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The Measuring of a Christian

2Co 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

2 Corinthians 13:5 — 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?

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Exegesis of 2 Corinthians 13

  • This Letter was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

2Co 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. 2 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. 5 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. 7 ¶ 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. 9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. 11 ¶ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12 Greet one another with an holy kiss. 13 All the saints salute you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Introduction

  1. Do YOU know that Christ is in You? ASSURANCE
  • Is Christ in You? Yes (<<Unless, of course, you fail the test.>>)
  • The Measure of a Man
  • Are we presumptous?
  • The Spiritual Conditions of a Person
  • What does God's Word say about me?
  • states of being ...
  1. Being Lost, All Begin as Sinners ( Ps 51:5; Ro 3:23; 5:12)
  • bound, in darkness, blind

2 Timothy 2:26 — And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2 Co 4:3 — But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2 Corinthians 4:4 — In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 John 2:11 — But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

  1. Being Saved, No Longer Lost, Saved by Grace through Faith (Romans 10:9,10; Col 1:13)
  • Justifed, Redeemed, Born Again
  1. Being an Overcomer, Having a new Relationship to sin (1 John 2:1)

1 John 2:1 — My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Ephesians 4:28 — Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2 Cor 2:14 — Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Romans 12:21 — Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

James 3:2 — For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

1 John 1:7 — But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  1. Being Doers of the Word, A New Relationship to the Will of God / Doing the Will of God

1 John 2:3 — And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Romans 2:13 — (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

James 1:22 — But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Eph 6:6 — Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

  1. Being filled with the Holy Ghost

Acts 19:2 — He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

  1. Being a Labourer in God's Kingdom, / Laboring for the Kingdom of God

Matthew 9:37 — Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Pr 23:4 ¶ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  1. Being Sanctified / Walking in the Light

2 Corinthians 7:1 — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

  1. Being True Worshippers, Perfecting our Worship/Praise

Matthew 21:16 — And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

John 4:23 — But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

  1. Being No Longer Children with Doctrine

Ephesians 4:14 — That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

  1. Being Christ's Body / Church

  2. Being Humble

Psalms 19:13 — Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

1 Corinthians 15:10 — But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  1. Being the Enemy of the World

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

  1. Being Disciples / Teachable