“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Cor. 13:5, ESV).

Probably one of the most challenging things we are instructed to do in God’s Word is to examine ourselves. And one of the easiest things to do is examine (i.e., scrutinize) others. But we must strive to humbly and honestly examine ourselves. Why? To see whether we are in the faith.

Of course, there is only “one faith” (Eph. 4:5). These same brethren were exhorted to “stand fast in the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13). We are to “continue in the faith” (Col. 1:23). We are to be “established in the faith” (Col. 2:7). We are to keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). We are to be “sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). And we are to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 1:3).

The problem at Corinth was that the conduct of some of these saints indicated that they were not presently in the faith of Christ. So, Paul urges them to examine themselves and to test themselves so that they will recognize their failings and sins and make correction.

A few verses prior, Paul wrote: “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced” (2 Corinthians 12:20-21).

So, what about us - are we in the faith? Are we walking in the commands of the Lord Jesus? Are we living a life that is faithful to Christ? Are we practicing righteousness or unrighteousness? Are we living a godly or ungodly life? When we examine and test ourselves, do we pass or fail the test? Are there sins in our life that we need to confess and repent of (1 John 1:9; 2 Cor. 7:10). If so, let us do so today!

As James wrote: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21-22).