Examine Yourselves

The apostle Paul says “examine yourselves to see if Jesus Christ is in you” in 2 Cor 13:5, and I charge you in the name of Jesus to do the same as you come into His courts of praise.

Now the call to examine yourself is not a call to morbid introspection.  It is not a call to doubt yourself, to doubt your worthiness, or to doubt the strength of your faith.  Jesus also said that if you had the faith of a mustard seed you could move a mountain.  The problem is never the strength of our faith but the object of our faith - and the faithfulness of that object.

Is Jesus Christ in you?  What does that mean?  As we come to worship God on Ascension Day we are reminded and declare that Jesus Christ, a risen man, completely physical in His glorious body, is in one location only.  He is in heaven.  He is not “in you” in a physical sense at all. 

But He is in you by means of His Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God abides in all who call upon Jesus Christ.  In fact, the only reason that any call upon Jesus Christ in a saving way is because of the inward work of the Holy Spirit.

And so – is Jesus Christ in you?  I am not asking if you are simply coming to church because that is your habit.  Is Jesus Christ in you?  Have you come by means of His Holy Spirit to approach Jesus in this service of worship?  Will you give your reverent attention?  Will you render your body as a living sacrifice?  Will you die to yourself?  If yes, then you are promised that you will be renewed, you will be fed, you will be encouraged and lifted up, you will be strengthened in your faith, in your hope, and in your love. 

Come, therefore, if Jesus Christ is in you – come and worship the LORD.  If He is not, then call upon Jesus Christ, sincerely, even now, and you will be saved.  Come and worship the LORD.