“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Self-examination should be regular and honest — not obsessive, but intentional and ongoing; evaluating and adjusting, improving a little each day.
Read/review at least one each day as part of your daily reading: The Holiness of Psalm 15 — The Beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-12 — The Love of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — The Fruit of Galatians 5:22-23 — The Thinking of Philippians 4:8 — The Basics of 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 — The Qualities of 2 Peter 1:5-9 — The Features of Truth, Obedience and Love in 1 John — The Pattern of Revelation 1:3
The Holiness of Psalm 15
Psalm 15 concentrates on the way of the righteous. The saved sinner is described as exhibiting indications of ethical integrity. It alternates sets of three positive and three negative descriptions. It unfolds as the ultimate question and answer vehicle. With its focus on moral responsibility, the psalm offers a sequence of responses to the question of acceptable worship.
Positive Ethical Characteristics:
His lifestyle exhibits integrity; He lives an honest and upright life.
His deeds exhibit justice; He does what is right and fair.
His speech exhibits reliability; He tells the truth and keeps his word.
He views the reprobate as rejected; He does not admire or follow those who openly reject God.
He respects the people of God; He honors and values those who fear and follow the Lord.
He holds himself accountable; He takes responsibility for his actions and keeps his commitments, even when it is difficult.
Negative Ethical Characteristics:
He does not tread over people with his tongue; He does not gossip, slander, or tear people down with his words.
He does not harm his fellow man; He does not mistreat or intentionally hurt others.
He does not heap reproach upon family or friend; He does not disgrace, shame, or betray those close to him.
He is not fickle; He is steady and dependable, not changing with every mood or pressure.
He is not greedy; He is not driven by money or selfish gain.
He cannot be bought; He cannot be bribed or persuaded to compromise what is right.
Holiness is defined as wholehearted integrity toward God that produces truthful speech, faithful relationships, moral courage, and uncompromising righteousness in everyday life.
The Beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-12
Jesus was describing the divinely bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful. The Beatitudes gives Jesus’ description of the character of true faith.
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
This speaks of the deep humility of recognizing one’s utter spiritual bankruptcy apart from God. It describes those who are acutely conscious of their own lostness and hopelessness apart from divine grace.
Note: Matthew 3:2 – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John the Baptist describes repentance as no mere academic change of mind, nor mere regret or remorse. He spoke of repentance as a radical turning from sin that inevitably became manifest in the fruit of righteousness.
Jesus was teaching that the kingdom is a gracious gift to those who sense their own poverty of spirit.
4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
This speaks of “mourning” over sin, the godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation without regret. The “comfort” is the comfort of forgiveness and salvation.
5. Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth.
Lowliness, gentleness, or meekness- being humble, is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Holy Spirit as referenced by the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23).
The lowly shall inherit the earth is quote from Psalm 37:11.
6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
This is the opposite of the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. It speaks of those who seek God’s righteousness rather that trying to establish a righteousness of their own. What they seek will satisfy their hunger and thirst for a right relationship with God.
7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Those who are merciful with receive mercy just as those who a unmerciful will receive no mercy. Mercy is compassionate action toward someone who deserves judgment — choosing to forgive, help, or withhold punishment. It is an act which flows from the heart and reflects the character of God where He gives us what we need (a Savior) and not what we deserve.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Purity of heart means wanting God more than anything else, with no hidden agenda. They shall see God, not with the perception of faith, but in the glory of heaven.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
This plainly teaches that God’s love extends even to His enemies. This universal love is manifest in blessings which God bestows on all indiscriminately.
10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men hate you, and exclude you, and insult you and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. (Luke 6:22). Persecution is not something to be sought. But when evil is spoken against a Christian falsely and for Christ’s sake, such persecution carries with it the blessing of God.
11. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus says you are spiritually favored — approved by God — when suffering comes because of Him.
Not all suffering is blessed. This is specifically: When people insult you, persecute you, lie about you and do it because you belong to Christ
The key phrase is: “because of Me.” It’s not blessed to suffer for being rude, arrogant, foolish, or self-righteous. It is blessed to suffer for faithfully following Jesus.
