EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH
Jesse M. Hendley
II Corinthians 13:5
The text this morning is Second Corinthians 13:5,
and we want to talk with you a little bit on this
subject, "Examine Yourselves, Whether Ye Be in the
Faith." Am I saved, or am I not?
You can never lift a text out of its context. As
someone has said, "If we take text out of its
context, it becomes a pretext." You cannot interpret
a verse correctly without seeing what precedes and
follows.
Paul here is writing to the Corinthians and says, in
verse 3, "Ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
which to you-ward is not weak but is mighty in you."
These Corinthians were saying that Paul was not an
Apostle, that Christ was not speaking in him. "Ye
seek a PROOF of Christ speaking in me." You see,
they were judging Paul as to his spirituality. They
were judging Paul as to his Apostleship as to Christ
being in him and speaking through him.
Now Paul shows us that that is a wrong attitude.
"For though He was crucified through weakness, yet
He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak
in Him, but we shall live with Him, by the power of
God toward you." So Paul answers those people who
were sitting in judgment on him as to his
spirituality. He says, "We are IN HIM, weak, to be
sure, but we are in Him, and we shall live with
Him." Paul says there, "I know, whether you know or
not, that Christ is in me and with me. You don't
think so, but I KNOW IT."
Actually, friends, nobody knows any one else's
heart!
Paul says, "Instead of examining ME, examine
YOURSELVES, whether YE be in the faith. Prove your
OWN SELVES. Know you not that Jesus Christ IS IN YOU
(except ye be reprobate)?" Reprobate means an
unsaved person.
Paul doesn't say, "I am going to examine YOU." Not
even the Apostle! "I am not going to judge you at
all. You are judging me as to MY spirituality, as to
whether I am an Apostle or not, as to ...
Jesse M. Hendley
II Corinthians 13:5
The text this morning is Second Corinthians 13:5,
and we want to talk with you a little bit on this
subject, "Examine Yourselves, Whether Ye Be in the
Faith." Am I saved, or am I not?
You can never lift a text out of its context. As
someone has said, "If we take text out of its
context, it becomes a pretext." You cannot interpret
a verse correctly without seeing what precedes and
follows.
Paul here is writing to the Corinthians and says, in
verse 3, "Ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
which to you-ward is not weak but is mighty in you."
These Corinthians were saying that Paul was not an
Apostle, that Christ was not speaking in him. "Ye
seek a PROOF of Christ speaking in me." You see,
they were judging Paul as to his spirituality. They
were judging Paul as to his Apostleship as to Christ
being in him and speaking through him.
Now Paul shows us that that is a wrong attitude.
"For though He was crucified through weakness, yet
He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak
in Him, but we shall live with Him, by the power of
God toward you." So Paul answers those people who
were sitting in judgment on him as to his
spirituality. He says, "We are IN HIM, weak, to be
sure, but we are in Him, and we shall live with
Him." Paul says there, "I know, whether you know or
not, that Christ is in me and with me. You don't
think so, but I KNOW IT."
Actually, friends, nobody knows any one else's
heart!
Paul says, "Instead of examining ME, examine
YOURSELVES, whether YE be in the faith. Prove your
OWN SELVES. Know you not that Jesus Christ IS IN YOU
(except ye be reprobate)?" Reprobate means an
unsaved person.
Paul doesn't say, "I am going to examine YOU." Not
even the Apostle! "I am not going to judge you at
all. You are judging me as to MY spirituality, as to
whether I am an Apostle or not, as to ...
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