Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The scripture is full of
references to the necessity of examination, judgment, and proving
of one's profession of faith in Christ. It is one thing to
be a professor of faith and quite another to be a possessor of
faith. The world is full of those who profess to have faith in
Christ, and there are many preachers who equate those who profess
faith with those who are indeed true believers. The fact is,
however, that truth loves scrutiny, and that which is real should
be subjected to a thorough examination. The heart cry of any true believer
must always be that of David who said, Search me, O God, and
know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts,
and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting. Paul admonished the Corinthians
to examine yourselves, whether you 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. We could
paraphrase what Paul says here in 2 Corinthians 13, 5 like this. Test and try your own faith to
see that it is the faith of Christ. Look for documentation and proof
that your faith is real. Don't you understand that if
you are indeed the sons of God that the Spirit of Christ is
in you? You have been made new creatures unless you are deceived,
and in reality nothing more than those who are standing in error
being unapproved. When prospectors for gold found
what they thought was real gold, they could never be certain until
it was taken to the assayer's office, who tried or tested it
with chemicals that proved its purity. If it was but fool's
gold, that is, iron pyrite, then this test would show it to be
so. This is what Paul means when he says, examine yourselves.
We must constantly scrutinize what we believe by the Word of
God. To be relying on anything other than Christ alone will
ultimately destroy the faith which we profess. That man whose
confidence is in his decision or his ability to believe will
be found to possess nothing more than husk and chaff which the
wind drives away. The true believer can find hope
in nothing else but the living Christ. He can find no help or
comfort in his ability to hold on to Christ, but must confess
his need of constant mercy and the strong arm of one to keep
him from falling and preserve him unto the end. One does not
become a child of God by being obedient, but genuine obedience
to the Lord is an evidence that a man is a child of God. The
Lord said, My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow
me. Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them
that are his, and let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity. While we yet live in this world,
we are never completely free from the flesh, which would constantly
war against that mind of Christ which we have been given. But
we are no longer under its total dominion. We are dead to sin.
Therefore, how can we delight or walk in it and be content
to have it for our Master? Only those who have been indwelt
by the Spirit of God and given a lively hope in Christ will
be genuinely concerned with this matter of personal examination.
The dead religionist is quite content with his creeds and catechisms
and is encouraged by those of like mind to trust in those things
which he feels is within his ability to agree to and walk
in. in an outward profession of faith, perhaps delighting
in his decision for Christ, morality, or law-keeping. He finds this
examination to be the stuff of fools and extremists, and is
quite uncomfortable with such personal scrutiny. The Judaizers
are bent on demanding obedience to a certain standard, and are
quite intent on devising and maintaining some form of continual
sacrifice. They are never satisfied unless
there is some uniformity of action among their followers, whether
it be of dress, conduct, or some form of law-keeping. The liberty
of the sons of God is considered by them something to be fought
rather than embraced. The Lord Jesus said, Nevertheless,
I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. For if
I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if
I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he
will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment. He has turned the searchlight of His truth on and pierces the
very souls of His elect, causing them to continually cry out,
examine me, O Lord, and prove me. Try my reins and my heart. Do you examine yourself to see
if you're in the faith once delivered to the saints? Or are you content
to carry on with your religious profession and tradition? Christ
is all. You shall perish without Him.
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