The Bible is very clear on examining yourself on a regular basis.
1 Corinthians 11:28 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
2 Corinthians 13:5 5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Galatians 6:4 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
We could go on, but you get the picture. I am all for Encouraging yourself in the Lord, but examination is crucial as well. We as Christians need to be challenged on a regular basis to continue to live Holy. Not in a Legalistic way, but in a Christ honoring & God fearing way. We need to live up to the standards of the Word of God. I LOVE Grace, but I fear many hold on to what I would call "counterfeit" Grace.
This is why I want to devote each Wednesday as the "Wednesday-Challenger". This is a weekly posting designed to Challenge you to go deep and examine yourself. Again, not in a legalistic way. I just have a deep desire to see more faithful, committed, devoted, righteous, genuine & mature Christians. I pray these postings will help produce this.
Now, I mentioned "Counterfeit" Grace. Let me explain what it is I mean. There is a teaching that has been around for many years, but has seemed to become even more prevalent over the past few. It is the teaching that goes something like this; "Since you didn't do anything to earn your salvation, you can't do anything to lose it". No matter how you live, no matter what you do or don't do, no matter how far you walk away from God, if you're saved, you're saved, otherwise grace would not be grace!"
I would say that this is a very dangerous doctrine to preach. Now, I don't take lightly the Awesome Grace of our Lord. I love every aspect of Grace, and it should be in the forefront of every message. But at the same time, there comes a loyal responsibility we have to Christ as Christians. As "Christians" we are of Christ, in Christ, & Live for Christ. And unless we continue to examine ourselves on a daily basis, we could easily find ourselves far from from Him. Not that He is far from you, but that you are far from Him.
Many would say, don't limit the power of God's Grace. And I would say to that, yes, I agree. But at the same time I would say, don't take advantage of it either. You can't expect to turn your back on & live contrary to God & His Word. To become a selfish, disrespecting, self intitled, "Kings-BRAT", and expect to get your inheritence. Remember, this same God who is loving & merciful, is also soverign & just. Now, this doesn't mean that you need to live in fear. You can live with confidence, knowing that the Grace of God is suficent for you, no matter who you are & what you've done. Just live your life according to His word and with love & respect toward Him, and you will be blessed.
So needless to say, I am not a part of the "once saved, always saved" crowd. In saying that, I am also not from the crowd that basically says; "God has in one hand a Pen & the other an Eraser". There is another crowd that thinks along the lines of, "we're saved by grace & raptured by works". I don't believe it is easy to lose your salvation. I just feel that there is a point in which you can reach, and I don't know where that is. I just know that I want to steer clear from it. And I do that by examining my faith, to make sure it is genuine. There is probably going to be people in Heaven that you just "knew" would never be there, as well as people missing that you thought for sure would be. All in all, It is God who does the judging, not us.
But, enough of my opinion, let's see what the Word of God has to say about it:
Colossians 1:21-23 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
We could go on, but you get the picture. I am all for Encouraging yourself in the Lord, but examination is crucial as well. We as Christians need to be challenged on a regular basis to continue to live Holy. Not in a Legalistic way, but in a Christ honoring & God fearing way. We need to live up to the standards of the Word of God. I LOVE Grace, but I fear many hold on to what I would call "counterfeit" Grace.
This is why I want to devote each Wednesday as the "Wednesday-Challenger". This is a weekly posting designed to Challenge you to go deep and examine yourself. Again, not in a legalistic way. I just have a deep desire to see more faithful, committed, devoted, righteous, genuine & mature Christians. I pray these postings will help produce this.
Now, I mentioned "Counterfeit" Grace. Let me explain what it is I mean. There is a teaching that has been around for many years, but has seemed to become even more prevalent over the past few. It is the teaching that goes something like this; "Since you didn't do anything to earn your salvation, you can't do anything to lose it". No matter how you live, no matter what you do or don't do, no matter how far you walk away from God, if you're saved, you're saved, otherwise grace would not be grace!"
I would say that this is a very dangerous doctrine to preach. Now, I don't take lightly the Awesome Grace of our Lord. I love every aspect of Grace, and it should be in the forefront of every message. But at the same time, there comes a loyal responsibility we have to Christ as Christians. As "Christians" we are of Christ, in Christ, & Live for Christ. And unless we continue to examine ourselves on a daily basis, we could easily find ourselves far from from Him. Not that He is far from you, but that you are far from Him.
Many would say, don't limit the power of God's Grace. And I would say to that, yes, I agree. But at the same time I would say, don't take advantage of it either. You can't expect to turn your back on & live contrary to God & His Word. To become a selfish, disrespecting, self intitled, "Kings-BRAT", and expect to get your inheritence. Remember, this same God who is loving & merciful, is also soverign & just. Now, this doesn't mean that you need to live in fear. You can live with confidence, knowing that the Grace of God is suficent for you, no matter who you are & what you've done. Just live your life according to His word and with love & respect toward Him, and you will be blessed.
So needless to say, I am not a part of the "once saved, always saved" crowd. In saying that, I am also not from the crowd that basically says; "God has in one hand a Pen & the other an Eraser". There is another crowd that thinks along the lines of, "we're saved by grace & raptured by works". I don't believe it is easy to lose your salvation. I just feel that there is a point in which you can reach, and I don't know where that is. I just know that I want to steer clear from it. And I do that by examining my faith, to make sure it is genuine. There is probably going to be people in Heaven that you just "knew" would never be there, as well as people missing that you thought for sure would be. All in all, It is God who does the judging, not us.
But, enough of my opinion, let's see what the Word of God has to say about it:
Colossians 1:21-23 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Hebrews 3:14 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
1 John 5:16a 16 If you see a Christian brother or sister{brother or sister indicates they are in the family of God} sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. ...
2 Peter 2:20-21 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
Let me challenge you today to examine your life, your fruit, your actions & your faith. Also, study His word for yourself. The Bible says to "study to show yourself aproved...". There are many more passages you can investigate in order to gain your own opinion. Don't just rely on Bible teachers, become a Bible student. OK, I promise to have a more encouraging message tomorrow.
Blessings,
~Matt
1 John 5:16a 16 If you see a Christian brother or sister{brother or sister indicates they are in the family of God} sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. ...
2 Peter 2:20-21 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
Let me challenge you today to examine your life, your fruit, your actions & your faith. Also, study His word for yourself. The Bible says to "study to show yourself aproved...". There are many more passages you can investigate in order to gain your own opinion. Don't just rely on Bible teachers, become a Bible student. OK, I promise to have a more encouraging message tomorrow.
1 John 5:21 21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
Blessings,
~Matt
