"EXAMINE YOURSELVES"

2 CORINTHIANS 13:5

A. BACKGROUND TO OUR TEXT
  1. Paul had learned that the Corinthians had criticized his ministry, and were bringing divisions among the believers: 1 Cor. 1:10-15
  2. This attitude, by some of the Corinthians, necessitated the second Epistle to those believers:
B. SELF-EXAMINATION AND ITS IMPLICATION
  1. It is a most difficult undertaking:
    1. It runs against the human ego -
      1. Many are blind to their own shortcomings - Luke 18:11, 12; Matt. 7:1-5
      2. Pride and self-conceit keep them from applying the test for self-discovery.
    2. It necessitates self-exposure -
      1. That is not in human nature,
      2. Because it is human to seek to hide our defects - Gen. 3:7
  2. It requires the application of principles outside of one's self:
    1. The Pharisee measured himself by his own conception of himself.
    2. But the Publican measured himself by what he knew about God's requirements - Luke 18:11-13
  3. We find God's measuring rod in his Word:
    1. To the law and to the testimony - Isa. 8:20
    2. It is the divine mirror in which we can see, not only God's requirements, but, also, our own sinful self - Jas. 1:22-25
    3. By it, Paul says, "is the knowledge of sin" - Rom. 3:20; 7:7
    4. Let us apply this rule to our own self and thereby be benefited or helped.
    5. We all are, more or less, tempted to remove the mote out of our brother's eye, and forget to remove the beam out of our own eye - Matt. 7:3, 4
    6. Prayerful self-examination will help us to avoid the serious mistake that is so common among God's people.
  4. Seventh-Day Adventists claim to have the highest moral standard known by men:
    1. The law of the Ten Commandments.
    2. We refer our friends to Rev. 12:17; 14:12 as proof.
    3. We call attention to the prophetic forecast of the final Reform Movement, which we believe we carry today - Acts 3:19-21; Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1-14
  5. We sincerely believe that this Advent Movement carries the Three Angels' Message in this present generation:
    1. Announcing the hour of God's judgment.
    2. Exposing the fall of Babylon.
    3. Warning against the beast, his image, and his mark - Rev. 14:6-12
  6. All these heavenly blessings add up a serious responsibility to God's people, which must not be taken lightly:
C. "PROVE YOURSELVES"
  1. That we enter into judgment with ourselves, prove ourselves, not by determining our own concept of truth, but rather of what the truth is in itself:
    1. This is the very heart of self-examination.
      1. Is our knowledge of the truth workable? Does it stand up in practice? Luke 6:46
      2. For not the hearer but the doer of the law shall be justified in the sight of the Lord - Rom. 2:13
    2. All tests of our lives have but a twofold aim -
      1. To discover our need.
      2. To apply the remedy God has for our need - Rev. 3:14-17
  2. Such self-examination will be most helpful:
    1. To our ownselves -
      1. It will keep us from spending time and energy in finding fault with others.
      2. It will bring us closer to the Lord.
      3. It will be beneficial to the church of God.
    2. Thus Paul gives us timely instructions for our own good.
    3. Let us be humble enough to apply them to our own sinful selves.


Design © John Bryant 2011