(5 minute read)
“Examine yourself and see if you’re in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Paul tells believers to honestly examine their own lives and faith to see whether their profession of faith in Jesus Christ is genuine.
Look at what you believe, how you think, and how you live—is there evidence that Christ is truly in you?
Read: Examine Yourself
Read Ephesians 3:14-20 – Prayer for Spiritual Power
Paul prays that believers will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, that Christ will dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they will become deeply rooted in Christ’s love.
He asks God to help them comprehend the immeasurable width, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love—a love so great it surpasses human understanding.
The passage concludes with the assurance that God is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine through His power working within us.
The assurance of salvation is the Christian’s highest joy. Rejoicing every day with the assurance of two heavens… one to come and one in the present, on the earth. You can enjoy all the blessings of salvation because you know you are saved.
Christian Growth and Discipleship
You are saved by God’s grace which is applied by His Holy Spirit through genuine repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ!
Praise God!
Continue to live out your faith each moment of every day and also share the Good News of Jesus Christ with as many others as you can, both believers and unbelievers you know and ask them to do the same.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Because you have been “made new” in Christ, let others hear and see Him in everything you say and everything you do and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you to explain about your new attitude and how you have changed and the hope you have, but answer them with gentleness and respect, just as Christ would do. (Adapted from 1 Peter 3:15)
Jesus is the believer’s hope, our living hope…our only hope!
And remember—this is a lifelong journey, growing in Christlikeness and spiritual maturity every day, until God calls you home.
Use the Bible study resources in the Gospel Truth App Library.
Next Steps for Christian Growth and Discipleship:
Above all, give God all the glory in all things!
Trust in the Lord and stand firm in His truth, resist compromise and remain faithful in trials and tribulations, sufferings and spiritual battles.
Read and study the Bible every single day, without fail. Find ways to continue to grow in your faith.
[Download the FREE YouVersion Bible App so you always have God’s Word with you—ready when you want it but especially when you need it. “Do you always have your phone with you?” “Yes… always.” Do you always have you Bible with you?” “Yes… always!”]
Pray persistently with thanksgiving, confession, worship, petition, intercession and praise. Pray to the Father in the name of Jesus and for His glory.
Walk in daily obedience to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to convict, guide, empower and help you overcome sin. Do not quench (ignore) or grieve (disappoint) Him in any way. The Holy Spirit is fully God just as the Father and the Son are fully God.
Continue to grow in righteous living and spiritual growth, maturity, obedience and fruitfulness. Learn to hate sin as much as God does.
Do everything you can to recognize and avoid all types of sin in everything you think, and say, and do.
Read: What Are You Going To Do About Sin?
Let your standard of behavior be Christlike, pleasing to God and bringing Him glory in all your thoughts, attitudes and actions.
Christ calls believers to a lifetime of repentance—continually turning from sin, denying self, and following Him—until He returns.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Renew your commitment to God and your family each day and live each day as if you just got saved!
Stay actively involved in Christian fellowship in a Gospel preaching, Bible teaching local church, walking in accountability, encouragement, service and unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Use your gifts, time, talent and resources in service to God and others.
Find a variety of ways to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who desperately need to hear it. (share The Gospel Truth App)
Live life they way God intended you to live it: His grace, your faith; His promises, your obedience; His love for you, your love for Him, your love for yourself through Him, and your love for others because He first loved us.
Read the five chapters of 1 John. It presents the biblical “tests of life” to distinguish between a profession of faith and the possession of faith.
The “tests of life” in 1 John can be summed up as:
Doctrinal — Do you believe the truth about Jesus Christ? Moral — Do you obey God and walk in righteousness? Love — Do you love fellow believers? Spiritual — Do you have the Holy Spirit’s inner witness and assurance?
John ties it all together in 1 John 5:13:
“I (John) write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Next Steps: Read 1 John Summary
Read: Sanctification, Glorification, Judgment
Go to The Gospel Truth Library and read from some other great resources and truths.
Hope this encouragement helps.
But above everything else, love the one true, Creator God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you mind and with all your strength!
This is the first and greatest commandment.
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