Jesus gives two reasons to rejoice and be glad: 1. Your reward is great in heaven. God sees. God remembers. God will repay. Earth may reject you. Heaven honors you. 2. You stand in the line of the prophets. Jesus says this treatment places you in the same category as: Isaiah, Jeremiah. Elijah and Daniel. God’s true messengers were rejected, hated, mocked, and persecuted. Persecution is not a sign of failure — it is often a sign of faithfulness.
These are heart attitudes that reveal a transformed life — not steps to earn salvation, but the evidence of it.
Poor in spirit – Humble, spiritually bankrupt before God. Mourn – Grieved over sin. Meek – Gentle, surrendered strength. Hunger & thirst for righteousness – Deep craving for holiness. Merciful – Compassionate and forgiving. Pure in heart – Undivided, sincere before God. Peacemakers – Actively pursue reconciliation. Persecuted for righteousness – Faithful under opposition.
(Source: The MacArthur Study Bible)
The Love of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
These qualities characterize authentic, biblical love according to the apostle Paul as outlines the the “Love Chapter” of 1 Corinthians. He then promises, “Love never fails.” (13:8)
“Love suffers long.” Bearing with a person’s worst behavior, without retaliation, regardless of the circumstances.
“Love is kind.” Diligently seeking ways to be actively useful in another person’s life.
“Love does not envy.” Delighting in the esteem and honor given to another person.
“Love does not parade itself.” Not drawing attention to oneself exclusive of others.
“Love is not puffed up.” Knowing that one is not more important than others.
“Love does not behave rudely.” Not engaging any person in ungodly activity.
“Love does not seek its own.” Being “others” oriented.
“Love is not provoked.” Not resorting to anger as a solution to difficulties between myself and others.
“Love thinks no evil.” Never keeping an account due on others.
“Love does not rejoice in iniquity.” Never delighting in another person’s unrighteous behavior, nor will I join in its expression.
“Love rejoices in truth.” Finding great joy when truth prevails in another person’s life.
“Love bears all things.” Being publicly silent about another person’s faults.
“Love believes all things.” Expressing unshakable confidence and trust in others.
“Love hopes all things.” Confidently expecting future victory in another person’s life, regardless of the present imperfections.
“Love endures all things.” Outlasting every assault of Satan to break up relationships.
God Is Love
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (Christ taking the punishment we deserved so that God’s wrath is satisfied and we can be forgiven) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:7-12)
The Way of Love
Love is… patient, kind, unselfish, truthful, hopeful, enduring (vv. 4-7).
Without love… tongues are mere noise (v.1), prophesy, mysteries, knowledge, and faith amount to nothing. (v.2). Good deeds are unprofitable. (v.3).
Love is greater than… Prophesies, which will fail (v.8), tongues, which will cease (v.8), and knowledge, which will vanish (v.8).
Love is one of the dynamic terms Paul uses to speak of the holy life enabled by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It encompasses motive and deed. Love is characteristic of the mature believer.
The objects of faith and hope will be fulfilled and perfectly realized in heaven, but love– the God-like virtue – is everlasting.
Heaven will be the place for the expression of nothing but perfect love toward God and each other.
(Source: The MacArthur Bible Commentary)
The Fruit of Galatians 5:22-23
“Christ’s divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life…” (2 Peter 1:3–4)
Christ’s power is the source of the believer’s sufficiency and perseverance.
The genuine Christian is eternally secure in his salvation and will persevere and grow because he has received everything necessary to sustain eternal life through Christ’s power.
Godliness is devotion to God that results in a life that pleases Him. It is both an inward attitude toward God and outward actions that reflect that relationship.
To be godly (holy) is to live reverently, loyally and obedient toward God. God has already given you every spiritual resource to manifest, sustain and perfect godly living.
After salvation, Scripture calls us to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit, from Galatians 5:22-23.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
Love — Self-Sacrificial Service.
Love is a virtue grounded in the nature of God; referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction or a familial bond, but to respect, devotion and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service to others. It means serving God and others by unselfishly seeking what is best for them and to do things for their benefit.
Love produces: self-sacrifice, forgiveness, generosity, truth with grace, unity, patience, and obedience to God. In short: love in the heart always results in righteousness in the mouth, hands and feet.
Joy — Deep gladness in Christ that comes from salvation.
Joy is the ongoing happiness that flows from your heart and is not determined by ever-changing external circumstances. It is a well-being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself and the Lord. Joy even occurs when circumstances are the most painful and severe. Joy is a gift from God and believers are to delight in the blessings that they already and always will have.
