Introduction
A few months ago a number of us took a safe boating course. The course is intended to bring more safety to use of boats. In 2009 it will be a requirement to have taken such a course in order to operate a boat. The instruction was a couple of hours long and at the end of the instruction the teacher announced that we had all achieved our certificate. I was kind of surprised at this because I questioned why there was no exam. I wondered if we really had adequately learned what we were to learn.
When we were at Clear Lake a few weeks ago, we watched some people do some scuba diving. They were rather upset at all the boats which were coming way too close to their diving markers. They indicated that it was illegal to drive a motor boat within 200 feet of a diving marker and dangerous for them when boats do come too close. I didn’t know this. Fortunately I was not one of the boat operators when a conservation officer was near, otherwise I could have been charged. Although I have a boating certificate, when it came to the practical aspect, I failed the test.
There is a much more serious exam coming which will not be waived. There is a day coming when the judge of all the earth will examine us to see if we will get into heaven for all eternity. Revelation 21:2, 27 says, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…Nothing impure will ever enter it,…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
“Is your name written in the lambs book of life?” We do not know the day of our departure from earth. Since it could be at any time, it is important that we know the answer to this question and be ready. II Corinthians 13:5 encourages us towards such an examination of ourselves. It says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Examine Yourselves
Context
In II Corinthians part of what Paul was doing was defending his ministry. There were some who were detracting from what he had done and from his authority. It seems that they were examining Paul and finding that they did not believe that he passed the test. In numerous verses we see such concepts of examination. In II Corinthians 13:3 he writes, “since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me;” in verse 6 – “I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test;” in verse 7 – “we have stood the test” and again in verse 7 – “we may seem to have failed.”
In II Corinthians 13:5 Paul turns the tables on them and encourages them to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves...” The reason for this test is not that he is trying to get back at them, but that if they find that they are true followers of Jesus it proves that Paul is a true apostle because he is the one who brought them the gospel.
This is the context of this verse, yet the invitation to examine ourselves and to test ourselves is a good one for all of us to take up. There are two different words here, NIV has “examine” and “test.” Both of these words for “test” are imperative, which means that it is something that we ought to do. They are not very different in meaning. One emphasizes “testing” the other “proving what is true.” The use of two similar words reinforces the importance of testing ourselves. The question which we are called to ask ourselves is, found in the verse. We are “to see whether we are in the faith.” In other words, we should ask ourselves the question, “Am I really a Christian?”
Taking Tests
Whenever people have to take any kind of test – driving test, boating exam, a test at school – there are different kinds of responses. Some people are terrified of exams. They are sure that they do not know their stuff. They fear that they will not pass the test. Perhaps the thought of examining yourself will lead you to such a fearful position. You may think, “I am not good enough” or “I am afraid that I will not pass the test.” I hope, as we examine this thought today, that you will be encouraged to realize that you do pass the test.
I was once in an “Amazing Race” type of competition and one event was making a fire. I thought that with my background in fire building I would have no trouble contributing well so that my team would win the race. I did not do well and we did not win the race. In fact I was quite embarrassed. Some people are arrogant and sure that they will pass the test, but they fail. The same is true of the test to know if we are in the faith. If some of us are honest with ourselves we may find that we are not what we think. If you are carelessly certain, I would invite that you not be arrogant, but that you engage in an honest reflection to make sure of your faith.
Then there are others who are quietly confident and are able to pass the test. I trust that this will be most of us this morning and that upon reflection and examination we will be encouraged by what God has done for us and that we are truly His children.
Common Answers
How then will we test ourselves to see if we are in the faith?
I Believe …
Some would answer rather quickly, “If you believe you pass the test.”
There is no doubt that belief is a part of salvation. Romans 10:10 says, “it is with your heart that you believe and are justified…” Over and again we are told in Scripture that we must have faith and that it is by belief that we are saved.
However, Ron Sider’s book, “The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience,” suggests that America is full of people who indicate belief, but do not live by that belief. If we say that all you have to do is believe, what do we really mean by that statement?
If, by belief, we mean that we have an intellectual grasp of something and that we think it is true, we may find that we do not in fact pass the test. There are problems with this understanding of faith. For one thing, what are the things that we have to understand before we are “in the faith?” If you go to different churches, you may find that there are different answers to that question. Someone told me a story this week of a time when they were visiting a different church. When the other person found out that they were baptized by pouring they became somewhat distant towards the person who told me this story. For them, mode of baptism was on the list. If we approach things that way, we have a rather complicated way of knowing who passes the test and who does not.
The other problem is that if belief is an intellectual grasp of things, it is inadequate for salvation. The Bible warns us that knowing certain things and agreeing that they are true does not mean that we are “in the faith.” James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
So if we want to answer the question by relying on the fact that we have a grasp of something in our minds, we really do not have a very adequate test to give us hope and confidence.
I Confess…
Some would answer that by belief we mean not only an intellectual grasp, but also a declaration. They would say, “If you want to know if you are in the faith, let me know what you “confess.” There is no question that confession is an important part of salvation. Looking at Romans 10:10 again we find that it says, “it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
However, have you ever had anyone say to you, “I’m just saying?” It is an expression which seems to mean, “I am just putting out words, but don’t take those words too seriously.” Not everything we declare is what we are convinced of.
I also know that there have been times when I have been sharing the gospel with people and I have been so excited and so enthusiastic to see them come to faith that I have pushed a little too hard and they have made a confession of Jesus, but later I wondered if it was really in their hearts or if they were just trying to get me off their back.
