Rev. David Holwick V 2 Corinthians sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
June 27, 1999
2 Corinthians 12:20-13:9
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SERMON SUMMARY: We face a variety of tests in school, and in life itself.
Christians should take self-tests of our spirituality. Discusses
relation of eternal security and personal spiritual responsibility.
I. The ultimate test.
HISTORY
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Describe the history of the Papacy from its origins to the present
day, concentrating especially, but not exclusively, on its
social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact
on Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Be brief and concise, yet
specific in your response.
MEDICINE
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You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a
bottle of whiskey. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until
your work has been inspected. You have fifteen minutes.
BIOLOGY
-------
Create life. Estimate the differences in subsequent human culture
if this form of life had developed 500 million years earlier.
Pay special attention to its probable effect on the English
Parliamentary System. Prove your thesis.
SOCIOLOGY
---------
Estimate the sociological problems which might accompany the end of
the world. Construct an experiment to test your theory.
ENGINEERING
-----------
The disassembled parts of a high-powered rifle have been placed on
your desk. You will also find an instruction manual, printed in
Swahili. In 10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to
the room. Take whatever action you feel necessary. Be prepared to
justify your decision.
PHILOSOPHY
----------
Sketch the development of human thought. Estimate its significance.
Compare with the development of any other kind of thought.
You may now put down your #2 pencil.
#4664
II. The Corinthians about to be tested.
A. Paul is coming, and he's ticked off. 12:20
1) He expects to be disappointed by their behavior.
2) Actually, he would feel the same way about us.
a) (Pretty much same problems in churches today)
Dorothy Sayers said that God has three great humiliations.
The first was the Incarnation, when God took on the confines
of a physical body.
The second was the Cross, when he suffered the humiliation of
death by public execution.
The third humiliation, Sayers suggested, is the church.
Sadly, the watching world judges God himself by the actions
of those who bear his name.
Nietzsche said bluntly, "His disciples will have to look
more saved if I am to believe in their Savior."
The church is indeed God's humiliation:
as one critic said, we "make the world safe for hypocrisy."
The Crusades, pogroms against the Jews, slavery, and the K.K.K.
are all movements that have claimed Christ's approval.
(One slave ship even sailed under the name THE GOOD SHIP JESUS).
The world has the impression that the "Christian West"
represents decadence and immorality.
#3899
b) Emphasis on sins of inter-relationships. 12:20
1> Fighting and anger.
2> Bad-mouthing and gossip.
3> Attitudes and disunity.
c) Are YOU guilty of any of these?
B. Lack of repentance should shame a church. 12:21
1) Who have sinned earlier - each of these sins can be forgiven.
a) Emphasis on sexual sins here.
2) But are they just repeated again?
C. If there is no repentance, Paul will be harsh.
1) One of the marks of authority of an apostle.
a) Jesus is not a wimp, either.
2) Believers must be accountable for their actions.
a) (George W. Bush, trying to evade youthful sins...)
III. Examine yourselves.
A. If they tested themselves, Paul wouldn't need to.
1) Key thoughts: "in the faith" and "fail the test."
B. Popular interpretations:
1) Paul is being ironic.
a) They have been assessing him; he turns the tables and
asks them to assess themselves.
1> Genuineness of his apostleship is a big theme.
2> His genuineness is proved by their experience of
faith. His gospel was good enough to change
their lives.
3> "If they want proof of whether Paul's ministry was
from Christ, they must look at themselves, not
Paul.
b) Their salvation is not really in doubt.
1> He believes they are saved, and says so.
2) Their sanctification is in doubt.
a) They need to demonstrate they are in the faith.
b) Their sins show they are not growing as Christians.
3) Some in Corinth are not really Christians. *
a) They claimed it, but didn't possess it.
1> Their sinful actions show they have never been saved.
b) Professing Christians should examine themselves
to see if they really belong to Jesus. (MacArthur)
IV. Tests can be good.
A. Don't take your faith for granted.
1) Paul assumes they are Christians. 13:5-b
2) But there is a possibility of self-deception.
B. How can faith be tested?
1) Must have spirit of Jesus, but it's invisible.
2) Hint in previous verses:
a) Unity and consideration of other Christians.
b) Sexual self-control.
c) Not just avoidance of sin, but seeking after good.
3) Is there evidence of Christ in YOU?
C. The terror of tests.
1) Pass now, but eventually get an "F"?
a) Some think salvation can be lost.
b) Keeps you on your toes, but ultimately defeating.
2) Genuine Christians never fall.
a) God keeps them safe. John 10:28
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one can snatch them out of my hand."
b) Maybe backslide, but come back.
3) But genuine Christians cannot get complacent.
a) If sins dominate you, maybe your conversion was fake.
b) Assess yourself against standard of Bible.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#3899 "God Isn't As Embarrassed As We Think," Philip Yancey, Christianity
Today magazine, October 21, 1988, page 64.
#4664 "The Ultimate Final Exam," multiple authors, Internet: http:/www.
albertsquare.com. I believe this humorous exam was originally
put together at Wheaton College (Ill.) and published in
Eternity Magazine in the 1970's. I added newer questions
from the internet.
These and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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Other information from Bibliotheca Sacra, April 1997, page 175:
What Is the Meaning of "Examine Yourselves" in 2 Corinthians 13:5?
by Perry C. Brown, a Bible Teacher in Rowlett, Texas.
Three considerations are crucial to understanding what Paul meant in 2
Corinthians 13:5. First, a major theme in 2 Corinthians is Paul's defense
of his apostolic authority and sincerity in ministering the gospel, and so
Paul used the Corinthian Christians' salvation as overwhelming evidence in
his defense.
Second, Paul's question in 2 Cor 13:5b, "Do you not recognize this about
yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" was grammatically structured
in such a way that Paul fully expected the Corinthians to answer yes. He
assumed they were Christians and that they would claim they were Christians.
Third, the structure of the phrase "unless indeed you fail the test" shows
that Paul considered that possibility unreal. Instead, he used this remark
sarcastically, which fits the emotional tone of much of 2 Corinthians.
Second Corinthians 13:5 has been used by some to support the idea that
Christians should periodically submit to spiritual self-examination to
determine whether God has truly forgiven their sins and given them eternal
life. However, this passage does not support that idea in any way. Other
Scripture verses clearly say that God grants eternal salvation on the
condition of faith alone in Christ alone as the sole and sufficient Sin-
bearer (John 3:16-18,36; John 5:24; Acts 16:31). Second Corinthians
13:5 affirms that the Corinthian believers were "in the faith" even though
they were sinning grievously by foolishly questioning the credentials of
the person who had communicated to them the gospel by which they were
saved. Rather than doubt the security of the Corinthian Christians'
eternal salvation because of a personal attack on himself, Paul used that
very security in Christ to prove his God-given authority and sincerity.
Instead of a threat, Paul's challenge in 2 Corinthians 13:5 is a sobering
reminder about the true mark of a Christian's ministry. The barometer of
Paul's ministry was people - the believers in Corinth, as well as those
in Ephesus, Philippi, and other cities where he ministered. Eternally
redeemed people were the proof of his apostolic authenticity and of God's
presence in his life.
In the same way, people must be the measure of one's ministry in Christ's
power and for Christ's glory. All believers will surely stand before Him,
"that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to
what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10). Paul's response to
that inevitable event was this: "Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord,
we persuade men" (2 Cor 5:11). The apostle's ultimate goal was to exalt
Christ (Phil 1:20), and the best proof that he was achieving that goal
was the people God was saving through his ministry.
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