SPIRITUAL HEART CHECK-UP (4)

“EXAMINE YOURSELVES as to whether you are in the faith. TEST YOURSELVES. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – 2 Corinthians 13:5a  

Examining the state of our Faith is another vital aspect of SPIRITUAL HEART CHECK-UP: “EXAMINE YOURSELVES as to whether you are in the faith. TEST YOURSELVES. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – Unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified” (2 Cor.13: 5-6). The Living Bible says: “Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ's presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren't at all?”

These scripture suggests that one could slide out of line with Christian standards; hence, the need to ask: “Am I a true Christian, or a counterfeit? Have I been born again, or only putting up a front?” Yes, we’re saved and kept by Grace, not by our own performance; but this does not preclude the need for self-examination! Confessing Christians should learn to self-examine. We cannot mature as Christians without a deep faith, enhanced by regular spiritual heart check-up. Paul cautioned that we examine our hearts and lives, asking: (a) If we’re maintaining a spiritual awareness of God’s presence in our lives; and (b) If we’re growing in relationship with Him.

Authentic, deep-rooted faith produces a boundless heart desire to be with Jesus all the time. This is a mark of true Christianity. A Christian is not simply one who joins a Church, adheres to a certain moral standard in life, or consistently reads the Bible, as good as these are. A Christian is someone in whom Christ dwells, and who therefore manifests certain palpable evidence of that fact.

Paul was suggesting that we ask ourselves if we have the evidence that Jesus Christ lives in us. The answer to this question is found in several Scriptures. For instance, Romans 8:16 refers to the Inner Witness: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16). There is an inner testimony or a sense within produced by the Spirit of God who dwells in us, that we are part of the great Family of God. Scripture speaks also of desires that are born in the heart of a new Christian: “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1Pet.2:2). The true Believer with living Faith has a deep and sustained thirst for God’s Word, a hunger to be fed, and a passion to increasingly know the Truth.

The inner change in the redeemed, transformed individual will also produce definite outward changes. Christ’s Indwelling Presence is demonstrable by observing our conduct; inner change will produce distinct outward attitude, behaviour, conversation, and conduct. True Believers in Christ invariably begin to manifest distaste toward vices they once celebrated or tolerated. These attitudinal changes are immediate towards the more blatant forms of evil, such as lying, stealing, or drunkenness, but may be gradual to subtler vices such as selfishness or pride. Christ lives in us. Light has no part with darkness. Christ cannot share residence with Belial.  As we receive grace to honestly examine the state of our Faith in Christ, we can trust God’s Spirit to show us afresh what is displeasing to Him, in order to effect necessary changes, right from the heart! This helps to reinforce our redemption!

Through Spiritual Heart Check-up, we’re reminded of the truths we already knew: That Christ is in us and we have been sanctified in Him (1Cor.1:2); and that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor.6:19). Do we really believe these? Are we walking as people who know and believe these realities: “Do you not KNOW yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” (v.5). Beloved, check your heart to establish that you truly know that Christ is in you and that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Begin to live according to what you know – walk and live to please the Lord!