Spiritual Self-Examination

The Questions:

Are you in the faith? Do you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? (2 Cor. 13:5)

Is there certain, irrefutable evidence in your inner feelings and in your outer behavior that the Holy Spirit is
living in you?

Have you really been truly and permanently changed since and because you have accepted the sacrificial gift
of Jesus Christ?

How can you know the answer?

1. Do you rely on God’s power to carry out God’s work on earth? (2 Cor. 13:2-4, Rom. 8:28)

Paul is talking about the ability of God to act inside people's conscience and heart and change
them by pressure and by trouble, even, maybe disaster, whatever God's judgment calls for. But
Paul's reliance is not on the congregation to execute this judgment, but on God.

2. Do you, in your inner most being, see God as a loving Father who is truly concerned for you?

(Rom. 8:14-16, 1 John 3:1, Matt. 6:8, 25-32, 10:29-31)

3. Do you have a sense of “inner peace” with God? (Rom. 5:1-2, 8:1-11)

Do you truly believe that the problem of your sin no longer troubles God because the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ has satisfied His justice? Do you have a sense of destiny, an assurance that you
are going to go to heaven when you die, not because of anything that you have done, but
because of what Jesus Christ has done for you?

4. Do you have a deep and sincere hunger for God’s Word? (1 Peter 2:2)

5. Do you manifest an attitude, and behave in a manner, consistent with a person affected by God’s Holy
Spirit?

How should we behave? Aim for perfection (2 Cor. 13:11)

Do you feel differently about certain behaviors that you once thought were o.k. (e.g. sexual
immorality)? Do they now seem ugly, hurtful or distasteful? Do you no longer want to have a
part in such behavior? If so, that is because Christ lives in you, and light can have no part with
darkness. (Eph. 5:7-11, John 3:19-21)

Do you now see how selfish/self-centered your life has been? Do you feel greater empathy and
compassion for others? Do you have a selfless spirit that loves unconditionally, demanding
nothing in return? (1 Cor. 10:24)

Others who are watching you cannot really answer that question because they do not know
whether something you have been doing is only temporary or if it is real with you. They cannot
tell, but you can.
 6. Do you have a personal sense of accountability to God alone and not ultimately to the
congregation or to any man (like Paul in our lesson text)?

What things, by themselves, and without the true indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit do not make you a
Christian?

Joining a church.
Adhering to a certain moral standard.
Reading the Bible.

Authority that comes from God is for what purpose?

To build up (encourage, support, restore, renew), not tear down (2 Cor. 13:9)

How can we support each other’s efforts to walk in a Christ-like manner?

Be of one mind and live in peace (2 Cor. 13:11)

Keep the peace with “salted” (gracious) speech toward one another. (Mark 9:50, Col. 4:6)