| Salvation by Grace Alone | |
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| Salvation by Grace Alone | |
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EXAMINE YOURSELF ... By Elder Hulan Bass 2nd Cor. 13:1-6 I would invite you to read all six verses for the contextual setting. However, I would especially like for you to consider verse 5, as our primary study in this lesson. "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?" Self examination is never really a pleasure. I once read that "We are never so perfect till introspection is a pleasure." Introspection is that of looking within one's own thoughts and feelings; to engage in one's own thought processes, and the contents of one's own mind, including your own sensory experiences. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul is asking the Church at Corinth to do. We find upon any minor look within ourselves, that we immediately detect that we ourselves are our own worst enemy. Paul wrote this same church in his first epistle to them - 1st Cor. 11:31 - "For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged." We would tend to "let ourselves off the hook." Yet, down deep inside of the inward person of a Regenerated Born-Again Elect child of God, we know the truth is looming ever so great within us, the Doctrine of Total Depravity in Fallen Adam. Yes, we have all during formal schooling and education been forced to "take exams." We have had from very early childhood exams by our family Medical doctor, and sometimes we need a prescription to correct the malady. Now, I'm not suggesting that you examine yourselves by going to the fortune teller, or reading the zodiac signs in your horoscope in the morning paper. I'm not alluding to your making an appointment with the local psychiatrist or psychologist, but just going to the Holy Scriptures and finding the answers to our "self exam." Before you go to the Holy Scriptures, let me ask you another serious question. "Do you have high, medium or low self esteem?" This is what is being taught to the masses today. You must have high self esteem. You must think highly of yourself. You must have high self-confidence. You must be very positive about your "self-worth." Psychiatrists and Psychologists say the main cause of "teenage suicide" is that of "Low self-esteem." I desire to examine this premise carefully. David wrote in -Psalms 26:1-3 - "Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes; and I have walked in thy truth." So, we lay a basis premise here. David has established the way to examine yourself, is to go to the word of the Lord, as our guide, and ask the Lord to examine you. Let the measuring device be the "Word of the truth of the Lord." Whatever we find as truth in the Word of the Lord, that should be the path of our walk, and not that which we might deem as appropriate in the eyes of our peers in our secular society. Now for more specifics. when we begin to examine our selves by the word of the Truth of the Lord, then we will come to the correct conclusion, that of three [3] areas. Remember our text says, "whether ye be in the faith." To be "in the faith," simply means to be "sound in the Doctrine and Practice of the Truth Church." So, we are clearly taught to examine ourselves on the merits of Holy Scripture and not on a "sliding scale" of measurement of "relativity," as is taught today in the world. There are "Absolutes" with God and in God's Word. So, first, let us consider the faith of ... 1.) We examine ourselves and find we are fallen in Adam in total depravity, sin and iniquity. Now that is the first test. Does this hurt your "self esteem?" Does this make you feel "Low self -esteem?" Well, this is contrary to the teachings of the world, isn't it? You will never come to a complete understanding and peace until you understand this first premise of "being in the faith." Much more could be said about this, but just know that there is a "way out of this negative dilemma." 2.) We examine ourselves and find we are saved eternally in the Blood of Christ. We are in Christ in the Everlasting Covenant, on Calvary's Cross Legally, and in Regeneration, being Born-again, by the application of the Blood of the Cross in the inward man, and that "puts you in Christ.?" 3.) Lastly we examine ourselves and find, by studying carefully the word of the truth in God's Word, that we are "In the faith," by being knowledgeable and of complete comprehension of these first two items listed above, and this will be known as being "In the Gospel." We examine ourselves and find that we are "In the faith," by knowing that we are Fallen in Adam, but saved Eternally in Christ, and again, Saved timely by the Gospel. Now, let us survey our findings in our self examination. The entire human race is a fallen family in the Total depraved Fall of Adam and Eve. Next, the vast majority of these are Saved eternally in the blood The Cross in Christ Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. We are regenerated in Christ, the agent being His blood. We were "regenerated," in Adam, but that failed, so we needed "Regenerated" in Christ and that was a complete success. Yet, only a small remnant number of those are saved timely, by the Gospel, as most of the saved Elect are in "gospel ignorance," and remain so throughout their earthly lives. As you look over these areas of your self-examination, do you qualify by the measuring device of God's Word in all three? Or do you find yourself in doubt, fear and negativism? Are you confused as to where and who you are? Does the "Relatives and Norms" of the secular world leave you in much quandary? Well, then, stop, look nd listen. Stop looking to the secular peer pressures around you, and go straight to God's Holy Word, for knowledge, peace and understanding. The "examination of yourself" will be found to be in peace and quietness only in the Holy Scriptures. If you can find yourself "in the Faith," then you are no longer a reprobate. 2nd Cor. 13:5- has a closing phrase- "except ye be reprobates?" What is a reprobate? Well, someone in the various denominational flavors of Christianity will tell you that you are such because you have not "accepted Christ," or have not yet become a "believer." But the truth is, upon "examining" whether you are "in the faith," is truly found in correct interpretation and rightly dividing of the Word of Truth. 2nd Tim. 2:15. Reprobate= Strong's #96-Greek=adokimos-unapproved; rejected; by implication-worthless; a castaway. Okay, so that is where we were in step one, in Fallen Adam, but we are In Christ, who is In You, and ye therefore cannot be a reprobate. Neither can ye be a "Gospel Reprobate" either, as you know the Truth, in the finished Work of Christ on the Cross, and in you. Paul further confirms that this "self-examination" will prove to you that you are not a reprobate. 2nd Cor. 13:6-"But I trust that ye shall Know that we are not reprobates." In closing I would suggest that for further Biblical reference in your self-examination also read= James 1:22-25; Col. 3:1--3, 5-- 17. Compiled by Hulan F. Bass [elder] Lockhart, Texas. • Previous |
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