2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you… I. WHAT IT IS ABOUT OURSELVES WHICH WE HAVE TO EXAMINE. 1. Our principles. Let us ascertain whether they are according to the word of truth, or whether they arc the mere inventions of men, if they be not indeed the conjectures of our own unthinking minds. 2. Our feelings. Is the love of God and Christ indeed in us? This affection is the root of all others. 3. Our practice (Galatians 6:4). II. BY WHAT RULES WE ARE TO CONDUCT THIS VERY IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION. There is no other standard than the Word of God; and this work of self-examination has perhaps been more marred by the overlooking of this circumstance than by anything else. The Word of God gives us the fruits of the Spirit, it gives us the works of the flesh. Take each list and see which contains the lineaments of your character. It presents to us various precepts which we are called upon to obey. Examine if they are the outlines of your everyday doings. But how is the examination to he conducted upon this high standard? 1. Deliberately. 2. Frequently, for we are constantly changing. 3. With a view to improvement. The man who examines himself merely to know that he is safe is a selfish man. When he goes further, and endeavours to know what as a saved being he is to do, he is pursuing a course which, while it will discover to him his defects, will at the same time point out the means of his further progress. 4. In reference to the world at large. How far are we setting before the world, by our example, the Christianity by which we think we are ourselves saved? 5. In reference to all the situations in which the providence of God may place us. 6. In reference to all the principles that we discuss. There is no principle deserving discussion if you do not think it worth your while afterwards to inquire how far you have made it useful. (J. Burnet.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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? |
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