Test Yourself, Christian
Test Yourself, Christian
· Going to church does not make you a
Christian; nor does saying a prayer, going down an aisle, passing a catechism,
telling yourself that you are, or trying to be a decent person. You can only be
a Christian if Christ is in you, which can be tested and proven
according to the scriptures.
Test Yourself
2Cor
13:5 (NIV) 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?
1Cor
11:28,31 (NAS) But a man must examine himself… If we judged ourselves rightly,
we would not be judged.
2Cor
13:5 (Wey) Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers; put
yourselves under examination…
· God gives us instructions on how we can and
should “test ourselves” in scripture, which can be grouped into five
major categories: 1) Gospel Belief and
Confession; 2) Born Again / Sonship /
Correction; 3) Repentance / Deliverance
from Sin; 4) Good Works by Grace,
and 5) The Fruit of the Spirit. The
first three are starting points, but can also serve as ongoing tests, as we
will see. The last two are living proof of “Christ Jesus in us”, or
not. These scriptures should encourage those who are true Christians, and give
cause for sober reflection to those who think they are but are not.
2Pet 1:10a (NAS) …Be all the more
diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.
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TEST 1: Gospel Belief and Confession of Faith |
1Cor
15:1-4 (Jer) Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you,
the gospel that you have received and in which you are firmly established;
because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I
preached to you–believing anything else will not lead to anything. I taught
you… that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures,
that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third
day, in accordance with the scriptures.
Rom
10:8-13 (NIV) …”The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your
heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess
with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with
your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that
you confess and are saved… for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved.”
· We must believe the right Gospel about the
right One. Christian life starts with an embracing of the Gospel, but what we
believe in is also an ongoing test as well. We are warned in scripture
not to drift away from the faith as we go through life, which is a real
danger. Do we believe in, and are we following, the simple and
scripture-defined Gospel of Jesus Christ?
1John 2:24 (NIV) See that what you
have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will
remain in the Son and in the Father.
2Cor
11:3-4 (Jer) But the serpent, with his cunning, seduced Eve, and I am afraid
that in the same way your ideas may get corrupted and turned away from simple
devotion to Christ. Because any newcomer has only to proclaim a new Jesus,
different from the one that we preached, or you have only to receive a new spirit,
different from the one you have already received, or a new gospel, different
from the one you have already accepted–and you welcome it with open arms!
Gal
1:9 (Phi) I am amazed that you have so quickly transferred your allegiance from
him who called you by the grace of Christ to another “gospel”! Not
that there is another gospel, but there are men who are upsetting your faith
with a travesty of the gospel of Christ. Yet I say that if I, or an angel from
heaven, were to preach to you any other gospel than the one you have received,
may he be dammed!
Rev
3:3a [Jesus:] “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey
it, and repent.”
Heb
2:1 (NIV) We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard,
so that we do not drift away.
Heb
10:23 (NKJ) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…
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TEST 2: Born Again / The Inner Witness / Correction as Children |
John
3:3-7 (NIV) Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again… Flesh gives birth to flesh,
but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying,
‘You must be born again.'”
1Pet
1:23 (Phi) For you are not just mortals now but sons of God; the live,
permanent Word of the living God has given you his own indestructible heredity.
Gal
4:6 (NIV) Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
the Spirit who calls out, “Abba [Daddy!], Father.”
Rom
8:14-16,23 (NIV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of
God… You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,
“Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God… Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our
adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
· Those who believe in the Gospel and follow
Jesus will be born again into new, spiritual life. This will result in what is
termed “the Spirit of adoption” which is evidenced by the “inner
witness” of “Abba, Father”. This is an inner knowing that
we are children of God, where we cry out “Daddy! Father!” with love
and expectation by deep, spiritual instinct.
Rom
8:9,15-16 (Phi) You cannot, indeed, be a Christian at all unless you have something
of his Spirit in you… You can say with a full heart, “Father, my
Father”. The Spirit himself endorses our inward conviction that we really
are the children of God.
