The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth: "Check more if you are in the faith, prove repeatedly what you are." (2 Corinthians 13: 5) Why are these tests and trials necessary? How can this be done?
We can first ask ourselves why the apostle Paul gave the above advice. Some Christians in Corinth believed that they were in the faith. But they acted contrary to the example and doctrine of Jesus Christ. Paul feared that if he went to see him, he would discover conflicts, jealousy, anger, fights, excessive biting, whispers, snoring, disturbances.Given the poor spiritual condition of the congregations, everyone should decide if they really lived as Christians should.
People tend to take their mistakes much less seriously than others and apologize. Therefore, there was a risk that some Corinthian Christians mistakenly believed they were in the faith when in fact they were in a state of mental illness. The apostle Paul was concerned about the recovery of the Corinthians and urged them to question their profession as Christians.
Some members of the congregation were at serious risk of losing their faith because of their own illusion. The words of Jesus Christ to the Church in Laodicea show that his journey may have led to the total loss of his relationship with God and Christ. The Son of God warned: “I know that your works are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were hot or cold. Because you are hot and not hot or cold, I will vomit out of your mouth. Because you say, "I am rich and I have made wealth and I need nothing," but you do not know that you are miserable and pathetic, poor, blind and naked. "- Revelation 3: 15-17.
Given the high risk of self-deception, all Christians will do well to continue to verify their faith. Student James kindly warned: “Become a practitioner of the word, not just a listener, by making false arguments. Because when someone hears the word and not a practitioner, it's like a man looking at his natural face in the mirror. Because he looks and walks away and immediately forgets what kind of man he is. But he who examines the perfect law that belongs to freedom and follows it, this man, for he has not become a forgotten listener but an agent, will do so willingly. If the man himself seems to be a formal worshiper and still does not falsify the tongue, but continues to deceive his own heart, this way of worshiping the man is useless.
Therefore, if a Christian does not constantly examine himself in the light of God's word, he can become like a person looking in the mirror. This Christian can easily deceive his heart. You can object: “I'm fine. I attend Christian meetings, read the Bible, pray, and share my faith with others. But in addition to these outward aspects of formal worship, you can do little to develop a Christian personality. You can eliminate your shortcomings and mental spots if you continue with the same routine and still believe you have faith. Especially for that person is the inspired exhortation: "He who thinks he stands, be careful not to fall."
What he does not realize is that his worship has no meaning without works that are compatible with all Christian teachings. It doesn't correspond to anything.
For example, language cannot further express the deterioration of things. We have to keep it under control. The words that come out of the mouth show exactly what the person has in their heart. Jesus Christ said: "The mouth speaks of the fullness of the heart". (Luke 6:45.) Those who humble others and attribute selfish motives to them show that there is something wrong with claiming to have faith. Hence, their formal expressions of worship are unnecessary.
Hence, in the test of faith, a Christian must determine whether his words and actions are consistent with his calling. When he tries to be guided by the Word of God in all areas of life, he reveals himself to be the "Creator of the Word". It can bring you great happiness because the one who gives instructions from the scriptures is Jehovah God, the source of "every good gift and every perfect gift".Hence, observance of the "law of Christian freedom" will certainly promote a person's greatest happiness and lasting well-being. So staying happy is another good reason to see if you have faith.
Christians today must not only examine themselves through the scriptures, but also, as the Corinthians were told, “continue to prove who they are.How can this be done? For example, a person can have a saw. Your knowledge of how this tool was made and what materials were used is not enough to determine if your saw is actually of the highest quality. It may have a hidden flaw. Only when you use the saw for a variety of tasks over a period of time can you truly tell how good a tool is. Likewise, one of the best ways to show who we are as individuals is to apply the Christian faith to all matters of life, especially the difficult ones.
Ask yourself how I can respond to cruelty and abuse. Do I refuse to answer? Should I advocate good principles when others are dishonest? Kristen shows herself to be real when she doesn't give in to pressures to be like the world in her attitudes, words, and actions.
What does this pressure say about you? Can other people see that you are acting in accordance with the law at 1 Peter 3: 8–9? There we read: "You have the same opinion, you show compassion, you have brotherly affection, tender compassion, you are humble in spirit, do not return evil with contempt for evil or blasphemy on the contrary, bless"
Christians have good reason to further test their faith and prove who they really are. This test is a protection against self-deception and loses a recognized position before God. As a result, positive steps are being taken to further comply with the Word of God. It brings great happiness now and guarantees future Christian blessings.
