Knowing and Showing the Power of Christ
Is Christ powerful in you? This question fits perfectly with the theme from last week, now applied not just to the Apostle Paul but to the Corinthians. They have a standard of weakness, and Paul wants them to be strong—determined by the strength of Christ in verse 9. Strength apart from Christ would contradict what Paul has taught. Christ is powerful, as our passage demonstrates, but is His power displayed in your life? Are you putting the power of Christ on display?
One way Christ's power is displayed is through hard times, like having a messenger from Satan to keep you humble. Suffering in the lives of God's people has a good result for those who rely on God's grace, leading to experiencing Christ's power. But beyond knowing Christ's power is in you, do you put it on display? If Christ is powerful and real, we expect to see His power demonstrated in weakness. Christianity is not isolated; it's a global reality of God's existence and power. God chooses to display His power through His people, especially in the New Testament.
Our passage is about examining ourselves to find the reality of Christ's power and demonstrating real Christianity. In real Christianity, people suffer for Christ, their pride is crucified, and Christ's power pervades the weak. The point is knowing and showing Christ's power. To do this, we examine three things:
1. Examining Ourselves Requires Examination from Others
This avoids "lone wolf Christianity"—there's no such thing as just "me and Jesus." A Christian can be deceived into isolation, but that's not biblical. We all have blind spots, like in driving where you miss something in your mirrors. We need to check over our shoulder. Christians can have blind spots for sin or temptation, like Christian liberty issues (meat sacrificed to idols), sexual immorality, drunkenness, or controlled substances.
Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
The Corinthians had a blind spot: entertaining false teachers who discredited Paul, leading to sin. Even horrific sins like in 1 Corinthians show how any of us could sin greatly without grace. We need others to point out blind spots.
Paul requires two or three credible witnesses to establish truth, from Deuteronomy 19:15. This is more than profession—it's demonstration. Are there credible witnesses to Christ's power in your life? Not random people, but trusted believers who've seen your life over time. Malicious witnesses don't count; bring issues to church leadership.
Do you have relationships where others can confirm Christ's power or hold you accountable? Or do you keep people at arm's length, giving prepackaged answers like "I'm good"? Credible witnesses aren't anyone; they're trustworthy for accountability. Truth is established by multiple people—if you're believing something others aren't, examine it.
2. Examining Ourselves Requires Examination of the Gospel
You can't test if you're in the faith without knowing the faith—the gospel.
Since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
The Corinthians challenged Paul: Is Christ in you? Paul appeals to the gospel—Jesus crucified in weakness, raised by God's power. This power is among you. Examine the gospel: Jesus crucified for you, raised, active in your midst. Knowing the gospel makes recognizing Christ's power in others obvious.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Mere profession isn't proof. Things like praying a prayer, walking an aisle, or raising a hand aren't salvific. Baptism isn't either—Paul wasn't sent to baptize but to preach the gospel. Proof is a total life change from sin.
Tests from 1 John: We know we know Him by keeping commands (1 John 2:3); love lays down life (3:16); keeping commandments shows abiding (3:24); listening to apostles distinguishes truth (4:6); the Spirit confirms (4:13); loving God and obeying shows love for His children (5:2).
Paul passes by commitment to gospel advance, doing right, standing for truth, weakness showing Christ's strength, praying for restoration (katartisis: training to maturity), and authority for building up.
Do you know the gospel enough to recognize you're in the faith? Eight questions to test:
- Have you resolved never to live without Christ?
- Do you have any affection for Jesus?
- Are you constantly bothered by sin, seeing Jesus as the solution?
- Did you wake up fearing God's wrath? (Or does the Spirit assure you?)
- Does your church life look very different from life outside church?
- Are there sins you'd regret giving up?
- Do you enjoy living under Scripture's authority?
- Does eternity with Jesus get you through the day?
3. Examining Ourselves Requires and Encourages Unity
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Proving faith leads to unity: rejoice, pursue maturity, comfort, agree, live in peace—God will be with you. Greet affectionately. Salvation and love must be demonstrated, not just professed.
