How do you examine yourself?

I think were missing the point here. If you look at the verse in it's context, Paul isn't challenging their faith, he's relying on the fact that they have faith.

He remarks in verse 3 that they questioned him...

2Cr 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

He says that they are seeking proof that Christ is speaking through him (Paul). But he remarks that the working of Christ in them is "mighty", meaning they should clearly see it.

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Paul says that the power of God is mightily at work in the Corinthians.

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Paul is telling them... "don't examine me to see if Christ is speaking through me... the work done through me has been mighty toward you. Don't you know that you have Christ inside of you? Consult the Holy Spirit which bears witness inside of you if Christ is speaking through me. This will work .. .unless of course you don't have Christ in you... but we know that Christ is in us, and he is in you, so this will work."

 

HP: and it is ………..

 

HP: I think your imagination is working overtime. Paul neither said or insinuated any such thing.

 

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Actually, it is God's teaching delivered through Paul.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Holy Spirit within us bears witness whether the teaching is true or not. That is all Paul is trying to say... don't rely on him, but let the Holy Spirit within them (if they are saved and not 'reprobates') bear witness that what he (Paul) is saying is true.

Anyone who teaches faith plus works for salvation as being something Paul is preaching isn't paying very close attention to what Paul preaches. I think Paul does advocate that person's works demonstrates their true faith, but not that works are required for salvation.

Paul didn't operate in his own authority, his authority came from God. Furthermore, Paul borrows tremendously from the Hebrew Scriptures in all of his teachings and writings.

I think that is a good interpretation. Though the reason I said "and he is in you" is because of verse 6:
2Cr 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
I gave the Corinthians the benefit of the doubt that "we" was Paul including them and he -- after all, he was writing to the believers at Corinth.

2Cr 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

So "we" could mean Paul and the Corinthian church, or it could mean Paul and Timothy. I was giving the Corinthian church the benefit of the doubt.

 

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

HP: I have never seen a passage of Scripture that is so plain to be so twisted and maligned than this one. It appears that anything and everything is to be examined by this text instead of the one thing it admonishes all to do, i.e., examine yourself to see if ye be of the faith. ‘Prove yourselves,’ i.e., ‘your own faith.’

It is hard to imagine one standing before the Author of the Word and trying to pass off some of the notions in it as we are witnessing on this thread, but some will, and all will have their day in His court to do so. Be certain you are right.

 

Quote:
Steaver: What is the only thing that proves to yourself that you have Jesus Christ in you? It would have to be something that a lost person could not do or know.

HP: You asked basically the same question a few posts before but never gave your response as to the answer. Do you have one in mind?

 

HP: I see your ‘answer’ as in reality begging the question. What evidence do you have that the Spirit of God is testifying this truth to your heart? How do you know that you are simply deceived as to believing a lie? Has God left us to simply having faith in our faith? God says that we are to test the spirits. 1Jo 4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We are exhorted to examine ourselves. That involves introspection of our own lives and thoughts, not merely a testimony from God’s Spirit, although that in the end is the reality. It is a matter of ‘if’ our introspection reveals something, ‘then’ we can be assured that the Spirit that we are listening to testifying to our hear the truth of our standing before God is indeed in reality as God sees us. Our introspection points to ‘if’ something else is present, ‘then our faith or the spirit we are following is not in keeping with solid evidence that we are in right standing before God. The Apostle Paul is pointing us in the direction of a self examination that adds substance to our faith, clear evidence that we are not deceived as to our faith. There is one passage of Scripture that indicates what that substance consists of. Any ideas?

 

HP: Deception is real. Deception happens when one believes they have the witness of the Spirit but in reality have believed a lie. The Holy Spirit does not lie, and Scripture does not lie, but man can be deceived as to the Spirit and His witness to ones heart. We are told to test the spirits. We are told to examine ourselves. But no, some on this list desire to argue away that admonition. Oh yes. They claim to have absolute knowledge of their standing before God and that without possibility of deception, so God must not have meant them when it comes to examining to see if they be of the faith. Like I said, we all will have our day in His court. Make your calling and election certain.
You say the Spirit testifies to your heart of your faith. James says, “show me thy faith without thy works but I will show you my faith by my works for faith without works is dead being alone.” Will dead faith save anyone? Absolutely not. If anyman is saved, there must be something else that serves as a clear testimony to be used to examine ourselves, that only a saved man would know about and could not be used by any not saved, without which we are but deceived individuals. Sound familiar? It almost sounds like what you wrote a couple of posts back, but you simply reasoned in a circle by circling right back to faith alone in the Spirit alone. This simply allows room for one to be deceived as to their standing does it not? Tell me Steaver, is deception a real possibility or not? Can one think they have heard the witness of the Spirit, and in the end find out that they have been deceived or simply deceived themselves? I certainly believe Scripture is replete with warnings and examples of that very thing.

 

HP: That is as clear of a violation of the rules of this forum as can possibly be imagined. You directly questioned my salvation. Moderator please.

 

HP: I am not frustrated in the least. I have been on this forum long enough to see good men banned for even the false accusation of questing another’s salvation. Here you do it openly for all to see. You are in direct violation of the rules for questioning my salvation whether or not I decide to answer your question or not.