2 Corinthians 12:19–13:13 (NKJV)
19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. 1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 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. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.
No minister of God enjoys being harsh with his flock, just as no godly father enjoys having to speak harshly to his children. But sometimes it is necessary. When members of the flock are stubbornly living according to the flesh without repentance, the preacher has to rebuke them, as Paul feared he would have to rebuke the Corinthians when he arrived.
So he encourages them, ahead of his visit, to “examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5). Use the Word of God to judge your own desires, attitudes, and actions. Do you recognize the self-centeredness of your flesh? Do you recognize your sins against God and man? Do you mourn over them and renounce them? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus who was delivered to death for your sins and raised to life for your justification? Do you wish to amend your sinful life? Are you filled with thankfulness toward God and committed to love your neighbor and especially your fellow Christians? Do you believe all the things God’s holy prophets and apostles have taught you to believe? Do you respect the ministers of Christ? Do you long to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd preached by His ministers? Do you long for the Sacrament of His body and blood? Do you struggle against your sinful flesh and hope for the coming of the Lord Jesus?
An honest “yes” to these questions reveals that you are “in the faith” and are not in need of a harsh rebuke from God’s ministers, though we all need a mild correction from time to time. Where rebuke or correction is needed, know that God’s minister administers it for your good, that you may be eternally saved.
Let us pray: O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, accompany us with Your grace, love, and fellowship. Amen.
