Warning Israel, God said to them, “watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land . . .” (Exodus 34:12). This covenant (which is to come together in agreement or alliance), binds one to another. Israel, being a people chosen by God for His purpose, was to be a separated people from the inhabitants of the land, or ‘those of the world’.

If a covenant was made with the other peoples, “it [the covenant] will become a snare in your midst” (Exodus 34:12), as a consequence. To snare is to trap, to capture. It is to ambush. It is of the devil. Israel’s covenant left them victimized by the deceit and deceptions of those they united with.

Never, not in a single instance, does the scriptural account of Israel even suggest that a nation opposed to God became godly after uniting with Israel; or that after uniting, Israel’s relationship with God was left undamaged. However, an individual or group of foreigners may align with Israel in a manner approved by God if specific measures are acted upon. To be of Israel and to benefit from the rights extended to them from God required an alien(s) to be circumcised, extend obedience to their law and honor Israel’s relationship with God. They must become as Israel. To make sure Israel was prepared to ‘hear’ this warning of separation, God said just one sentence earlier to “be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day. . .” (Exodus 34:11).

The Body of Christ

The church is also a people chosen by God, not as a nation but with each member chosen individually (2 Thessalonians 2:13), united as one body. And as did Israel in disobedience, so has the ‘church’—in prostituting itself to the world.

The church has a major advantage over Israel of the Old Testament in that each true member of the body has the Holy Spirit abiding in him. A question that begs to be asked then is, “How can the church possess the Holy Spirit with Him abiding in each member, yet be a mirror of the world—if indeed the church is a mirror of the world?” There are only three possible answers: 1) the church, as a whole, lacks the abiding of the Holy Spirit in the majority of its body members. 2) The Holy Spirit has been inactivated or muted, or 3) the Holy Spirit is inept. Of these three possibilities, one and two are the only legitimate answers.

When the church and the world come together in agreement (a covenant), being acceptable to each other, “it [the covenant] will become a snare in your midst,” (Exodus 34:12). The churches covenant made with those not of God will result in an outcome similar to what Israel experienced; leaving a person and the church victimized by the deceit and deceptions of those they united with.

Israel was only to travel through the land of other nations during their journey from captivity to their promised land. When a man or woman becomes a child of God, they also are freed from a captivity that binds them; not literally from another nation, but from sin. This child of God then begins a journey (a follower of Christ) to a ‘promised land’. And yes, this journey will take us through a land that is foreign to His people . . . a land which is the world in which we live.

But, as God commanded Israel not to be contaminated by other nations, so He commands the one in Christ to, “Come out from their midst and be separate,” (2 Corinthians 6:17). God’s people are “not to be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

‘To be separate’ is a command to be as Christ was (Hebrews 7:26). It is not only disobedient to be joined with the world through ignoring God’s clearly given commands, but is also sacrilegious to be bound with those in rebellion against a Holy God.

O, “to observe what [He is] commanding [us] this day. . .” (Exodus 34:11). Christ so clearly says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” (John 14:15). “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commands,” (1 John 2:3). But, “the one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him,” (1 John 2:4). Here we see the great distinction between those that think and say they are obedient, and those that are obedient to God! There is no acceptable gray area for wishful thinking or distorted belief.

With the overwhelming evidence Scripture gives from Genesis (the first book of the Bible), to Revelation (the last book of the Bible), we see that men are persistently disobedient, negligent and rebellious in their relationship with the Almighty; yet they claim to be right before Him.

These heart conditions have prevented many from entering the gates of heaven throughout man’s history, or has damaged the credibility and witness of the child of God. Yet today, many spray on Christianity as a deodorant or cologne to cover the disgusting odor of disobedience. And yes, they do believe they smell better—and as long as others are pleased with the external aroma, they are content.

Penetrating Eyes

But the judge of all sees through every deception; and yes, even those that believe they are of the truth but are not, are unable to deceive the eyes that are “like a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14; 2:18; 19:12) as He is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60) “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66). Christ knew their heart from the beginning. He knew who was His and who was not. In response to His teaching on the ‘bread and blood of Life’, the false disciples responded in unbelief, the true disciples in belief.

The Greek word mathetes is used for both the disciples that withdrew in unbelief and for those that remained in belief. Evidence that a person can be a pseudo-student of Christ, communicate an external performance of adherence to His teachings, appear to be a member of the body yet lacking a faith that possesses eternal life (1 John 2:19; 1 Peter 2:6-8), cannot be ignored.

