4 Minute Read + Scripture readings

Today’s Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 20
2 Corinthians 13
Ezekiel 27
Psalms 75-76

Today’s Bible Verse(s):

2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSB): “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves.”

Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):

This verse is an extremely important one!

It’s also interesting where it appears in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Essentially, he has been defending his apostleship in the previous three chapters. Now, he turns the tables on them. He could justify his apostleship … but, could they justify their genuine faith?

After all, the books of First and Second Corinthians are filled with serious concerns. The church has been tolerating sin in their midst, some of what they were believing was clearly error, and they were behaving in some ways that were unbecoming to a Christian.

So, Paul wanted them to make sure that they were truly born again. After all, true saving faith shows up in changed behaviors (James 2:14-26). While we will never attain spiritual perfection in this life, we should be becoming more like Jesus as the months and years pass.

Paul’s challenge to them is a very important challenge to us. Are we saved? Is there evidence in our actions, our beliefs, our attitudes, and motives that we truly belong to Him?

The price of failing the test is incomprehensible massive! An eternity in Hell is to be experienced by those who are not saved. So, it is absolutely essential that we examine ourselves to make sure that we are saved.

Remember that we are saved by grace through faith without any effort on our part.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB): “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.”

But, the genuineness of that faith can be observed in the things we think, say, and do, and the fruit that our life produces. Essentially, are we becoming more like Jesus?

Ephesians 2:10 (CSB): “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

So, since we are saved by grace through faith (which is invisible to the human eye) but our faith is visible by how we act, then we need to look at our actions and what our life is producing to be sure that we are truly saved.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSB): “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to live in perpetual doubt about my salvation. You do not desire for me to do so. But, I dare not be assured of what may not be real. Help me to test myself to make sure that my faith is genuine saving faith. Then, help me to live with assurance of my salvation as I stand ready to tell others how they can have the same confidence. Amen.

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