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Galatians 5:16-23 teaches that at any moment we are either walking by the Holy Spirit or according to the sin nature. Walking by the Spirit, enjoying fellowship with God, walking in the light are virtually synonymous. During these times, the Holy Spirit is working in us to illuminate our minds to the truth of Scripture and to challenge us to apply what we learn. But when we sin, we begin to live based on the sin nature. Our works do not count for eternity. The only way to recover is to confess (admit, acknowledge) our sin to God the Father and we are instantly forgiven, cleansed, and recover our spiritual walk (1 John 1:9). Please make sure you are walking by the Spirit before you begin your Bible study, so it will be spiritually profitable.

Messages with tag - Authenticity of your faith

3 - Doesn’t 2 Corinthians 13:5 Say We Need to Examine Ourselves to See If We Are Saved? - Keynote
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
by Andy Woods
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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