Examine Yourselves, Whether Ye Be in the Faith…
TESTING YOUR FAITH
By Dick Ward
Did you know we ALL must put our religious beliefs and practices to the test? Yes, Paul put it in command form, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2 Corinthians 13:5). Are you willing to do what God demands – spiritual self-examination?
PUT YOURSELF TO THE TEST
Two words (examine and prove) convey the charge. To examine means "to try, make trial of, test (for the purpose of ascertaining the quality of)". To prove means "to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing be genuine or not)". It falls upon the individual to do his or her OWN TESTING! Friends, religious leaders can tell you night and day you are all right in God’s sight, but that does not necessarily make it so. You need to personally test yourself and I need to personally test myself.
THE PROPER STANDARD FOR THIS TEST
What standard or guidelines shall we use? If we are going to put ourselves to a test we must have the proper criterion. As we test ourselves spiritually we obviously must use Gods’ Book as the standard. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Now we ought to know "faith comes by hearing God’s word" (Romans 10:17). Our views and feelings must be diligently compared with the Word of God.
Too often, folks go by the wrong standard. Some go by the majority, but that is not right – the majority is often wrong (Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13,14). Still others go by traditions and rules handed down from religious leaders (Conventions, Synods, Councils, etc.), but that is not right – human rules are not God’s rules (Matthew 15:9). Quite a few people look to the ways of their mother and father or grandparents as the right road in spiritual matters, but we learn this is not the safe way – God expects us to follow Him not our loved ones (Matthew 10:35-38). Yes, the strict and impartial test is the one comparing ourselves to the scriptures.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We are looking to see if we are "in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). We look to see if we have true faith in the gospel; to know if we are truly Christians; to test our faithfulness to God; to find out if Christ is in us; to make sure we are not reprobates (not approved, not standing the test). What do you see in your life when you "examine yourself"?
[Editor’s Note: Thanks to Dick Ward for the article! This article was published in a newspaper column titled, "Did You Know?" in the Carrier Newspaper in Madison, Florida. He may be reached at: Dick Ward, 18 Eldorado East, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405, (205) 556-2407.]