This is a significant concern revealed and warned about in virtually every book of the Bible. Such counterfeit disciples—men or women of the tares—cannot remain within the illuminating Light of Truth, lest their fraudulent practices and teachings be exposed (see 1 John 2:19). Their comfort of today can exist only where the Light of Christ is dimmed or non-existent. O Lord, what a need we have for Your revealing Light to burn bright in the hearts of men and women within your true church today.

If a man can believe yet be lost, can be called a disciple yet be false, how then can anyone know for sure a genuine saving faith resides within him? How can such a man know that he possesses such faith if belief may be nothing more than an illusion? John writes that it is possible for a man to know that he possesses eternal life (1 John 5:13). God’s Word directs us to that assurance. And the Word promises those that abide in Him that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26).

When you are true child of God, you are able to possess a true comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit also abides with and in you (John 14:17). You are spiritually protected, but you must mature; for “the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

In 2 Corinthians, we are witnesses to an exchange between a mature man of God and opponents that we can only gather were either unsaved or immature in a saving faith. As had taken place before in Corinth, some now continued in challenging Paul, seeking proof that he was a genuine apostle of Christ (2 Corinthians chapter 13). Paul dealt with them using apostolic authority, threatening severity against the sin and rebellion of the obstinate challengers (vv 1-3). In v. 5 Paul turns the tables on them, challenging them to examine the genuineness of their faith, and he then raised the possibility they may fail the test.

Obedience in
Examination

This duty of examination and testing of a man or woman’s spiritual condition is a great responsibility applicable to all those who call themselves Christian today. We must examine, we must test, and we must know that we possess a genuine saving faith. This examination far exceeds any mental ascent and verbal acknowledgement of a professed belief or faith. We are to test by examining the evidence objectively and with scriptural substantiation.

If you are a child of God, if your heart is reflective of His desire for you, then “just as you have always obeyed . . ., work out your salvation . . .” (Philippians 2:12). Just as a child of God is diligent to obey Him, there is an extension of this obedience that encompasses working out one’s salvation.

The Greek emphatic verb rendered ‘work out’, Katergazomai, is to ‘place a strong emphasis upon a continuous and thorough work to bring an objective to fulfillment or completion.’ This ‘work out’ is first the “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your soul” (1 Peter 1:9). We are to use all means available to us which conduce to our salvation.

Secondly, it is “. . . to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). “The seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” (Luke 8:15). To ‘work out’ is to persevere, to persevere in truth will assure yourself of your salvation (Romans 2:7; Colossians 1:23; 1 Timothy 4:16).

Though we must advance the “common salvation,” we are to individually “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3) which has been handed down to us. This is not salvation by works (see Ephesians 2:8-10; Deuteronomy 6:4-9). “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? . . . faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself,” (James 2:14, 17). “Faith without works is useless,” (James 2:20). Biblical works are an extension of faith; they are an evidence of a relationship bound by love for, and obedience to, Christ.

To examine and test your relationship with God is being obedient to God. It is an extension of your faith and belief. It is a desire of the heart to be “conformed to the image of His Son,” (Romans 8:29) to “walk by the Spirit, and . . . not carry out the desire of the flesh,” (Galatians 5:16), “for all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God,” (Romans 8:14). “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,” (Hebrews 5:9).

Fear and Trembling

When Paul penned his letter to the believers in Philippi, he could have placed a period to end the sentence with “. . . work out your salvation.” (Philippians 2:12). He did not. Paul added two nouns that descriptively depict our approach or attitude towards that which is conducive to our salvation. This work is to be characterized and accompanied “with fear and trembling.” ‘With fear and trembling’ is used “to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfill his duty” (from Strong’s Complete Greek and Hebrew Lexicon; Reference # 5156).

Prior to the impending destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.), the religious leaders of Judah had separated from the following of Almighty God. The Lord says, “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely [makes lies]. They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace,” (Jeremiah 6:13-14). Peace for the child of God is not with or in this world, not with men, but it is a peace with God. Our physical, social or emotional comforts are not the purpose of our relationship with God. Scripture so clearly teaches that peace with that which is of the world makes the holder of that peace an enemy of God. “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all . . . .” (Jeremiah 6:15). Fear and trembling in the pursuit of being obedient to God was woefully lacking.