· Christians do not habitually remain in sin,
as we will see in the following test. Yet we all can stumble, we all can fall
into sin. Hopefully, this is not deliberate, but even if it is on occasion God
can still use it to encourage us that we are His children. For if and when we
sin, the correction / rebuke / chastisement of the Lord will train us into the
righteousness of Christ–if we are His.
Heb
12:5-8 (Wey) And you have quite forgotten the encouraging words which are
addressed to you as sons, and which say, “My son, do not think lightly of
the Lord’s discipline, and do not faint when He corrects you; for those whom
the Lord loves He disciplines: and He scourges every son whom He
acknowledges.” …God is dealing with you as sons; for what son is there
whom his father does not discipline? And if you are left without discipline, of
which every true son has had a share, that shows that you are bastards, and
not true sons.
· This is a very clear-cut test: if you can
continue in habitual sin and “get away with it”, no matter what you
say, you are not a child of God. On the other hand, if we really are His
children, this will be proven by the fact that He will not allow us to remain
in sin–or go far wrong–through His active correction in our lives.
Rev
3:19 (NAS) [Jesus:] “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;
therefore be zealous and repent.”
Heb
12:9-11 (Wey) Our earthly fathers used to discipline us and we treated them
with respect, and shall we not be still more submissive to the Father of our
spirits, and live? It is true that they disciplined us for a few years
according as they thought fit; but He does it for our certain good, in order
that we may become sharers in His own holy character. Now, at the time,
discipline seems to be a matter not for joy, but for grief; yet it afterwards
yields to those who have passed through its training a result full of
peace–namely, righteousness.
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TEST 3: Repentance / Freedom from Habitual Sin |
2Tim
2:19 (Wey) God’s solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription,
“The Lord knows those who really belong to Him.” And this also,
“Let every one who names the Name of the Lord renounce all
wickedness.”
Jude
1:4-5 (NIV) For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have
secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of
our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign
and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the
Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not
believe.
Eph
5:6 (Wey) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is on account
of these very sins that God’s anger is coming upon the disobedient.
Heb
10:26-27 (NIV) If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful
expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of
God.
1John
3:5-10 (Phi) You know that… Christ became a man to take away sin, and
that in him there is no sin. The man who lives in Christ does not habitually
sin. The regular sinner has never seen or known him. You, my children, should
not let anyone deceive you. The man who lives a good life is a good man, as
surely as Christ is good. But the man whose life is habitually sinful is
spiritually a son of the devil, for the devil has been a sinner from the
beginning. Now the Son of God came to earth with the express purpose of undoing
the devil’s work. The man who is really God’s son does not practice sin, for
God’s nature is in him, and such a heredity is incapable of sin. Here we
have a clear indication as to who are the children of God and who are the
children of the devil. The man who does not lead a good life is no son of God.
1John
2:3-7 (NIV) We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The
man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a
liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is
truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims
to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new
command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.
Luke
6:46 (Wey) [Jesus:] “And why do you all call me ‘Master, Master’ and yet
not do what I tell you?”
1Cor
6:9 (NIV) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do
not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And
that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of
our God.
John
8:34-36 (Wey) “In most solemn truth I tell you,” replied Jesus,
“that every one who commits sin is the slave of sin. Now a slave does not
remain permanently in his master’s house, but a son does. If then the Son shall
make you free, you will be free indeed.”
Titus
2:11-15 (NIV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while
we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is
good. These, then, are the things you should teach…
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TEST 4: Good Works by Grace |
2Tim
2:19-21 (NIV) …”Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn
away from wickedness.” In a large house there are articles not only of
gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and
some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an
instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and
prepared to do any good work.
· When speaking of good works, it is important
to note that such can never save us, and this is a serious deception often
warned about in scripture. Rather it is the other way around: if we are really
saved then we will do good works. These are produced in us by the
ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit, given by the grace of God.
1Pet
4:10-11 (NAS) As each one has received a special gift, employ it in
serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever
speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever
serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so
that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…
Rom
12:6-8 (Phi) Through the grace of God we have different gifts. If our
gift is preaching, let us preach to the limit of our vision. If it is serving
others let us concentrate on our service; it if is teaching let us give all we
have to our teaching; and if our gift be the stimulation of the faith of others
let us set ourselves to it. Let the man who is called to give, give freely; let
the man in authority work with enthusiasm; and let the man who feels sympathy
for his fellows in distress help them cheerfully.
