2co 13v05 Whether Ye Be In The Faith
"...WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH
II
Corinthians 13:5
Paul admonishes all
of us to make our calling and election sure. He says, "Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove
your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Christ Jesus is in you,
except you be reprobates?" He does not admonish us to examine one another;
but he does tell us to examine ourselves.
Here are three points by which I examine my own faith. I urge you to do the
same.
1. IS MY FAITH BASED UPON THE WORD OF GOD?
I
know this, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom.
2. DOES MY FAITH CAUSE ME TO HAVE A
WELL-GROUNDED HOPE OF A SAVING INTEREST IN CHRIST? True faith causes a man
to have a good hope through grace. Trusting the merits of Christ's
righteousness and shed blood, the true believer has a confident, assured hope
of eternal salvation and acceptance with God in Christ. True faith trusts
Christ alone, and enjoys peaceful hope of eternal glory in him.
3. DOES MY FAITH PRODUCE A
PRINCIPLE OF LOVE IN MY HEART FOR CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE? Faith causes a man
to love Christ as he is and love the people of God as they are in Christ. This
love is a self-denying, self-sacrificing commitment to Christ and his people.
Any faith that lacks this love is a false faith.