Hello everyone!
I have posted here an article which I have written way back year 2009 for my column "Pondering on God's Word" in the newsletter "The Lighthouse." The said newsletter is the official publication of Christ in Central Luzon Campus Ministry (CCLCM) based at Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. I am one of the advisers of this faith-based organization that caters to the spiritual growth & development of Christian students in a state-run institution for higher learning.
Content of the article begins here:
Examine me, O LORD, as I put myself to the test
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. – Psalm 26:2 (KJV)
Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! – 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NBV)
After you read this article, may I request you to open your Bible and read Psalm 26 and 2 Corinthians 13, that you may be enlightened about the biblical context of this article. Thank you!
We welcomed mid-July 2009 in our midweek fellowship and cell group meetings at CCLCM with a series of study entitled “Examine Yourself.” And for almost two months, we have exposed our faith under the light and intense scrutiny of God’s word. It has been a difficult and undeniably tough test for everyone (including myself) to challenge our faith in God whether it is genuine or fraud. And my hope is that all professing Christians (especially CCLCM fellows) have passed the test because, at the end of the day, we will be judged according to our faith in Him.
Why do we have to examine ourselves whether we are in the faith? What does the Bible tells us about examining our faith?
The word “examine” in the Hebrew and Greek languages are bâchan (baw-khan) and peirazo (pi-rad’-zo), respectively. Both words mean “to test; to investigate; prove; scrutinize; examine.” Let me lead you to two important facets to look into.
Beseeching God to examine ourselves. King David has pleaded unto God, “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me…” (Ps. 26:2a, KJV, emphasis added). He invited God voluntarily and submitted himself to His scrutiny to prove his genuine integrity and truthfulness unto the LORD. He even asked God to “try his reins and his heart” (Ps. 26:2b, KJV), meaning his inner thoughts, desires, affections, and motives, that he might have the will and righteousness of the LORD in him causing God to be pleased always and not to hurt God’s emotion.
Like the silver and gold being tried by the blacksmith into the furnace to determine its true value, David realized the worth of continuously being examined by God to determine the uprightness of his heart and ways in the eyes of God (Ps. 26:2; 139:23). In this account, we see King David’s passion to pass God’s scrutiny. His openness to God and passion to please the LORD has earned him qualification to become the “man after God’s own heart.”
An apostolic command to test whether a believer is in the faith. Apostle Paul has placed great emphasis on the believers in Corinth to test if their faith is genuine (2 Cor. 13:5). I do believe that the said command, in principle, is practically applicable and has to be followed by present-day Christians.
Such command Paul gave is in connection with 2 Cor. 13:3 wherein the Corinthians sought and demanded a proof the voice and power of Christ in him.
Instead, Paul directed them to self-examination – to look within them – to try, prove, scrutinize, and recognize the state of their own souls; where if things were right, they would find a proof of their faith and salvation of Christ within them.
The Bible is very specific that even before taking the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, “a man MUST examine himself…” (1 Cor. 11:28, emphasis added) because “whosoever eats this bread and drink this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of Christ” (1 Cor.11:27).
Since it is a command to examine one’s faith, then it becomes an obligation and responsibility for every Christians to do so.
My personal notes. It would be so difficult for a professing believer to live the Christian life with a counterfeit, fraud faith. The Bible is very clear that God wants us to determine whether our faith in Him is genuine. The Bible in itself is a complete set of tests God has given to us that we may be able to scrutinize our faith.
Moreover, a living faith results in true obedience to God which, I firmly believe, is the most visible measure a person can see to determine whether his faith is genuine or not. Jesus Christ said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you ABIDE in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31).
I encourage every confessing Christians to undergo God’s scrutiny and self-examination that we may see whether we are in the faith. █
End of article.
