(2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

It’s always a good idea to examine our bodies to make sure that we are healthy. We visit the dermatologist annually to check every inch of our bodies for cancerous growths. We go for an annual physical to thwart off any possible problems. But what about our walk with the Lord?

The Apostle Paul was dealing with a very carnal church when he addressed the Corinthians. They were surrounded by idolatry and most of the church came out of that lifestyle when they got saved. Notice that I say “most.” The church is filled with members that are spiritually sick; they are in search of some kind of healing. At some point, we all are, amen? Jesus said He didn’t come for the righteous but for those that were sinners. This is the importance of attending church. We all need to be exhorted to live a righteous life. But what about those members who sit there Sunday after Sunday and do not seem to care about their spiritual growth?

Paul encourages us to examine our spiritual life. He wants you to make sure that your salvation is based solely on Christ and not on the traditions of the world.

• Examine – The Greek word examine means “to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: – assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.” People who claim to have gotten saved but yet live and sin like they did prior to salvation, need to do this self-examination. Are you growing more like Christ with each passing day? Is that your desire? Do you spend time in your Bible in order to find out how to be like Him? Question your walk, Christian. Is your purpose to serve Him or to serve yourself? I once knew a person who joined the church merely to get names so he could grow his personal business. That is serving yourself. When you objectively look at your walk with the Lord, it is without bias. Do so as if you are grading another pupil’s exam. Look for those things in your life that are not according to Scripture. Be objective, not defensive!
• Prove – The Greek word prove means “to test (literally or figuratively); by implication to approve: – allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-) prove, try.” It’s similar to “examine” but this one adds icing on the cake. The Bible tells me that life is precious and that God fashioned (made) each and every one of us. Do I support the right for a woman to choose whether or not she should keep her unborn child even though I would not personally abort my child? This is one test that can be literally applied to one’s own life. Just because I would not commit such an act, doesn’t mean I should support that sin in someone else’s life. That is proving my faith.
• Know – When Jesus Christ comes to reside within us at the moment of our salvation, we leave the life of sin and enter a life of righteous living through Jesus Christ. We should no longer desire the sinfulness of our old life. Granted, we still live in the same body and will be tempted to continue in some of those old sins. This is where obedience to God’s Word is key. As we obey His Word, we sin less and less. We give up that old life (2 Corinthians 5:17) and live a new life in Christ.

Examine yourselves! See where there’s room for improvement in your walk with Christ, as this self-reflection is absolutely necessary for spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit will guide you in this and He will shed a light on areas that need your attention. If you do not have a desire to examine yourself, something’s wrong, and it may indicate you need to go back to ground zero and check out whether you are actually saved or not. That is exactly the reason Paul told the Corinthians to do so; he understood the challenges they faced in a society far removed from the teachings of Christ. Remember the environment they came from, steeped in sin that could easily sway believers from their path. It’s vital to regularly reassess our lives and align them with the teachings of Christ. Doing so deepens our relationship with Him and our commitment to our faith.

If you have stumbled onto this page and wish to know how to be saved, please follow this link and it will lead you to the Scriptures explaining how you can be saved!