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.
Joy produces: thanksgiving, strengthens obedience, inspires generosity, fuels bold witness, nurtures unity, and enables patient endurance. It transforms inward gladness into outward righteousness.
Peace — Inner calm in God’s sovereignty.
Peace is freedom from internal and external distress (negative stress); anxiety, fear, doubt, pressure, for example. It is inner calmness that results from confidence in ones’ relationship with Christ; like joy, not based on circumstances.
Peace produces: reconciliation, patience, gentleness, unity, trust, and fairness. It turns inward calm into outward righteousness, making believers instruments of God’s harmony in a divided world.
Patience (Perseverance, Steadfastness) — Steadfast and Calm Endurance.
Steadfast and calm despite opposition, difficulty, adversity or inconvenience; a good attitude when waiting. It is also the ability to endure injuries inflicted by others. Perseverance, steadfastness, longsuffering, strength under delay or difficulty.
Patience produces: endurance in trials, restraint in conflict, repeated forgiveness, trust in God’s timing, perseverance in good works, and peace in relationships. It is steady faith in action, refusing to let frustration or discouragement rule.
(Kindness (Mutual/Brotherly Affection) — Tender Concern for Others.
Kindness is a tender concern for others. It is reflected in a desire to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats all believers. Friendly and forgiving toward your brothers and sisters in Christ. Nice is what you are. Kindness is what you do.
Kindness produces: compassion, generosity, gentle words, mercy toward enemies, hospitality, and burden-bearing. It is righteousness expressed through tenderhearted love in action.
Goodness — Moral and spiritual excellence; virtue.
Being helpful, constructive and productive. It’s moral and spiritual excellence, manifested in kindness. Believers are commanded to exemplify goodness. It’s positive and desirable in nature. Goodness is the nature of God. We can do good, but only God is perfectly good. God is good all the time. We are to model His goodness.
Goodness produces: integrity, generosity, justice, purity, kindness, and a powerful witness that draws others toward God. It is righteousness in action, reflecting God’s own goodness.
Faithfulness — Steadfast loyalty.
Faithfulness is the act of being loyal and trustworthy; true to your word and commitments, as to what you have promised to be and do.
Faithfulness produces: promise-keeping, consistency in obedience, reliability in relationships, wise stewardship, endurance in trials, and a living testimony of God’s trustworthy character.
Gentleness — Humble strength under control.
Gentleness, best described as “meekness,” means a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, with no desire for revenge or retribution. It is a mild, kind, or tender temperament.
Gentleness produces: restoration, patient teaching, calm responses, humble service, peacemaking, and Christlike tenderness. It is strength under the Spirit’s control, always aiming for the good of others. Gentleness is not weakness.
Self-control — Discipline Over Desires.
Restraining passions and appetites of the flesh. It is restraint which requires discipline, which is doing things the way they are supposed to be done; doing the right things in the right way.
Self-control produces: resistance to temptation, disciplined words and thoughts, bodily purity, emotional steadiness, wise stewardship, and faithful perseverance. It is the Spirit’s strength directing human desires toward God’s will.
These qualities grow as you yield daily to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
The Thinking of Philippians 4:8
Paul, through the Holy Spirit, is directing the believer’s mind toward thoughts that reflect the character of God and produce Christlike living.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things.
Read it this way: Whatever is in line with reality and God’s Word— not false, deceptive, or distorted, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect— serious and noble in character, whatever is morally correct— aligned with God’s standards of righteousness, whatever is clean in thought and motive— free from moral corruption or impurity, whatever is attractive in a moral and spiritual sense— pleasing because it reflects grace and beauty, whatever is admirable, worth speaking well of— reputable and of good report, if there is any moral virtue and if anything is deserving approval and honor from God and from others because it reflects what is good— think on these things.
The Basics of 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22
Holiness is described as patient love toward others, joyful dependence on God in all circumstances, and careful discernment that clings to good and rejects evil. (Discernment is the God-given ability to recognize and distinguish between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil).
Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with everyone.
See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing (continuously), giving thanks— for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench (ignore) the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophesies, but examine all things. Hold fast to that which is good and abstain from every form of evil.
