自我省察
哥林多后书十三章5至8节
5你们总要自己省察有信心没有，也要自己试验。岂不知你们若不是可弃绝的，就有耶稣基督在你们心里么？
6我却盼望你们晓得，我们不是可弃绝的人。
7我们求神，叫你们一件恶事都不做；这不是要显明我们是蒙悦纳的，是要你们行事端正，任凭人看我们是被弃绝的罢！
8我们凡事不能敌挡真理，只能扶助真理。
信息分享
如今来到他最关心的问题。他在第5节提醒哥林多信徒要反省一个问题：「你们是否真正属于基督？你们究竟是甚么样的基督徒？」
他在第5节那句话实质是一个命令：「要经常察验自己、证明自己，以致清楚知道自己是否真正在基督里。」
每个信徒都应听从这句命令，经常省察自己。保罗这样说，并非是要我们怀疑自己，反之，却是要我们肯定自己。信徒是为了本身的好处而要省察自己。他们肯定自己得救，便可以继续往前迈进；同时，别人也可以从旁观者的角度，看见他们是否在基督里站立得稳。
我们如何获得这确据呢？首先，是神的话语给我们的见证。罗马书十章13节说：「凡求告主名的，就必得救。」它就是你属灵生命的出生证明。
此外，生命的改变也是一个明证。哥林多后书五章17节说：「若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。」当我们接受基督进入我们的生命，祂就会改变我们。
我们并非靠自己来省察自我。只要我们愿意，圣灵必与我们同工。如此，我们并非只专注在自己身上，因为圣灵总会带领我们注视耶稣基督。
你是否拥有这确据呢？你能否像保罗那样肯定地说「我知道所信的是谁」？相信神的话，聆听圣灵在我们心里的微小声音，就能每天给你带来信仰的确据。
STANDING - IN CHRIST
2 Corinthians 13:5-8
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
Message
Here he came down to the bottom line. In v.5 he asked his final question - Do you really belong to Christ? Are you the kind of Christians you say you are?
His words in v.5 are really a command, a continuing command - 'Keep on testing and proving yourselves whether you are really in Christ.' Are you real Christians?
There are good words for us all. Paul's plan was not merely to create doubt but to establish certainty. It was for their own benefit. If they knew the assurance of their salvation, then they could go on from that point. Their standing firm in Christ would also be seen by others.
How can we have the same assurance? First, there is the witness of the Word of God. Romans 10:13 says, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' That can be your spiritual birth certificate.
There is also the witness of a changed life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.' We have been changed by Christ.
Self-examination is not something I do all on my own. The Holy Spirit will do it with me if I allow Him. Then I am not fixing my attention merely on myself, but He will point me always to Jesus Christ.
How is your assurance today? Can you say, with certainty as Paul could, 'I know whom I have believed'? Believe God's Word. Listen to the inner voice of the Spirit of God. It will bring the strong assurance you need to face each day.