Once again, this was written for an English class, but I hope it finds some use here on this webpage. May the Lord use it to educate, edify, and strengthen anyone who may read this. God bless!
There is dire importance in examining one's life, with regard
to the Christian. Examinations are constantly needed in order
to be a successful Christian and to do well in life. The first
area of examination that comes to mind would be that of Salvation.
Christians should examine themselves at the point of their spiritual
rebirth, or regeneration, as well as throughout the course of
their life to see if they are truly born again. This can only
come through examination of one's life, faith, and beliefs. The
second point of examination is during an ordinance, or practice,
of the church called Communion, or the Lord's Supper. Examination
during this time has grievous consequences if not done properly.
Finally, it should be noted that the central method of examination
has to do with the Almighty Himself. God constantly searches
our innermost being to really discover who we are as Christians.
Therefore this greatest examination we cannot attain, for our
thoughts are not His thoughts, and we can never understand what
our absolute position is as a believer in our relationship to
God. Truly, examination is at the heart of a Christian's salvation
and sanctification-the constant spiritual maturity of a Christian-with
the best examiner of all being the Creator Himself.
The chief aspect of examination falls into the realm of one's
Salvation. The Bible says we are to, "Examine [ourselves]
as to whether [we] are in the faith" (2 Cor. 3:5-NKJV).
The Book of James further clarifies the type of examination that
is needed. It is in this book that James says, "What does
it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does
not have works? Can faith save him" (James 2:14-NKJV)?
This sets the stage for a series of tests that reveal the true
motives of a believer. These tests are not to be interpreted
as merits for earning faith, but are demonstrative of the awesome
power of faith and how real faith will produce real works. "For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works
is dead also" (James 2:26-NKJV). A Christian is to examine
himself to be sure his faith is not a shallow, fruitless faith,
but one based on a life of repentance and heartfelt devotion to
the Lord.
Furthermore, examination should not only be done with respect
to Salvation, yet it should be an important time during the church
ordinance of the Lord's Supper. In his treatise on Christian
doctrine-Lectures in Systematic Theology, Henry Clarence Thiessen
writes that "each participant [in the Lord's Supper] is asked
to examine himself as to whether or not he is qualified to partake
of the communion elements" (329). It is noteworthy to mention
that "the individual is asked to examine himself as to his
fitness to come to the table." Therefore, personal examination
is greatly significant, for a quick look at the text mentioning
this ordinance will show that to do otherwise may provide unwanted
circumstances. The text mentioning this specific examination
is found in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (NKJV):
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
The grave sin that the Corinthians were committing is that of
taking the Supper in a manner that was not worthy of the Supper.
In his study Bible, Dr. John MacArthur describes an unworthy
person as one who takes the Supper "ritualistically, indifferently,
with an unrepentant heart, a spirit of bitterness, or any other
ungodly attitude" (1746). The Wycliffe Bible Commentary
mentions "the reason that self-judgment, or confession of
sin, must precede the partaking is that otherwise the believer
makes himself liable to judgment" (1249). As the text then
proves, without examination, many became sick and weak, and some
even died because they had taken the Supper in an unworthy manner.
Thus, examination proves itself to be a vital part during the
administration and receiving of this Supper commemorating the
death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
An examination of one's relationship to God with respect to Salvation
and the Lord's Supper are detrimental to one's life as a Christian,
moreover it is prudent to consider the greatest examiner of them
all-Almighty God! One tenet of orthodox Christianity lies in
the belief of the omniscience of God. Since He knows all, He
is therefore the grandest of all who examine. Having already
known everything, His examinations are wise and just, yet sometimes
unrevealed to mortal man. Proverbs 5:21 (NKJV) tells of how "the
ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord," and how "He
ponders [or observes] all his paths." Also, "the Lord
does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7-NKJV). That
verse provides perhaps the greatest indication of how competent
an examiner of mankind God is. First John 3:20 (NKJV) tells of
how God is "greater than [man's] heart, and knows all things,"
proving the incompetence of man to provide even an adequate examination
of our own present condition. One of the best illustrations of
God's omniscience is found in The Great Doctrines of the Bible
by William Evans. His view is thus:
We are like a man standing by a river in a low place, and who, consequently, can see that part of the river only that passes by him; but he who is aloof in the air may see the whole course of the river, how it rises, and how it runs. Thus is it with God. (31)
It should appear evident to a Christian that God is truly the
great examiner of all things that transpire based on Scripture.
Hopefully, examination has been proven vital to the born-again
believer. The areas of Salvation and the Lord's supper have been
pondered alongside some additional thoughts as to the omniscience
of the Creator who knows all, and therefore provides the greatest
example of a wise and just examiner of mankind. With respect
to Salvation, a Christian should be encouraged to examine himself
to see if he is bearing the fruit of a believer. Pertaining to
the Lord's Supper, examination is needed to ensure a proper respect
for the true intent of the ordinance, as well as to eschew any
personal harm such as sickness or death. In relation to the example
of a source of examination, we see God the Father who is most
certainly capable, willing, and already examining the hearts,
lives, and conduct of His beloved children. The exhortations
for righteous living, admonitions against disrespect for church
practices, and knowledge of God's examination, should encourage
each and every believer to further examine himself daily.
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March 7, 2000