Examine Yourselves Whether You Be in the Faith, Part 1

GTY.org ^ | September 24, 1978 | John MacArthur

[redleghunter]

Paul calls for an examination in another passage and I want you to notice this. It's the last chapter of II Corinthians, Chapter 13, and verse 5, I want you to note what it says, Il Corinthians 13:5, just the first sentence, "'Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; (prove it, is what he's saying) prove yourselves." You say to someone "are you a Christian?" 'Yes.' What do you base that on? 'Well so many years ago I made a decision.' That means nothing. The Bible never verifies anybodies salvation on the basis of the past, It's always on the basis of the present, And if you don't have the evident proof of real salvation in your life now, there's a very real possibility you're not a Christian at all, no matter what happened in the past. So examine yourself, to se whether you are in the faith prove yourself. You say John' how do do that? How do I know if I'm really a Christian? I believe! (Maybe you've even been baptized.) I go to church, I, think I'm a Christian.' Look with me Matthew Chapter 5 and let's find out. When Jesus had arrived on the scene, the Jews had already decided what right-living was all about. They had already built their own code. They had already developed their own system, and they had it pretty cu and dried and pretty well laid out that this is what it was to be holy, and it was all external, it was all self-righteousness and works, and Jesus came and shattered that thing and He said I want to give you a new standard for living.

[redleghunter]

Salvation is indeed by faith and not of works. Though Rm. 11:6 actually refers to election and excludes making a response before one is born, Rm. 4 affirms justification is not on the basis of any works actually earning a right standing with God and morally deserving eternal life, as in reality what all believers have earned is eternal damnation.

Excellent expository. The other gentlemen pinged mentioned to me quite a few times on other threads that regardless of the "age" no one was ever saved by works.

[CynicalBear]

I’m a little out of breath but well done. A lot of time went into that one both to put together and to read. The only contention I have is that the Old Testament Israelites had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as believers do today. I understood that only a sparingly was that the case.

[daniel1212]

Excellent expository. The other gentlemen pinged mentioned to me quite a few times on other threads that regardless of the "age" no one was ever saved by works.

But the greatest Black Friday (if that was indeed the day) sale i ever experienced was when i was bought with a Price, not "with corruptible things, as silver and gold," but "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18,19)

Thanks be to God for so great salvation at so great a cost to meet so great a need for so great a people, by the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." (Heb. 1:3; Titus 2:13)

[presently no screen name]

what i see is an unreasonable attempt to insistently read into Scripture that which is not there, partly based upon a superficial understanding of what salvation by grace means, and which both Peter and Paul preached, and later expanded theologically upon in writing to believers.

BUMP! BUMP! BUMP!

I read superficial as 'a natural man' who cannot understand the things of God because God's Word is spiritually discerned.

I, too, have been busy and had time only to dabble here towards the end of the thread and responded to a few that needed immediate attention and that's when it was proclaimed 'we all' decided it was time to turn out the lights. I still haven't read the thread; but will still address some issues.

As usual, you hit it out of the park. Actually, since your first appearance to FR you have been doing that. THANKS, Daniel!

[presently no screen name]

what i see is an unreasonable attempt to insistently read into Scripture that which is not there, partly based upon a superficial understanding of what salvation by grace means, and which both Peter and Paul preached, and later expanded theologically upon in writing to believers.

BUMP! BUMP! BUMP!

I read superficial as 'a natural man' who cannot understand the things of God because God's Word is spiritually discerned.

I, too, have been busy and had time only to dabble here towards the end of the thread and responded to a few that needed immediate attention and that's when it was proclaimed 'we all' decided it was time to turn out the lights. I still haven't read the thread; but will still address some issues.

As usual, you hit it out of the park. Actually, since your first appearance on FR you have been doing that. THANKS, Daniel!

[daniel1212]

As usual, you hit it out of the park.

Hardly, as it could be much improved, but thank God for He approved and edifies. And for your encouragement.

[daniel1212]

I’m a little out of breath but well done.

"faint, yet pursuing." (Judges 8:4)

[GarySpFc]

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

It is Jesus’ faith working in us who believe. So, we see that our righteousness is not IN Christ, but OF Him. And if so, we become part with Him, and He IN us.

I don't know which version you quoted, but it clearly is incorrect and out of context.

Firstly, God is faithful, and He does give us faith. Likewise, God does impute Christ's righteousness by grace to Christians for their faith. However, He expects us to use the faith He has given us.

"and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" Phil 3:9

Note carefully, in this passage it is by faith "IN" Christ, NOT "OF" Christ as you quoted. That it is our faith Paul is referring to is proved by the verses following number 9 in this chapter. Paul uses his faith as an example.

[CynicalBear]

>>I don't know which version you quoted, but it clearly is incorrect and out of context.<<

For understanding of passages like that I don’t use a “version”, I go directly to the Greek text. Compare to this.

Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Also look here.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

In each of those verses we see it is Christ’s faith through His indwelling as seen in the above verse and others.

>> That it is our faith Paul is referring to is proved by the verses following number 9 in this chapter. Paul uses his faith as an example.<<

I beg to differ. Paul does not use his faith as an example. As seen in the above examples Paul clearly makes it plain that it is Christ’s faith that we rely on through His Spirit within us. It is not our righteousness nor is it our faith.