Passage: 2 Corinthians 13:5
Series: 2015 Chafer Theological Seminary Bible Conference
Duration: 1 hr 16 mins 26 secs
Second Corinthians 13:5, one of the most hotly contested verses in the entire Bible says, "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!" Most understand this verse as exhorting the idea of perpetual self introspective spiritual analysis in order to ascertain if one is truly a Christian. This point of view emanates from interpreters who adhere to Reformed Theology, Lordship Salvation, or Hyper Calvinism. These systems place a high premium on perseverance in good works as the authenticating sign of being a genuine believer. In other words, they teach that all true believers will inevitably persevere in good works. Thus, ever increasing good works demonstrate the genuineness or authenticity of an individual's spiritual status as a true child of God. If the good works are not plentiful in someone's life, then perhaps they are not a true child of God. Perhaps they are a mere professor of Christ rather than an actual possessor of Him. Thus, in this system, 2 Corinthians 13:5 means that we should engage in chronic spiritual inventory in order to ascertain the abundance of a changed life and good works. If they are not present, then perhaps we were never saved in the first place.
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