The Qualities of 2 Peter 1:5-9
The Fruit of the Christian Faith:
Virtue (goodness, moral excellence) (v.5), Knowledge (v.5,6), Self-Control (v.6), Perseverance (patience) (v.6), Godliness (v. 6,7), Brotherly kindness (Mutual affection) (v.7) and Love (v.7).
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness (moral excellence, virtue); and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance (patience); and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection (kindness); and to mutual affection, love.” (NIV)
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Goodness — Moral and spiritual excellence; virtue.
Being helpful, constructive and productive. It’s moral and spiritual excellence, manifested in kindness. Believers are commanded to exemplify goodness. It’s positive and desirable in nature. Goodness is the nature of God. We can do good, but only God is perfectly good. God is good all the time. We are to model His goodness.
Goodness produces: integrity, generosity, justice, purity, kindness, and a powerful witness that draws others toward God. It is righteousness in action, reflecting God’s own goodness.
Knowledge — Insight and Wisdom from God’s Word.
Insight & understanding, by reading God’s Word every day, without exception; wisdom is the timely application of knowledge, discerning how to act and react in all situations.
Knowledge produces: discernment, wise application, transformation of character, faithful teaching, protection against deception, and humble reverence for God. It is truth understood and lived out for righteousness.
Self-control — Discipline Over Desires.
Restraining passions and appetites of the flesh. It is restraint which requires discipline, which is doing things the way they are supposed to be done; doing the right things in the right way.
Self-control produces: resistance to temptation, disciplined words and thoughts, bodily purity, emotional steadiness, wise stewardship, and faithful perseverance. It is the Spirit’s strength directing human desires toward God’s will.
Perseverance (Patience) — Steadfast and Calm Endurance.
Steadfast and calm despite opposition, difficulty, adversity or inconvenience; a good attitude when waiting. It is also the ability to endure injuries inflicted by others. Perseverance, steadfastness, longsuffering, strength under delay or difficulty.
Patience produces: endurance in trials, restraint in conflict, repeated forgiveness, trust in God’s timing, perseverance in good works, and peace in relationships. It is steady faith in action, refusing to let frustration or discouragement rule.
Godliness — Devotion to God.
Godliness is devotion to God that results in a life that pleases Him. It is both an inward attitude toward God and outward actions that reflect that relationship.
Simply put, Godliness is living a fruitful and obedient Christian life, with devotion to God; a relationship to Him that drives a different behavior from the inside-out… Christlike character reflected in your thoughts, attitudes, actions & reactions… how you think, what you say and how you say it and what you do in the every situation and circumstance in your life and even in the midst of all those trials and tribulations which we all as believers are promised, all which should be Christ-like and pleasing to God and bringing Him glory.
Godliness produces: worship, obedience, holiness, contentment, compassion, and witness. It is a life aligned with God’s character, displaying His holiness and love in everyday actions.
Mutual/Brotherly Affection (Kindness) — Tender Concern for Others.
Kindness is a tender concern for others. It is reflected in a desire to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats all believers. Friendly and forgiving toward your brothers and sisters in Christ. Nice is what you are. Kindness is what you do.
Kindness produces: compassion, generosity, gentle words, mercy toward enemies, hospitality, and burden-bearing. It is righteousness expressed through tenderhearted love in action.
Love — Self-Sacrificial Service.
Love is a virtue grounded in the nature of God; referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction or a familial bond, but to respect, devotion and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service to others. It means serving God and others by unselfishly seeking what is best for them and to do things for their benefit.
Love produces: self-sacrifice, forgiveness, generosity, truth with grace, unity, patience, and obedience to God. In short: love in the heart always results in righteousness in the mouth, hands and feet.
These qualities grow as you yield daily to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
The Features of Truth, Obedience and Love in 1 John
1 John teaches that genuine saving faith is revealed by believing the truth about Christ, obeying God’s commands, and loving fellow believers in real and practical ways.
These are not the root of salvation — they are the evidence that someone is “in the faith.”
The Pattern of Revelation 1:3
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it, for the time is near.”
The pattern is to read, hear and study. Many read but don’t hear, hear but don’t keep and study but don’t obey. The blessing is attached to obedience.
Revelation is the only book that comes with a blessing for the person who listens to it being read and explained, and then, responds in obedience.
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