Eph
2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2Tim
1:6 (NIV) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…
2Cor
9:8 (NIV) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good
work.
Jas
2:17b-24 (NIV) Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
…I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe… Even the demons
believe… Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?…
Abraham’s… faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was
made complete by what he did… You see that a person is justified by what he
does and not by faith alone.
Acts
26:19-20 (NIV) [Paul:] “So then… I was not disobedient to the vision
from heaven… I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove
their repentance by their deeds.”
Col
1:10-11b (NIV) …That you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please
him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the
knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious
might.
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TEST 5: The Fruit of the Spirit |
Mat
3:7 (NIV) “…Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Mat
7:16-23 (NIV) [Jesus:] “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people
pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree
bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad
fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will
recognize them. 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.
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?’ Then I will tell
them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”
Mat
12:33 (NIV) “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree
bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.”
Gal
5:22-23 (NIV) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong
to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
John
13:35 (NIV) “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another.”
Col
1:6 (Wey) Just as it [the Gospel] has also spread through the whole world,
yielding fruit and increasing, as it has done among you from the day when first
you heard it and came really to know the grace of God.
Plp
2:12-13 (NIV) Therefore, my dear friends… continue to work out your salvation
with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to
act according to his good purpose.
John
15:4-5,8,16 (NIV) [Jesus:] “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No
branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you
bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a
man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can
do nothing… This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing
yourselves to be my disciples… You did not choose me, but I chose you and
appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last…”
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Mid Term Exam |
2Cor
13:5 (NAS) Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine
yourselves!…
· Now then; let us reflect on these
“tests” and give ourselves an honest self-rating of “Christ in
Us” in these five areas.
- Gospel Belief and Confession: Do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have you
held fast to sound doctrine against the many false prophets
offering a different gospel? - Born Again / Spirit of Adoption
/ The Lord’s Correction:
Are you born from above? Do you have that ongoing “Abba,
Father!” instinct within, that inner knowing of your
relationship with Him? Is God treating you as His child when you fall into
sin? - Repentance / Freedom from Sin: Have you resolutely turned away from sin? Do you
habitually sin, or can you praise God in spirit and truth that He has
truly “set you free indeed?” - Good Works by God’s Grace: Have you been given a grace-gift of ministry to serve
others with? Is your life living proof of Christ in you, or have you only
“mere words” and self-delusion to cling to? - The Fruit of the Spirit: Are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control manifesting and growing in your
life? Are you producing fruit in keeping with repentance?
· As we go through the various seasons of life
we might well find ourselves deficient in one or more of these tests. Seeing
the whole of them can illuminate where we have stumbled, and encourage us to
deal honestly and urgently with any problem areas.
Col
1:27-29 (NIV) …God has chosen to make known… the glorious riches of this
mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him,
admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present
everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his
energy…
Gal
4:19 (TEB) My dear children! Once again, just like a mother in childbirth, I
feel the same kind of pain for you until Christs’ nature is formed in you.
1John
5:12-13 (NIV) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God
does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
2Pet
1:10-12 (Phi) Set your minds, then, on endorsing by your conduct the fact that
God has called and chosen you. If you go along these lines there is no reason
why you should stumble. Indeed, if you live this sort of life a rich welcome
awaits you as you enter the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus
Christ. Therefore I shall not fail to remind you again and again of things like
this, although you already know them…
Eph
3:16-21 (Phi) I pray that out of the glorious richness of his resources he will
enable you to know the strength of the Spirit’s inner re-enforcement–that
Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith. And I pray that you,
rooted and founded in love yourselves, may be able to grasp (with all
Christians) how wide and long and deep and high is the love of Christ–and to
know for yourselves that love so far above our understanding. So will you be
filled through all your being with God himself! Now to him who by his power
within us is able to do infinitely more than we dare to ask or imagine–to him
be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever, amen!