Our hearts today resist that which will make us uncomfortable, or spiritually pained. We are instead drawn to the teachings that will help us be satisfied and alleviate the difficulties in our every day lives; to enjoy the labors of our hand; to look forward to personal goals and desires of our wants . . . we want to hear and believe “Peace, peace!”

Are you and I able to honestly say we examine our obedience to God with “fear and trembling?” Is the church taught and encouraged to the extent that such a heart condition is normality within the practice of the church? Has this practice in our daily lives even been addressed, or does it even come to mind? Or is “Peace and safety!” our diet of choice? (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

“Fear and trembling” as an expression of service to God does not relegate a follower of Christ to an incapacitated cowering existence; but drives him to seek after excellence, after godliness, as one approved (1 Corinthians 11:19; Philippians 1:10; 2 Timothy 2:15).

As we look at the church that surrounds us, indifference, passivity, and general lack of spiritual concern are more likely to describe the spiritual state of what our eyes witness. Certainly, there are always varying degrees of activity in our religion . . . but in fear and trembling?

All of us can reach to some level of understanding the genuineness regarding such anxiety (fear and trembling) from our own personal experiences. We may recall the tense concern of making the right decisions after long hours of driving with a weary family, searching for the needed interstate exit ramp in a large unfamiliar city in fast, rush hour traffic. Or, the waiting for possible life changing news regarding a medical emergency of one we love. Many understand the anxiousness and unease over preparation before an interview, an audition, or moments before speaking or performing before an audience . . . but how much thought do we give to our continuous ‘performance’ before the ever-present audience of One? . . . before the One that clearly states we are to do all things at all times (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) to the glory of our God (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are not to do this for ourselves, but to please the Lord of Lords (1 Kings 3:10-12).

Suffered Loss

Unjustifiable and irrelevance are tragic positions to place this “fear and trembling” within our hearts. We must understand that we all sin, the righteous as well as the unrighteous . . . and all (both the saved and unsaved) men are appointed to die once and after this . . . judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Every man and women will be judged (believers - 2 Corinthians 5:10; nonbelievers - Revelation 20:12). The righteous as well as the unrighteous will suffer loss after physical death because of sin. For those not right before Christ, this loss will be to forfeit life and to experience the second death (Revelation 20:6, 14), forever to remain eternally in torment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:6, 14-15) that is a ravenous, unquenchable fire (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).

As mentioned, even the righteous will sin. A believer must continually acknowledge and seek forgiveness of his sin, but he is not powerless against sin (1 John 1:8-9; Romans 7:17, 23; Galatians 5:17). Sin is disobedience to God. It is of commission, doing that which we should not; it is of omission, not doing as we ought.

Those of the Lord “must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10), and be judged according to what he has done. “Each man’s work will become evident for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Corinthians 3:13). Each man and woman will be “recompensed for [their] deeds in the body, according to what [they] ha[ve] done, whether good or bad,” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This recompense is to compensate or reward for the service rendered by His saints unto the Lord.

The Believers Suffer Loss

How we build upon the foundation of Christ determines the quality of our labor, our service. “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw” (1 Corinthians 3:12), it will be revealed through the ‘testing fire.’ “If any man’s work which he has built on it [the foundation of Christ] remains, he will receive a reward,” (1 Corinthians 3:14). Scripture is very clear that “if a man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss,” (1 Corinthians 3:15). Four words often ignored or taught in error are ‘he will suffer loss.’ These four words indicate a promise of a future compensation (what is due) as a result of one’s unacceptable or incomplete work, deeds or labor.

This loss is lack of, or diminished rewards or blessings the Lord had fully equipped each saint specifically to achieve. It is being less fruitful than God had prepared a man or woman to be.

Scripture teaches that this ‘loss’ for a true believer is suffered; that is to receive injury, or to sustain damage to what is fully expected or obtainable. It is a recognized failure in and of self. We know this is not in regards to the person’s salvation as “he himself will be saved . . . ” (1 Corinthians 3:15). It is a grief, an anguish in coming to a full understanding of our disobedience to Him while yet in the body, as we realize the overwhelming presence of the magnificence and holiness of Christ.

