Testing Yourself

Jesus Christ is in you…2 Corinthians 13:5

The Apostle Paul was a serious student of Scripture. He was studying to become a rabbi. Paul was not alone. Many Jews were dedicated to studying and memorizing Scripture. When some of these met Jesus they soon realized there is a difference between knowing the Bible and knowing its Author. Of these Jesus said, you study the Scriptures diligently because you think in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life, John 5:39-40.

There are people like this today. They know portions of the Bible, even certain verses by heart, but they don’t know Jesus. Of these are those who know the Bible but don’t believe it word-for-word. 

The Bible says we who believe are in Christ. No flesh should glory is His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:29-30.

This is who we are. We are the righteous, the sanctified, the redeemed IN Christ Jesus. Being in Christ is not the same as being a member of a certain church group or growing up in a Christian home or being baptized at youth camp. It is not the act of asking Jesus to save you. It is the realization of the fact Jesus has put His Spirit in you therefore you are in Christ Jesus.

It is the full gospel. Yes, it is true Jesus died for our sins but He was raised for our righteousness. (Righteousness) was imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification, Romans 4:24-25.

Which brings us back to 2 Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? The test is simple: are you in the faith; do you believe? If so, you are in Christ Jesus!