Examine yourselves

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, November 1, 2026

 

2 Corinthians 13:1-6

Title: Examine yourselves

 

 

Remember:

• Paul understood some were sinning rampantly + refused to repent
• Paul would restore order if need be
• Christ died but He will be vindicated

 

Paul’s directive

(2Co 13:5) is that his readers examine themselves. Is he writing to believers, or to unbelievers? What are the ramifications of that examination?

 

There’s a sense here that Paul is going to distinguish those who believe from those who do not: Isa 1:21-23, Jer 6:27-30, cf. Pro 25:4

 

 

Recall how often we’ve seen readers challenge Paul’s apostleship. Now he flips it — if his readers believe they are Christians, that’s an endorsement of his apostleship because he taught them.

 

 

Paul is writing primarily to believers, those who heard + believed the gospel. Recall these passages: Act 18:1-11,

1Co 1:1-3,

1Co 3:2-3

 

 

As a reminder, who is in the faith? In other words, who are the true believers?

Joh 8:21-26, Rom 10:6-13,

Act 10:37-43,

1Co 15:1-8, etc.

 

 

Remember, readers wanted proof of the Christ living in Paul

(2Co 13:4). His plea is that they consider the Christ in them, if indeed He was in them.

 

 

Paul wrote that his readers should recognize the Christ within them. Those are believers, because those who are in the faith have Jesus Christ in them: Joh 8:34-36, Joh 12:44-46, Joh 15:1-11

 

If we understand who passes the test that Paul is talking about, then who fails that same test? What are repercussions of failing in context?

 

 

The word adokimos or orἀδόκιμος means to be disqualified, or in our context, to fail the test. It’s especially important to Paul that his readers avoid doing so

( 2Co 13:6).

 

That same word adokimos shows up in another letter, who sought to discipline his body to avoid being disqualified from a reward:

1Co 9:24-27

 

adokimos (ἀδόκιμος)

 

Paul uses the same term to describe men who were rejected where faith is concerned:

2Ti 3:1-8

adokimos (ἀδόκιμος)

 

Paul uses the same word to describe depraved men who deny Christ: Tit 1:10-16

adokimos (ἀδόκιμος)

 

Don’t be afraid of the specter of examining your faith. Works don’t determine your faith, nor do they save you, but they instead are borne out of your faith. If you are saved, you will always remain saved, by the way.

 

Paul asked the same group of readers — brethren, no less — to stand firm in the faith:

1Co 16:10-14

 

Peter asked his readers to make sure of their election. Those are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ: 2Pe 1:5-11

 

What we’ve heard today:

• Dross from silver
• Paul: If you believe, you heard the gospel from me + don’t be DQ’d
• Who passes the test?