Why Should I & How Do I Self Examine?

In most occurrences in our lives there is a test involved to see if we have mastered what we have learned or are qualified to attain what we are desiring. That can be a job, a degree, being a good husband or a great mom. At some point we have to evaluate our progression and see if we are on track or out of alignment with the goal. 

We were commanded by Christ himself to be perfect.

Matthew 5:48

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The definition of ‘perfect’ in the Greek and in this context is: of mind and character, one who has reached the proper height in virtue and integrity.

I think we have to admit that this is a high standard, when we consider that Christ says the proper height in virtue and integrity is “your Father which is in heaven”.

Paul says this regarding perfection as previously defined:

Philippians 3:14-15

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

So how do we achieve such a high standard? Clearly it doesn’t come by being a passive participant in the body of Christ. Paul says, “I press toward the mark”. That is, to be one that runs swiftly to reach a goal. 

There are many ingredients to becoming perfect, but one of the main ingredients is our own ability to self-examine. Our example of how to be perfect is Christ, but how do we know if we are “being Christ”.

Self Examination

Let's look at why we self-examine and break down what it means.

2 Corinthians 13:5

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

What am I looking for when I’m examining myself? I’m looking for evidence that I have Christ in me and anything that is not like Christ I should be ready to remove IMMEDIATELY. 

The word examine in this context means to make a test for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave. In other words, what is in me? Do I truly love my brother or is there hatred in my heart? Am I content with what I have, or do I desire what I see on Instagram? 

The word prove means to test, examine, or scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not. Are our motives pure? What was my intention when I said what I said? For example, did I give correction in love, or did I do it with intent to hurt the one I was correcting? 

Verse 5 uses the word ‘reprobates’. That word is G96 in the Greek concordance, and it means, which does not prove itself to be such as it ought. Only a reprobate neglects to take self-inventory and see if they are on track to obtain a goal. 

Our Heart is Wicked

One thing we know and is the basis for our need to self-examine, is that our heart is wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Understanding this about ourselves should immediately cause us to consider our ways. If we know the natural inclination of our own thoughts are wicked, we must make sure that our thoughts are from the mind of Christ. We have to examine and ask the Father to reveal the truth to us.

Christ is the Standard

We know that Christ is the word according to John 1:1, therefore we must hold everything up to the standard to be measured to determine if it is justifiable.

Justifiable means capable of being shown as reasonable, defensible, or warranted by the law or moral, ethical standards…more on this in a second.

2 Corinthians 10:5

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

Anything that is not lawful and not according to Christ’s standard must be brought under control.

We know that Christ never broke the law of God. In fact, he came to fulfill the law or do the law exactly how it ought to be done.

Matthew 5:17-18

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

The law is what teaches us how to be like Christ which leads us to the next level of having Faith in Christ.

Galatians 3:24

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

We have to understand the Spirit in which Christ did the law. He did the law not because he had to, but because he desired and was pleased to be obedient to his Father. Our actions and thoughts have to line up with that spirit for us to be justified or righteous and acceptable to the Father.

At the end of this life we will all get judged. 

Hebrews 9:27

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Wouldn’t you rather have searched and inspected yourself and asked the Father to show you the things that you don’t see before you get to judgement and chastened by the Lord…or would you rather wait till judgement for Him to point them out to you then? It is too late to repent at judgement.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world

God is going to be inspecting your heart (mind). What was the spirit behind your actions? Yes, you kept the law but was it grievous to you? Did you do it because you didn’t want to go to hell or did you do it because you loved God and Christ? Your self-examination should tell you where there are places for improvement.

Proverbs 17:3

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

Below is a worksheet (Find the Leavan in Your Heart) that was created to help you through this process. It was designed around removing the leaven in your heart during the week of the feast of unleavened bread. However, it is something we can and should do all year around. 

1 Corinthians 5:7

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

I pray that you take the time to consider your ways and really scrutinize your thoughts and desires to know if they are of Christ. I pray that this blesses you and is a helpful tool on your road to perfection!

Find the Leaven in Your Heart.pdf

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