I’ve heard this phrase all my life. Are you the real deal, or is he the real deal? It is used to determine if someone is a fake or if they are what they say they are. It seems that almost everything that exists has a counterfeit that seeks to fool most people. We see it in clothing, purses, shoes, jewelry, appliances, electronics, and especially in people. There are so many fake people seeking to get our attention and our money, so much that we become leery of the real thing. It is always wise to examine those we intend to spend time with or listen to for advice. However, the Bible speaks much about examining ourselves.
In the book of Lamentations, the author believes the trouble the Israelites is suffering is because of their sins. He challenges them to examine themselves and turn to the Lord. They need to repent and turn back to God.
Lamentations 3:40 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
In II Corinthians 13:5, Paul exhorts those in the Corinthian church to examine themselves. He challenges them to prove themselves. This word prove refers to the trying of metals by the powerful action of heat. When precious metals are put in the fire all the dross burns off until all you have left is the precious metal. Job spoke of this when he talked about God’s testing of him. Paul wants them to examine themselves to find out if they are the “real deal” by examining their own lives in comparison with the word of God.
II Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
Job 23:10 “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”
What evidence do you have that you are a real Christian? How shall we measure ourselves? In Romans 8:16, the Holy Spirit testifies or gives evidence, that we are truly born again. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit.
Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
If we are the “real deal” we will have a desire for God’s word. I remember well when I accepted Jesus in my heart, the first thing I wanted to do was witness to someone and read my Bible. Peter says, as a baby wants and needs milk we as newborn Christians need the milk of the word. As we grow, we will advance to stronger foods that are meant for adults. The author of Hebrews says we will advance to the “meat” of the word. This is evidence of our growth in Christ.
I Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Another evidence is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we do wrong the Holy Spirit will convict us or our sin. If we do not repent the Lord will discipline us as a father disciplines his son. If you are living wrong and you have not felt the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within you, then you need to check your salvation.
Hebrews 12:5-8 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
John makes it crystal clear that our obedience is a sign we are truly born again. In John 14:15, Jesus is speaking, and there is no mincing of words. If we are His we will obey! We will study, pray, attend church faithfully, not just a Sunday morning glory, we will witness, we will have a desire and compassion for those in need, and so much more. Our lives will be consumed with love for Christ and it will be exhibited by our obedience to all His commands, not just the ones that we like or that come easy to us.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
When we’re truly saved we have the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts? There is one fruit, but its character is exhibited by love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance which is self-control. We have these attributes once we are saved, but it takes work to develop them to their potential. It takes a yielding to the Spirit and a denying of self. The more we yield to the Spirit the more these attributes will become evident in our lives.
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
So, how is your examination coming? Are you real or fake? All of us have areas that need improvement but if we are real, we will embrace those areas and seek to change. I know that Christ has forgiven me, and I am His. I know the Holy Spirit convicts me when I sin. I know that His Spirit bears witness with my spirit. I know that my desire and my actions are to obey His commands. Do I always get it right? No, but when I fail, he convicts and I confess, and again He forgives. Do I exhibit the fruit of the Spirit? Yes, but I still need a lot of help and determination to deny the flesh and yield to the Spirit.
Examine yourself, and if you find yourself lacking use I John 1:9. It seems the closer I get to Jesus the more I need to use this. The closer I get to the light the more I can see the areas that need changing.
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
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