Jesus himself warns us in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Paul also warns about the religious outlook of people who declare certain things, but don’t live by them. He says in II Timothy 3:1-5, in part, “There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be …lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power...”
Christ Jesus is in you…
So if belief and confession are inadequate to test if we are “in the faith,” how do we know?
The verse answers the question. It says, “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you…” It isn’t primarily about what happens in our heads or what comes out of our mouths, it is entirely a matter of who lives in our hearts. We pass the test when Jesus Christ lives within us.
The importance of Jesus in you.
Passing the test, being “in the faith,” being a Christian is about a relationship with Jesus Christ which defines the whole of our existence.
Why is this the critical element of salvation?
A relationship with Jesus is the critical element in our salvation because He is the one who has accomplished our salvation. We could more easily walk to the moon than earn our salvation. We could more easily move a mountain with a teaspoon than earn our way to heaven. Since it is impossible, we need someone to do it for us. Jesus is the one who has done it for us. He came to this earth at God’s bidding. He lived among us in holiness and died in innocence and because of that death and subsequent resurrection, He has accomplished a way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be acceptable to God. Therefore, it is in relationship with Him that we can be accepted by God.
When we were up at riding mountain we saw a skeleton, I think of a deer, on the side of the road when we were cycling. I wondered where the animal had lived, when it had died, how it had died and why it was lying at the side of the road. One thing was certain. It was dead and would never run again. In the same way, we are dead and the only way that we can be made alive is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of all who because He was raised from the dead by the power of the Father, is able to make alive all those in whom He lives. It is not by believing truths or even confessing truths, but only by having Jesus live within us that we can experience the resurrection life which He gives and thus live abundantly and eternally.
When we talk about belief, it must mean a faith that rests in Jesus, not just an intellectual grasp. When we talk about coming to salvation by confession, it means a declaration which changes how we live, as both Matthew 21 and II Timothy 3 indicate. How do we live by faith? How do we walk in obedience? It is impossible for us to do so because we do not have the power. Being “in Christ” is the critical element of our faith walk because it is in Christ that we walk in a new way - in victory, in life, in obedience, in purity, in love. A relationship with Christ is the only way that we will be able to live the life of faith because He comes to us and gives us, by His Spirit, resurrection power.
How do we know if we pass?
It is when Jesus lives within us and when we live in relationship with Him that we know that we are “in the faith.” But how do we know that Jesus is living within us? The Bible helps us answer that question.
The Witness Of The Spirit
The first test I would like to mention is that spoken of in Romans 8:16 which says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” This is an important test because it is a test which God himself confirms within us. It teaches us that if God is living within us, by His Spirit, there will be a communion in our deepest selves with the Spirit of God and that communion will give us confidence that we are children of God. It is similar to what Jesus says in John 10:14, ““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…”
If you are not sure, ask the Spirit of God within you to reveal Himself to your spirit. In asking for such a thing, God himself will assure our hearts and we will know that Christ is living within us.
The Witness Of A Changed Life
Another evidence of Christ within us is that we will begin to change into people who are in the image of Christ. If anger and jealousy and hatred continue to fill our hearts, we may need to examine our lives to see if Jesus is really there because when Jesus is in our lives, the fruit of His presence will begin to make a difference in our lives. Galatians 5:22 demonstrates this when it says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” One of my pet peeves is that we often use this verse to teach the importance of love, joy, peace and so on and how we ought to pursue these things. That is exactly what this verse is not saying. This verse is saying that when Jesus is within us, He will put love and joy and peace and so on into our hearts. The evidence of the presence of God in us is the changed life we will begin to manifest. Jesus said the same thing in John 13:35 when he said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
So as we examine ourselves to see if Jesus is within us, we can discover to see if we are changing in love and peace and kindness and patience and so on.
The Witness Of A Faith Walk
The third evidence of the presence of Jesus is that we will begin to walk our lives by faith in Jesus. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
What does it mean to live by faith in the Son of God?
I walked with several families this week as they faced some challenges. In each case I saw them reach out to Jesus in prayer, for hope, for comfort, for help. That is what it means to live by faith. I heard people face life and death issues this week with peace in their hearts. That is what it means to walk by faith. I observed as a young person refused to engage in sin because they wanted to follow Jesus. That is what it means to walk by faith. I saw a family excited about the possibility of serving God in missions because they are asking “what does it mean to my career that I am a follower of Jesus.” That is what it means to walk by faith. I saw the results of God’s grace as a family has walked with God for many years. That is what it means to walk by faith. Walking by faith means turning to Jesus in whatever we encounter in life and discovering in Him the one who loves us and cares for us. It is only when Jesus is in our hearts that these kinds of things are possible.
Conclusion
Examination is necessary. We have not yet arrived. We are not yet in heaven. Although Christ lives in us, we are still susceptible to deception and faced daily with temptation. We are saved, but we are still anticipating our future salvation. It is possible to fail the test as he suggests when he says in this verse, “…unless, of course, you fail the test?” Therefore, I encourage all of us to do what this verse says, to examine ourselves, to test ourselves.
Yet Paul asks this question not as an accusation or a condemnation. He asks the question with the confidence that they will not fail the test. That is why he so boldly says, “Christ Jesus is in you…” “we have not failed the test…” I present this message to you with the same hope that it will not cause you to fear, but that it will encourage you that you are in Christ, that it will encourage you to remain in Christ and that it will encourage you to live your life in Christ.
