Are You in the Faith?
By Amy Pavlovik
Are you in the faith? The Bible instructs us to take this
question seriously. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
own selves,” says 2 Corinthians 13:5. What does this verse mean by the words
“in the faith”? It does not mean to be a member of a certain church. The letter
of Second Corinthians was written to church members. Rather, it is something
else, something more subtle, requiring careful examination and proving. Are we
in the faith, or not? Close scrutiny is required.
The last half
of the verse sheds light on what it means to be “in the faith.” “Know ye not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” In
order to know whether we are in the faith, we must know ourselves. We need to
search our hearts and examine our lives to learn the answer to this most
important question: Is Christ in me?
Whether Christ
lives in me is the determining factor as to whether I am in the faith, or not.
I may believe Biblically correct doctrines, but if Christ is not there, I am
not in the faith. I may observe high Christian standards, but if Jesus
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
defines a reprobate as unapproved, unworthy, rejected, and castaway (Strong,
James, Iowa Falls: World Bible Publishers, 1890). A reprobate doesn’t pass the
test. He is lacking. He is found wanting, because Christ is not in him. He is
not in the faith.
In light of all
this, Paul commands us seriously to examine and prove ourselves. Is Jesus
living in us? Do we commune with Him in our hearts, or do the cares of our day
absorb our attention and shut out our Lord? Do we have Jesus’ enabling power to
overcome temptation, or are we giving in instead?
During the Day
of Atonement that was part of the sanctuary service, the Israelites were told to
afflict their souls. Leviticus 23:27. They were to search their hearts, and
anyone who did not take part in this serious work of self-examination would be
cut off from among the people. Verse 29. The years in which we live are another
Day of Atonement, the Day of Atonement in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Soon Jesus
will finish His work in the Heavenly Sanctuary, and will return to earth for
His people, those who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14:12. Now is the time to afflict our souls by deep heart searching.
We must know whether we have Christ in us. Consider it carefully: Are you in
the faith?