The Crucial Test

04.15.10
J.A. Matteson

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!”
2 Corinthians 13:5

Many are the boasts by men who profess an allegiance to the Savior, yet the outward testimony of their lives runs destructively head-long into their claim to piety. Observing this blatant and perpetual contradiction between profession and behavior the Apostle concludes, “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed” (Tit. 1:6).

Spiritually speaking there are perhaps four groups of people on the earth: those who are lost and know it, those who are saved but fear they may be lost, those who are saved and know it, and those who are lost but think they are saved. The concern of the Apostle is for individuals who may be in the last group. He therefore admonishes all to “test” (πειάζω) themselves or “put to the test” individual profession against the multiple indicators contained in scripture as to the character of one who is truly born again. The Apostle applies the aorist tense while applying the word “test” to indicate the self examination is intended to be ongoing throughout ones pilgrimage in order to guard against self-deception. But he presses further still by insisting that his audience personally “examine” (δοκιμάζετε) their individual behavior or character in relation to that of Jesus Christ.

The term Christian was originally employed to identify those following in the Way of Jesus Christ. In essence it carried with it the connotation of being a “little Christ” and was likely first used at Antioch by unbelievers with a terse derisive implication. The sense of the examination the Apostle’s presents is to prove or demonstrate by behavior Christ-like conduct, and in so doing demonstrate genuine faith. A mere verbal profession of faith is insufficient—talk is cheap—and it must be accompanied by corresponding works to the glory of God; to this end the Apostle James speaks concisely, “But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (Jas. 2:18). And it is to this end the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is established and perfected in the life of the regenerated, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). While justification is by faith alone, justifying faith is never alone and is always accompanied by good works.

More specifically, let us examine the fruit of the Spirit within the child of God, fruit which can be observed and nurtured so that an increasing harvest of good fruit may be produced. Pilgrim, are you continuing to trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary wholly and solely for your salvation?, for consider what the Scripture says, “but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” Beloved, note the promise is a conditional one, “if”; a distinguishing mark of genuine faith is its permanence into eternity. Anyone professing Christ who later renounce Him possessed a counterfeit faith and were never born from above, these are the seed on the rocky places, seed sewn in the midst of thorns and thistles, seed which in due season is rendered useless.

Genuine faith also produces an intense desire to obey God and hate sin, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matt. 7:21). A regenerate heart will also grow in holiness, mortifying the flesh daily, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord”, also, “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (Heb. 12:14, 1 Jn. 3:3). Accompanying these works of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Gal. 5:22-23).

In addition the child of God loves the children of God and desires to be in their company, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death” (1 Jn. 3:14). At the same time genuine believers will have a positive impact on others, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16), these also adhere to the Apostle’s teaching, hungering for the Word of Life and its application to their lives, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship….” (Acts 2:42).

Confirming all of these things within the heart of genuine believers is the Holy Spirit Himself who testifies with their spirits that they are children of God, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:15-16).

Beloved, to the extent that these characteristics of the Spirit’s fruit depict your walk with the Lord and are steadily increasing, you are doing well. But woe to the professor whose life is utterly barren of these marks of regeneration, who only has his verbal profession of Christ with perhaps his church membership, baptism certificate, and tithing record, for that man is one who believes himself to be saved when he is most assuredly lost and headed toward a certain damnation unless he hears with his ears, repents with his heart, cries out with his lips, and falls at the foot of the cross in desperation. Most assuredly, the grace and mercy of the Savior will by no means caste away the humble and contrite in spirit, but will exalt him, to the praise and glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).