5 Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε· ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτοὺς ὅτι Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν; εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε.
There are those who espouse that so-called "Lordship salvation" is akin to works-righteousness. I'm not sure what they do with a verse like this. It seems that you have one of two options with this:
- You need to work to stay in the faith. Those who fail to work lose their salvation. This would be an Arminian viewpoint.
- Those who are truly saved will exhibit good works. This meshes well with James 2:24
Paul makes it very clear here. If the Corinthians Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε and find that there is no evidence of salvation then they have ἀδόκιμοί, or failed the test. I find it interesting that Paul uses the particle μήτι here. He expects them to give a negative answer to his negative question. In other words, he expects that they will find that they are truly in the faith, but there is a chance that they are not.
What about you? If you are truly saved then your life will demonstrate it. There will still be sin and it may be some terrible bondage to sin. I think that someone can be truly saved and yet struggle with habitual sin. But is there any fruit? Or did you just raise your hand at the end of a service or pray a prayer and consider that to be enough? Are you seeking after the Lord or are you either indifferent to Him or running from Him? How you respond to these questions will give you some clues as to where you stand.
If you fail the test then I urge you to repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. He is the Lord. Do you acknowledge Him as yours?
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