itself. Yes, Christ died for our past, present and
future sins. Cf. Col 2: 14. In the atoning sacrifice of Christ any sin, sin of any time has solution, but one has to come to Christ, confessing his sins. In order to
make him do, God deals with him in the best possible manner!
God will give time to come judge self, come to Christ with confession and pleading for cleansing by the precious blood of Christ. 1Jn. 1: 7, 10. If he fails to do, the
Lord will intervene. With various steps of chastening God our father wants to lead him to the cross for confession. Cf. Heb 12: 4ff. This chastening is not punishment
but disciplinary actions by God to prompt us to repent, confess and turn to Christ for forgiveness and cleansing.
Any how each sin and rebellion has to be dealt with. Our forgiveness and cleansing is always based on the blood of Jesus Christ. 1Jn. 1: 7, 9. Repentance and
confession is basic requirement for that. We cannot simply hope to hide, forget, and cover up our rebellion and disobedience. That’s why it’s essential to make sure
there is nothing in our life that is not acceptable to God.
7. Its deception to be ignorant of the real state. Gal 6: 3.
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
How many incidents, when someone simply ignored medical advice for a through scan, check-up collapsed in an unexpected moment! It can happen spiritually too! We may
think everything is Ok yet not; but God reveals on a fine morning either here on earth or at the time of judgment. (Note the difference of judgment at the white throne
for unbelievers and Judgment seat of Christ for believers). How sad and terrible time it would be. Cf.
Mat 7:22, 23:- “On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your
name? And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” – They thought Christ knew them but never. Simply went on in
their assumption.
Mat 25: 1—13:- parable ten virgins. Five simply assumed they had oil, but not, so deceived.
Luke 16: 19 – 31:- Story of the rich man and Lazarus – He never knew such thing will happen to him. What a deception.
1Cori 3: 12 – 15:- Thought of much work and much reward but burned. What a loss.
All these things show it’s deception to just assume. It is high time examine ourselves, yes by the help of God. Correct our life, amend our ways. Settle things, live a
true and clean life in God’s will.
Conclusion:-
• Not to examine others.
• Our knowledge is limited and imperfect.
• God knows exactly and respond accordingly.
• We can examine ourselves only by the help of God. .
• Nothing shall remain hidden / secret forever.
• Sin can never go unpunished.
• Its deception to be ignorant of the real state. .
- How is life today?
- Examine now.
- Ask God to search you.
(Prepared by Nelson Thomas Mumbai Visit: gracepeace.net)
