When Christ Corrects: A Test You Can’t Afford to Fail (2 Corinthians 13:5-6) | Pastor Mike Fabarez

Main message: Christians are commanded to examine and test themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) to verify that their profession of faith is genuine — that they hold the true gospel, bear Christlike fruit, and have real repentance and faith — because salvation is God's redemptive work grounded in the whole Scriptures (especially the Old Testament) and centered on the full deity and atoning work of Christ.

Key points:

• Paul flips the judgment back onto believers: "Examine yourselves... to see whether you are in the faith" — self‑testing is biblical and necessary.
• The examination includes doctrine (are you trusting the true gospel and right Christ?), evidence of Christ's indwelling (fruit and response to sin), and genuine repentance/faith.
• The gospel must be understood against the whole Bible (beginning in Genesis): the Old Testament establishes the problem of sin and the need for God's own redeeming "outstretched arm."
• Jesus' full deity and finished atoning work are essential — any other Jesus fails the test.
• Assurance is possible (1 John 5:13; Romans 8:16), but believers should not procrastinate this self‑examination; take the test now and invite God to search the heart (Psalm 139:23–24).

Scriptures mentioned: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 2:6-7, Acts 17:22, Genesis 1:1, Genesis 3, Exodus 6:6, Isaiah 59:1, Isaiah 59:16, John 5:21-23, Daniel 7, Zechariah, Micah, Revelation, Hebrews 6, Psalm 100, Psalm 139:23-24, 1 John 5:13, Romans 8:16, Matthew 7