Second Corinthians 13 Part 1 Self Examination To Test The Purity Of Our Faith

Please remember me in your prayers as I study ahead for the blog. I seek wisdom and discernment from the Lord. 

I seek to understand the truth God has for us so that I can clearly convey in this setting.

The next book I would like to study through with you is Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia.

This is a wonderful book to study, full of spiritual realities and warnings about what hindrances we may encounter in this life.

Stern warning of God's judgment upon unrepentant Christians at Corinth.

2 Corinthians 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

Paul's second letter to the Corinthians closes with additional words of warning.

The apostle threatens to be severe in judging obstinate sinners when it comes to Corinth. 

At this point Paul sent his first and second epistles with admonitions and exhortations. He communicated with an apostolic love for Christ and for those people in order to reform them. 

Paul's ministry to the Corinthians met the requirements for 2 or 3 witnesses.

Deuteronomy 17:6-7  At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7)  The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. 

Paul invoked the holy standard of judgment in God's law. One of the sins that was a capital offense was the sin of idolatry. 

Gentile Christians at Corinth were saved out of the rampant idolatry practiced in that city. 

Yet, a tendency toward sexual immorality and sensuality persisted in some of the Corinthians.

Paul had to pronounce strong judgment upon a man at Corinth who persisted in fornication with his father's wife (See 1 Corinthians 5).

False prophets were to be stoned because they tried to entice the Israelites into idolatry (See Deuteronomy 13:1-18). 

Blasphemy and promoting false gods were also capital offenses (See Exodus 22:20; Leviticus 24:10-16).

Remember, Paul accused the Corinthians of following false apostles who promoted another (false) gospel.

Some were seduced away from the truth and the gospel of Christ and as such, were perverting the gospel of Christ.

In each of these instances God required two or three witnesses to the sin in order to execute the offender.

Paul did not tell them to stone the sinner in this case. 

Instead, he would use his apostolic authority and turn the unrepentant sinner over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (See 1 Corinthians 5:5). 

Think about Paul's ministry at Corinth. He spent eighteen months in the city, planting the church, preaching the gospel and instructing them in sound doctrine.

This was his first witness to the church. 

He wrote two letters to the Corinthians and these served as the second and third witnesses required by the law of God.

God gave His apostles power and discernment to exercise judgment.

2 Corinthians 13:2-4  I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: 3)  Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4)  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.   

This is why Paul is very blunt and telling them in no uncertain terms that he will come with strong judgment upon those who refuse to repent of their sin.

Christ's apostles could not spare obstinate sinners and their scandalous behavior because it polluted the church.

Paul told them he feared God would humble him because of some Corinthians who sinned and did not repent. 

It is clear from Paul's threat of strong judgment that he was given miraculous power from God to inflict punishment on offenders. 

Thus, he could deliver the body to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This is why he said he would to come to them with a rod of judgment. (See 1 Corinthians 4:21; 5:5). 

The steps of church discipline that Jesus Christ instituted would certainly be followed by His apostles (See Matthew 18:15-20).

Paul would exercise the power that Christ gave to His apostles in the appropriate manner to deal with those who persisted in sin.

What kind of power is Paul speaking of?  It is the power of God, resurrection power, the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.

Paul intended his threat of impending judgment would serve as a sober reminder that we are called to holiness and God will purify his church (See acts 5:1-11).

Faith is tested by examining how God says to live with the choices we make.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6  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? 6)  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 

The idea of "examine yourselves" is that of honestly evaluating the condition of our heart. 

It is allowing the Word of God that is sharp and capable to discern the thoughts and intents of our heart. 

This powerful sword of the Spirit will reveal our sin and self-centeredness so that we might repent and confess our sin (See Hebrews 4:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-17). 

Paul is saying that we should test ourselves by what the scriptures say to see if we retain the true faith of the Gospel.

The idea of "prove yourselves" is from a word referring to smelting metals to cull out any impurities so that pure metal remains. 

This is the same kind of self examination that Paul speaks of when the church observes the Lord's table (See 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

A reprobate is someone who does not pass the test, who does not meet the standard.

Does Jesus Christ dwell in you? You have His Spirit, His power, His mind, if you are truly born again. 

The indwelling Spirit of Christ bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. 

If this is not so, then we are reprobates which is like a counterfeit coin being passed off as genuine. 

God knows our heart and He will never accept a reprobate into His presence.

Paul's hope was that the Corinthians would conduct a thorough self examination and see clearly their spiritual status. 

He wanted each Christian to know whether truly saved or whether their profession of faith was false.

Puritan pastor Matthew Henry offers some excellent insight on this passage: 

"They had a Judaizing Christian among them; such, presumptively, was the false apostle. They had received his false doctrine, and were what the prophet said of some of the Israelites in his time." 

"Reprobate silver, adulterated coin, shall men call them, (See Jeremiah 6:30)." 

"And thus, when they were brought to the test, they were found reprobate; that is, adulterated with this mixture of bad doctrine." 

"There is no other kind of reprobation mentioned here than that which refers to the trial and rejection of adulterated coin; and, by way of metaphor, to the detection of false Christianity." 

"This reprobation came of the people themselves. They adulterated the pure metal. Man pollutes himself and then God reprobates the polluted."

The will of God is that His children who sin repent and confess their sin.

2 Corinthians 13:7-8  Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. 8)  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 

Paul urged the Corinthians to repent and turn away from their sin. Failure to repent would result in the apostle using the rod of judgment that God gave him.

As Paul is an apostle of God he cannot bring any false doctrine to the churches. 

As Christ's apostles are under the influence of God’s Spirit, they cannot do anything that is opposed to God's truth.  

On the contrary, what Christ's apostles say and do is  to propagate and establish that truth. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is truth and Paul's testimony concerning it is truth. 

When Paul comes wielding the rod of God's judgment, they have nothing to fear as long as they retain and abide in this truth.

Thus, there is a clear message of repentance from sin and confession of sin to God in Paul's communication.

We must remember to confess and repent as soon as the Spirit of God in us makes us aware of any sin. 

May the following texts of scripture remind us of our spiritual responsibilities before God.

May we determine to examine ourselves often and confess our sins frequently.

Then, we may walk closely with our Lord as His Spirit leads and guides us through the straight gate and onto the narrow way.

Bob

Psalm 51:1-4  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2)  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3)  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4)  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 

Proverbs 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.