Examine Yourselves to see if You Are in the Faith
Warning
2 Corinthians 13
They say “You can’t
fix stupid”
Stupidity is
frustrating
It is the lack of
common sense
When you have to fix
stupid remember
In the end let us
Examine ourselves to
make sure we are not stupid
Does what we think
and do line up with faith in God
When we have to fix
stupid be like Paul
Keep the knowledge of
Christ first and foremost
Because that makes
common sense
Warning
2 Corinthians 13
They say “You can’t fix stupid”.
All of us have done something stupid.
For sure you have seen someone do something stupid.
Stupid has been around since Adam and Eve
tried to play hide and seek with God.
Stupid is not using
common sense.
The reason you cannot fix it…
Is because people who
don’t
have common sense don’t use it.
It is frustrating to see people not think before they act.
The more I understand what God
calls sin the more I see sin as stupid.
Sin is not using common sense.
Paul was dealing with people in the Church
at Corinth who were not using common sense.
Paul had given repeated warning, yet there
were those who continued to live in sin.
Going through first and second Corinthians gives us
a wonderful view of how to deal with stupid.
Paul had to establish his creditability.
In proving his creditability, he had to make sure everyone
understood it was not about him and his rules.
What we do is not to please Paul or anyone else, but Christ.
Paul made it clear in the beginning…
For I resolved to know
nothing while I was
with you except Jesus Christ and him
crucified.
1 Corinthians
2:2
Nobody likes to be stupid.
What is worse than being stupid is defending it.
Where is the wise man?
Where is the scholar?
Where is the
philosopher of this age?
Has not God made
foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the
wisdom of God the world
through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of
what
was preached to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians
1:20-21
You can see Paul’s frustration and even
anger as he deals with those who chose the
wisdom of this world and not the wisdom of God.
Yet, Paul controlled his personal frustration in
order that people would be reconciled with God.
2 Corinthians
5:18
Now as Paul closes the letter to the Corinthians, he says…
The evidence is in
"Every matter
must be established by
the testimony of two or three witnesses."
Multiple warnings have been given…
I already gave you a
warning when I was with
you the second time. I
now repeat it while absent
Paul puts the ball in the home court…
Examine yourselves to
see whether
you are in the faith;
test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you
— unless, of course, you fail the test?
When people are on the defense, they resist.
It is important for all of us to examine ourselves…
Paul knows the power of the Holy Spirit to
convict the world of
sin righteousness and judgment.
Paul is at the end of this matter and now
he will have to deal with those who would not listen to
him and the witnesses of others and finally the Holy Spirit.
On my return I will
not spare those
who sinned earlier or
any of the others.
There comes a time for the sake of others you cannot
spare those who repeat their sin over and over again.
Yet, you can see in this last chapter,
Paul wants the best for everyone.
He does not let his personal frustration get in the way.
He does not let his weakness to deal with
stupid get in the way of the final goal…
May the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the
fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
Paul never lost sight of “All” receiving the
Grace, Love, and Fellowship of God.
Examine ourselves to make sure we are not
stupid.
Does what we think and do,
line up
with faith in God?
When we have to fix stupid, be like Paul…
Keep the knowledge of Christ first and
foremost because that makes common sense.
Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 13 NIV
13:1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must
be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time.
I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not
spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are
demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing
with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in
weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by
God's power we will live with him to serve you.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in
the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —
unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will
discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will
not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but
that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we
cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad
whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may
not have to be harsh in my use of authority — the authority the Lord gave me
for building you up, not for tearing you down.
11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to
my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be
with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints
send their greetings.
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