How do you examine yourself? Are you actually doing that? Or do you run away from it out of fear that the result may be less than satisfactory? Actually, that is easy to understand. And you do not even have to be a Christian for that. The world is full of idols: beautiful, bright, successful, and popular people. Put yourself beside them, where are you then? Nowhere, right? And is that not the same as when you stand before God? If he must examine you in the bright light of his holiness, where do you end up then? No wonder that people stay away from this self-examination. Others begin to self-examine, but it does not work out well. They get stuck in it and give themselves a “failing grade” for faith, hope, and love.

Question⤒🔗

The other day I wrote about the publication of the Deputies for Church Unity. In that report it also deals with self-examination, an important element in the mutual recognition. They point to 2 Corinthians 13:5, where it says: “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!” From there the deputies ask all of us the question: Have we, by being born again, received a connection of faith with the Lord?

Not Neutral←⤒🔗

Now it seems that what Paul writes is an open question: you can expect to hear yes or no. And this is how the deputies pass the question on: is there a connection with Jesus, yes, or no?

Go ahead and find out.

But if we look carefully, it becomes clear that the call to the Corinthians was meant slightly differently. And that really becomes evident in what is added: “Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”

For this question is not neutral, not open to two sides. In Greek, a question word is used, that presupposes a positive answer. We can do that in English as well. To a boy who arrived late at school, the teacher can pose the question: “You do know what time we start here, don’t you?” The answer is to be found in the question. Sadly, this element hardly comes through in the NBG translation (of the Dutch Bible Society). The Good News edition is much clearer. It says there: “You do know yourself that Jesus Christ lives in you?” The question mark can almost be replaced with an exclamation mark, so clear is the question. It is more an appeal, an encouragement to definitely start examining yourself.

An Examination Discovery←⤒🔗

In this way, the self-examination comes out of the sphere of some kind of exam that you can either fail or pass. Neither is it a doctor’s exam with the outcome being healthy or sick. For it is not an exam at all where you can summarize in yes (I do believe) or no (I do not believe).

It is really an exam in the sense that you can discover all kind of things. You research your life. To what? To find out about everything that shows that Jesus Christ has begun a good work in you! Paul starts us out as readers and he presumes that we understand what he means.

Self-examination in the biblical sense is in its nature something that can only be asked of those who understand the purpose of it. Those who have come to know Christ. That is why he predicts a positive result: we will, searching in our life, meet much of Christ! That is out of the question. And you know it, right? Your faith has only One source!

In this way, Paul does not place man on the dissection table, to cut him open and see what  the value is. Which sinner would then be declared healthy? No, he lets him (to his comfort) discover, that in the midst of all the misery there are good things to say. Surely! “Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”

God Was There Already←⤒🔗

Once I spoke with someone, who said to me: “I lost all my trust in God, I do everything wrong, I wish I was not there, — I could just die and be fine with that.”

“And where are you going then?” I asked. “To God” was the quick response. I found that so striking. First you hear someone declare themselves completely worthless. If the self-examination would be a test, he would not have passed it at all. And subsequently that same person expresses the trust that he in death will be saved by Christ. And he does that without him noticing that this is quite peculiar.

At that point we have together put into practice some of this self-examination as it is meant to be done. Do you hear what you say? Do you realize that this is a tremendous trust of faith for a believer? Do you also realize that you could never give this faith to yourself? Do you see then Who is working in you? That makes your life so valuable; this is the beginnings of eternity in your heart. And in that line there often is much more to discover. So much more. Why are you sitting here? Why do you seek God? Why do you find that important? Why does his Word not let you go? What is that for a driving force that gets you going?

Sometimes it concerns people who were baptized long ago, but their faith became diluted, and now they want to search for what they lost along the way. Why is that? And Who is it that has actually saved something inside your heart? When your sins really bother you, Who has taught you that? When you long for God’s nearness, even when he seems so far away, Who is giving you that longing? People who ask about God, take the time, and examine yourself quietly.

God often has given so much more of himself that you realize. On the other hand, if you do not take the time to do this, then you always retain the idea that you are worthless. And that can easily become a reality for you.

Elected←⤒🔗

This application of the text we find back in the Canons of Dort, chapter 1, article 12. A hunger and thirst for righteousness, and a godly sorrow for their sins are mentioned there (page 568 of the Book of Praise) with the characteristics of your election. In other words: if from this you take a deep look at yourself, then you encounter God who had already chosen you before you could choose him. And you encounter Christ, who already paid for you before you had any notion of that. You also encounter in yourself the Holy Spirit, who wants to convince you of God’s purpose: your misery is being shown to lead you to Christ, to save you, to bring you close to God. You knowing your misery is not a thing in itself, the source of this is embedded in God’s love for you. Therefore, it says underneath the characteristics of election: 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Examine yourself. Or you will miss out on an intense joy.

Not Someone Else←⤒🔗

It cannot be accidental that in one text you find the word “yourself” three times. That receives a certain emphasis then. The Corinthians were namely very busy to test Paul, to examine him to be exact. And in such a way that he would not pass the test. And this is still happening in the church of Jesus Christ.

Is this now some trick of Paul to turn this around? Why do you folks not examine yourself?

No, for he does turn it around, but he also takes away the test-character. He puts them on the path of: surely you will discover Jesus in your life. But then start in that way with yourself. When you discover Jesus in your own life, then you discover him in my life as well.

That is how simple this is. This simply is how you analyse a critical atmosphere in the church. People who always critically observe fellow believers, do not examine themselves sufficiently.

They do not recognize Jesus enough; not in themselves and therefore not in others either.

Break-Through←⤒🔗

It is understood that true self-examination can lead to a break-through. When you truly discover Jesus in your life and everything that he does, then you know yourself to be accepted, whatever else can still be criticized of you. Let people then point to that (in a loving way), you do not have to defend yourself, or bear up bravely or be afraid, you can feel free to show that you can use some help. For who you are deep down and who you may be, is not determined by people. That gives you plenty of (breathing) space.

Examine how much Jesus has done and is doing in your life. That is the end of all self-enforcement, pride, and extreme efforts on your part. Also the end of judging and gossiping, to only name a few.

You just become another person. Someone with peace and trust. for what Jesus has started in you, he will certainly complete.