Examine Yourselves, A Follow Up

 Recently, I wrote about a youth group teaching on 2 Corinthians 13:5 which reads "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!".  You can read that post here. These are some follow up thoughts to that post and that teaching.

Examination can be a very scary thing.  Most of us can remember waking up in a cold sweat the night before an important exam convinced that we have overslept and missed it.  But as I spent some time reflecting on this verse I felt the Lord reminding me that examination is not for my condemnation but it is for my restoration.

Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  O how I need to remember this verse when I feel convicted of my sin.  The Holy Spirit convicts me so that I may repent and find forgiveness.  So that I may have a restored relationship with Christ.  He does not convict me to condemn me.  Because of God's gift of grace in Christ I have already passed from the condemnation that my sin deserves into new life with him!

In the end, what have we to fear?!  God is gracious and patient.  We can trust him to finish the work he has started in each of us!  Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  And so, I will go on examining myself...even when it hurts...confident that God's grace is enough for me and that his power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).