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NASB | 2 Corinthians 13:5 ¶ Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 13:5 ¶ Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? |
Bible Question:
Saved or Self-Deceived? Heard on Christian radio. Subject: people who *might* be deceived by thinking they are saved and on their way to heaven when, in fact, they are not. "Look for people who always seem stuck on one over-emphasized point of theology. This is the person who bangs the proverbial drum for his own little area. Some crazy quirk. And it usually is not some great divine insight. They'd like you to think they're so close to God that they have a great divine insight that no one else has. The fact of the matter is they're seeking a platform for the feeding of their ego. Watch for people with a lack of balance." |
Bible Answer: Greetings JVHO212! Your quote reminded me of some of the study tips that I have developed over the years for young Christians. These are tips that I think will help protect young Christians from false doctrine. 1) New Revelation: Watch out for New Revelation. I am always suspicious of anyone who claims that they have found something "new" in Scripture that no one else has ever seen. A lot of good people over thousands of years have studied the Bible. The odds of anyone finding anything truly "new" are astronomical. 2) New Authority: Watch out for Rogues. This one is related the first point. I am generally suspicious of anyone who claims that the "traditional" view is wrong. The core doctrines of our faith have been established for a long time. We may disagree on minor points here and there, but it is very unlikely that every theologian throughout history was wrong while this one person is right. 3) New Twists: Watch out for explanations that explain why Scripture doesn't mean what it says. In general, I am suspicious of any explanation that goes to great lenghts to describe why a Scripture doesn't really mean what it appears to say. Again, I am not speaking of legitimate differences of opinion, but those who take the clear meaning of Scripture and explain it away. I heard one like this while I was pastoring in Ohio. A man came on a Christian radio station and preceded to explain that Acts 1:7 didn't mean that no one could know when Christ was going to return, it just meant that it would not be general knowledge. I think that good common sense and sound exegetical skills will protect Christians against theological heresy or lack of balance. Thanks! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |