"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down." -2 Corinthians 13:5-10
The goal of all efforts in the life of the church is to bring restoration. We are first restored in Christ through salvation. Constant confession and repentance is needed to continue in faithfulness to this restored relationship. We secure in our salvation by the power of God through Jesus. Testing and examining ourselves is a way to ensure that we have truly had a salvation experience. The genuine believer is able to remember the joy of salvation by reflecting on the trust he possesses in the work of Jesus to bring salvation. Paul encourages the Corinthians to examine themselves rather than question his apostleship. Paul was confident in the authority that God had given him, even if these individuals could not see it or at least questioned it. By looking to their genuineness of salvation the solution to these accusations would be found. Paul was certain that he was operating according to the truth. Truth is what holds together the people of God for the purposes of being built up. He was also eager to accept if it was his own weakness and they were in fact strong. But examination according to the truth would reveal this. If we are going to stay close to the Lord in faithfulness, we must look inward, seek the truth, and find restoration as the solution. The great Apostle was wanting this end of edification and restoration without needing to be "severe or sharp." He assured them that even this was for the goal of restoration in truth. We all need this process in our life for growth in bringing glory to our Lord and Savior. I believe this looks like regular prayer and meditation in the word of God. Our attitude that must accompany this is to surrender to truth in order to change. We can't resist, refute, or ignore truth. We must surrender. The joy of salvation is sure to be present in the process of continual surrender that moves us along to the practical righteousness enabled by our Savior through the indwelling of Holy Spirit. Let's be open to self examination in pursuit of the truth for our restoration that builds up! All is for the glory of God! God is faithful and good!
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