If you feel far from God, examine yourself. If you feel distant from family and friends, examine yourself. If you feel passed up by life, examine yourself.
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority. (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)
- Examine
- Greek, “Try (make trial of) yourselves.”
- prove your own selves
- This should be your first aim, rather than “seeking a proof of Christ speaking in me” (2Co 13:3).
- your own selves
- I need not speak much in proof of Christ being in me, your minister (2Co 13:3), for if ye try your own selves ye will see that Christ is also in you [Chrysostom], (Ro 8:10). Finding Christ dwelling in yourselves by faith, ye may well believe that He speaks in me, by whose ministry ye have received this faith [Estius]. To doubt it would be the sin of Israel, who, after so many miracles and experimental proofs of God’s presence, still cried (Ex 17:7), “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Compare Mr 8:11).
- except ye be reprobates
- The Greek softens the expression, “somewhat reprobates,” that is, not abiding the “proof” (alluding to the same word in the context); failing when tested. Image from metals (Jer 6:30; Da 5:27; Ro 1:28) –Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
In proving his own apostolic authority to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul appealed to their experience of Christ in themselves. How about you? Which of the following characterizes your experience of Christ in yourself? Are you trusting in the love of God, does his love work through you, and flow through you? Or, are you trusting in your own works, are your rules and regulations more important than God’s love, are your bowels of mercy dried and shriveled?
Rooted and Grounded in Love — Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (Ephesians 3:17)
Useless Rules and Regulations, or… — You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. (Colossians 2:20-23)
How about you? Are you following the Apostle Paul’s last recorded words of advice to the Corinthians almost 2000 years ago, or have you wandered from the faith of God into your own religion of rules and regulations?
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. (Psalm 26:2)
Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD. (Lamentations 3:40)
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with Christian love. All of God’s people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:11-14)