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. 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT
Have you ever wondered if you were really saved? Did the prayer I prayed really “take”? Did I do it right? I think when I was a young person, I must have gotten “saved” a dozen times. Every time I was at camp or at a revival and the evangelist pressed hard, asking, “Are you really sure?” I would remember one of my many imperfections and my confidence would evaporate. I’d hit the altar and ask Jesus to save me one more time.
Fortunately, I eventually learned the truth about my grounds for confidence. I discovered that, though having a healthy conscience was a good thing, God doesn’t want me to doubt my relationship. He wants me to have confidence that my sins are forgiven and I belong to Him.
Salvation is His gift to me through faith. No one can earn it.
This call from Paul to the Corinthians has often been misused, causing defeat and discouragement. I remember a revival service where the gospel’s good news was so diluted that I think most people listening felt they would never be good enough to satisfy God’s law. My mother through tears said, “If I make heaven, it will be by the skin of my teeth.” I was so discouraged. She was the best woman I knew. What hope did I have of being good enough?
And that’s just it. We can never be good enough. We never can earn it. Salvation is what God through the Holy Spirit does for us when we put our faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV makes it clear: “For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” No person who has ever or will ever live will be able to examine themselves effectively, then give themselves an A+ and boast that they scored unusually high on being saved. All of us receive this unbelievably underserved, unmerited gift the same way. We are not performing for a grade or applause.
Obedience is absolutely wonderful and desired. But obedience does not earn our salvation. Obedience is the result of salvation. My relationship with Jesus makes me want to be as close as I can possibly be.
- Jesus, thank You for loving me and saving me. As Paul said, the examination is, “Surely you know that Jesus is among you!” Continue to make Yourself so real to me as Your Holy Spirit works in my heart to help me follow You closely,