Test Yourselves

Introduction

A. Perry Mason lost one case in all of his years of defending clients. He later worked on the case and had the verdict overturned. Whether reading the books or watching the old t.v. reruns, trying to figure out who was the real culprit was not easy. But Perry Mason knew almost before he ever went to trial. There would be times that he would not ask questions of a witness in order to set up another scenario. And usually once he got the real criminal on the witness stand, he would break their resolve and through a series of questions break the criminal’s story leading to complete vindication for his client. It was always a masterpiece. What seemed to be irrefutable evidence against his client wilted in the presence of the truth.

B. Life rarely mimics t.v. Making sure an injustice is righted in an hour’s time rarely happens. Paul has been in relationship with the church at Corinth for several years. His relationship with them has been strained at best. While he has his supporters, he also has his detractors. There are some in the church who believe Paul to be a fraud. 2 Corinthians has been a highly personal letter in which Paul has defended himself against accusations. In the last four chapters, Paul reveals some of the accusations against him. In 10:10, he was weak and his speech was not worthy of commendation. In 11:6 he is accused of being rough and uncultured in his speech. In 11:16 he is thought to be a fool. In 12:16 he is accused of being dishonest. If these accusations are believed then the gospel will not be heard.

C. In the lengthy section we will study today, Paul does two things. First, he tells the church that he is going to come and visit them again. They should prepare for his visit. He will come hoping that they have fully repented but if not he will come prepared to take care of matters spiritually. Second, he turns the tables on his readers. While they have been accusing Paul that he isn’t what he claims to be, Paul now wants them to examine themselves. This self-test will serve as a further witness to Paul’s ministry among them. As we shall see, they did not expect such a twist, but Paul is prepared to defend the gospel.

One More Visit

A. In 12:11-13, Paul reminds the church that they got the full treatment when it came to the gospel. They saw the signs, wonders, and miracles that other churches had seen. The only thing that marked any difference between them and other churches was that Paul refused to take money from them. Verse 13 his asking for forgiveness should be understood as sarcasm. Sorry, I didn’t take your money. Sorry that I spared you from having to give me money. But now he is ready to come a third time to visit them.

B. Again, he will not take money from them. He will come at his own expense. Why? Because he doesn’t want their possessions. He wants them. Ever had those telemarketing calls that begin with “Have I got a deal for you!?” Paul isn’t trying to see anything. He isn’t interested in their money. He is interested in their lives being given to Christ. What makes a man who has been criticized pursue those who criticize him? Why has Paul taken the time to plead his case not for his benefit but for the sake of the gospel? Look at verse 11. “I should have been commended, but instead I was criticized. That’s fine. I’m nothing anyway.” Does Paul have a self-esteem problem? Hardly.

C. Paul has learned the secret that each of us need to learn—the only thing that matters is Jesus. None of us are above getting our feelings hurt. None of us are above criticism. None of us will escape someone believing something about us that isn’t true. As Paul has already said in 5:16, it is possible to look at others in a worldly way, i.e., with a “what can you do for me?” attitude. But Paul wasn’t interested in what the Corinthians could do for him. What mattered was that they came to faith in Jesus. He defended himself because if they didn’t believe Paul was an apostle then they wouldn’t believe his message. But it was never about Paul—it was about Jesus. ILL. “Humility: helicopters.” When we empty ourselves of pride and selfishness and greed then we can point people to Jesus. Paul wants the Corinthians to love Jesus. But he knows if they hate his messenger then they will never see Jesus so he defends himself. But all he is interested in is the church.

Witnesses

A. In 13:1, Paul turns his attention to judicial matters. He has done this before in chapter 2. Two or three witnesses are necessary to confirm matters. Paul has two things in mind. The first is the conduct of members of the church. He has written in 12:20 that he is afraid when he returns to Corinth that he will not find the church in the condition he would hope. He is concerned that there will still be some obvious sin in the congregation. If that be the case, then two or three witnesses will be necessary to establish such things to be true. The second has to do with the accusations which have been made against him. Notice in verse 3, the Corinthians are demanding proof that Christ speaks through Paul. This word “proof” is important to the text. This same word is translated “test” in verse 5 and the negative form of the word is translated in verses 6 and 7 as the word “failed.”

B. So what is the significance of this? Paul turns the tables on his accusers. They want proof. Paul says the proof is in you. Jesus is working in them (v.3). What they need to do is examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. Test or prove yourselves. Christ is in each one unless, of course, they fail or “disprove” the test. Or we might use the word counterfeit. Unless they are counterfeit, Christ is in them. And where did this teaching come from? Paul. This term “in the faith” is used in Titus 1:13 and 1 Cor. 16:13 to mean a body of doctrine or belief. Are they in the faith? If they are, then it was Paul who taught them.

C. Then in verse 9, Paul concludes his thinking about his third visit. Our prayer is for your perfection. The word should be understood as “restoration.” It is the idea as he stated in 12:20, that before he arrives that they will get things in order so that he will not have to be harsh with them. What the Corinthians really needed was not for Paul to prove that he was God’s apostle and messenger but to look at their own lives and demonstrate that they were in the faith. The accusations against Paul were false. To believe false accusations said something about the Corinthians not about Paul. In counseling, a statement is made about another. He is impatient. Instead of accepting that statement, the counselor tries to understand what is there about the person making the statement which would even make that statement true. In other words, saying that a person is impatient may say more about the person making the statement than about the person about whom the statement is made.

D. Two or three witnesses are necessary to establish the matter. Paul, Christ, and the Corinthians testify to Paul’s validity as God’s messenger. The same three testify to the Corinthians need to change. What testimony is there about your life which would prove or disprove who you are in relationship with Christ. Is Christ in you? Are you in the faith? Someone says, “Christ can’t be trusted.” That statement may say more about you than about Christ. All Christ wants is you. Only when we empty ourselves can we be with him. We disprove our relationship with Christ when we exalt ourselves rather than the one who died for us. What Paul was calling for and what we need to do ourselves is to test or examine ourselves. There are only two witnesses who can verify what is real and right—you and God. Are you in the faith? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? Invitation.

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