2Co 13:5 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!
There is a great matter of controversy surrounding this passage, particularily as it pertains to the evidence of salvation in a believer. It is often used in sermons to urge professing Christians to look at their life and see if they fit the biblical description of a Christian. If they do, it is evidence that they are saved; if not, if they "fail to meet the test," it is preached that they may in fact be a false convert. The title given to the teaching that a true Christian must produce a certain fruit as evidence that they are saved, is deemed "Lordship Salvation." I have also found it to be the biblical view.
Contrary to this is a theology is called "Free Grace," a teaching popular amidst classical dispensational theologians such as Charles Ryrie. "All you have to do is believe!" is the battlecry of many of this theological leaning. They argue that there could never be peace in a Christian who is constantly "questioning his salvation" via such self-examination, and that they must be content to recall that time in their life when they believed in Christ.
Pertaining to the admonition in 2 Corinthians 13:5, they will often proceed to point out the context of the passage:
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Paul notes in 13:3 that the Corinthians are seeking proof that Christ speaks through him. In response, he tells them to "examine themselves" for the evidence in this passage. The the evidence that Paul is speaking from Christ is found in the evidence that they are true Christians, since it was Paul who brought them the gospel of Christ. Thus, if Paul is not truly speaking for Christ, then they themselves cannot truly be Christians. (Citation taken from personal commentary.)
It is clear that this particular exegete is correct, and it doesn't take much examination of the passage to see it. But does that invalidate the interpretation made by those preachers who then urge their congregation to examine themselves?
In fact, if these preachers are studied enough and know their commentaries -- John Gill, Matthew Henry or the Geneva commentary, for instance -- they are well aware of this understanding, because all three commentaries mention it. Most remarkably, all three were made from men who would also be classified by a belief in "Lordship Salvation" today, and would agree that it is the responsibility of the believer to examine himself and test himself.
Furthermore, after detailing the very context of the passage as summarised above, Henry even mentions and encourages the application that has come into dispute:
"If therefore they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate (2Co_13:6), not disowned by Christ. What the apostle here says of the duty of the Corinthians to examine themselves, etc., with the particular view already mentioned, is applicable to the great duty of all who call themselves Christians, to examine themselves concerning their spiritual state. We should examine whether we be in the faith, because it is a matter in which we may be easily deceived, and wherein a deceit is highly dangerous: we are therefore concerned to prove our own selves, to put the question to our own souls, whether Christ be in us, or not; and Christ is in us, except we be reprobates: so that either we are true Christians or we are great cheats; and what a reproachful thing is it for a man not to know himself, not to know his own mind!" - Matthew Henry commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:5-6
So then, are preachers wrong to use 2 Corinthians 13:5 to urge professing Christians to test themselves to see whether they are in the faith? Absolutely not! It is clear that Paul could have simply said, "You believed the gospel when you heard it from me, so that is evidence that I am speaking from Christ." Yet he did not; instead, he took an extra step and urged the Corinthians to test themselves. Is there not a principle to be applied from this? Would Paul even ask them to question it if it were not a matter that could be questioned?
Continuing into verses 6 and 7, he goes on to explain that regardless of whether they believe Paul, he hopes that they themselves will be found to have passed the test. How? By doing what is right, and not wrong (verse 7.)
Plainly and simply, the need to examine yourself is not a concept foreign to the rest of scripture, nor is the existence of a people who think themselves saved and are not. We are reminded of the oft-quoted scripture in Matthew 7:20-22, where "on that day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord' ... And I will say, depart from me, you workers of iniquity! I never knew you." (This is right after He concludes a parable, "you will know them by their fruits!") We also remember that Peter said "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:10) And of false converts, John says this: "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." (1 John 2:19)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment