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? (2 Corinthians 13:5).
But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing
in himself alone, and not in another. (Galatians 6:4).
But let a man examine himself (1Corinthans 11:28).
With an open heart and mind ask God to turn his search light on your
inner-most being. Then pray as David did in Psalms 139:23, Search me, O
God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: Then ask yourself
the following questions:
1. Was there a time when you honestly realized you were a sinner and
admitted this to yourself and to God (Lu. 18:13)?
2. Was there a time when your heart stirred you to flee the wrath to
come (Lu. 13:3; John 8:21-24)?
3. Have you ever seriously been sorrowful over your sin (2 Co. 7:10)?
4. Do you truly understand the Gospel that Christ died and rose again
for your sins (1 Co. 15:1-4)?
5. Do you understand and confess that you cannot save yourself (Eph.
2:8-9)?
6. Did you sincerely repent of your sins to turn from them, or do you
secretly love and enjoy sin (Mark 1:15; 6:12; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31;
2 Co. 5:17)?
7. Have you trusted in Christ, and Christ alone, for your salvation
(John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12)?
8. Do you enjoy a living relationship with him through the Word and in
the Spirit (1 John 1:3)?
9. Has there been a change in your life (2 Cor. 5:17)?
10. Do you maintain good works, (Eph. 2:10)?
11. Do you seek to grow in the things of the Lord (1 Pe. 2:2; 2 Pe.
3:18)?
12. Can others tell that you've been with Jesus (Acts 4:13)?
13. Do you have a desire to share Christ with others; or are you ashamed
of Him (Romans 1:16, Mark 8:38)?
14. Do you enjoy the fellowship of God's people? Is worship a delight
to you (Ps. 119:63; 1 John 1:7)?
15. Are you ready for the Lords return; or will you be ashamed at His
coming (2 Pe. 3:11-14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)?
Examination should accomplish one of these two actions; first of all, if
you have never truly been born-again, praise the Lord there is still
time to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour right now. For it
will be too late after you die, as your eternal destiny will be sealed.
Secondly, if you are saved, it should give you a more burning desire to
want to tell others of this wonderful "free" gift of eternal life
through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many years ago I heard a Baptist preacher say, "The longer I'm in the
ministry the more I am convinced that our churches have a large number
of unsaved members in them." The older I get the more I tend to agree
with him. Unfortunately there are many people who have a false sense of
salvation because they "prayed a prayer." I have not found any verse in
the Bible that says, "prayers save souls." Prayers do not save - Jesus
saves! It is true that "confession is made with the mouth," but
salvation does not take place until you "...believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead..." then, and only then, will you "be
saved." The Bible says that we are to "...believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." not repeat some prayer. Dear
reader, have you ever taken the time to examine your salvation to see if
you truly have "Biblical salvation?"
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