Judgment Tears

With this we realize the impact of the Son of God’s words when He says that “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes . . . .” (Revelation 21:4). This verse is used by many teachers of Scripture in claiming that, as one Bible teacher writes, “there will never be a tear in heaven; nothing will be sad, disappointing, deficient, or wrong” (John MacArthur’s commentary in “The John MacArthur Study Bible” NKJV). This implies that after physical death tears will not be experienced, as we are immediately in the presence of the Lord when our body dies. As we are seeing, this is not the evidence given in Scripture.

Let’s keep this verse in context. It does not state or imply that tears never were, or are not in heaven. Heaven is not mentioned here. It simply states that every tear will be wiped from their (the saints) eyes.

Upon the physical death of the body for the redeemed, the soul and spirit separate from the body and pass immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23); who is now seated at the right hand of God (Luke 22:69; Hebrews 8:1); from where He now rules (Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:21-22).

When He comes in His glory at the end of this age, Christ will separate the sheep (the martyred during the seven year tribulation) from the goats (those that reject Christ; Matthew 25:31-32; Revelation 20:4), resulting in the conclusion of the first resurrection. All believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10), to whom the Father has given all judgment (John 5:22, 27). After judgment, each man and woman of Christ is recompensed, is rewarded according to what they have done, good or bad, while in the body (1 Corinthians 3:13; Revelation 22:12).

To suffer loss is to realize what was fully available to possess in the rewarding or blessings of Christ—without this understanding, there could be no sense of suffering loss. It is reducing or being disqualified from specific rewards Christ has equipped us to wholly possess. In looking at the ending of Revelation 21:4, “. . . and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away,” it is evident that there will be death (including the second death - Revelation 20:14), and mourning, and crying, and pain until this time of wiping the tears away.

We will be recompensed for our bad, our sin. We will grieve; we will mourn for our offenses of disobedience. We may weep as we recognize others who suffer loss as a result of our failure to disciple them. This may be as a result of our choosing not to disciple them; or through our self inflicted spiritual immaturity, ill-equipping us to recognize the need or to effectually disciple. We may know that a friend . . . or family member is suffering eternally in the lake of fire due to our lack of bringing the truths of the gospel to them (Luke 16:19-31). Tears may flow as a result of our failure to defend our faith (1 Peter 3:15) for fear of reprisal or persecution. All of these opportunities for tears and more are the results of good fruit not being realized when it should have been.

Not until after the first resurrection; not until the passing of the first heaven and the first earth and the coming of the new heaven and new earth are tears wiped away (Revelation 21:1-4). How this comes about Scripture does not tell us, except that Christ will wipe away every tear. He may erase these painful memories, or we may come to an understanding unavailable to us earlier. This we do not know today . . . here we must trust in our Lord.

Deception is a Reality

Each professed believer in Christ must examine the faith that resides within him. Men and women throughout history have been ever-so easily seduced into false beliefs and assurances. Such deceptions will leave many a man and woman empty and separated from God—or, it will leave His saints less fruitful than God has equipped them to be.

Failure to live a life of perpetual self-examination through the revealing truth of Scripture exposes our lack of faith or our immaturity in Christ. Failing to recognize this danger is a collapse in our adherence to the teachings, principles, commands and warnings of Moses, Isaiah and Ezekiel . . . of Paul, John, James, Peter . . . and of Christ. We can make a claim of salvation, and mentally or emotionally deny we must examine ourselves as part of our spiritual walk, but to make such an assertion would be gambling in a fools game with a high likelihood of a lose-lose result.

Deception brought sin into a perfect world. Its first victims . . . a sinless man and woman, who knew God personally, spoke with God and He with them; yet they were deceived. Deception by its very definition means to be defrauded, to be misled. Those deceived can not be aware of the deception, otherwise there would be none. This deception will take place and be most effective among the churched. It will be realized primarily among those that practice Christianity as a religion as opposed to a scriptural, Christ based faith.

Deception will seek a place to sink its fangs; biting deeply into the heart of man while the watchmen sleep. It is the tares; it is from the servants of Satan who appear as ones that are right with God (2 Corinthians 11:15). It is directed toward those who chose contentment as the expression of their faith. This ruse will cause many of the ‘churched’ to rise up in opposition to those that have chosen to be a light of His truth. What a reproach upon the men and women who claim to be His, yet choose not to know their very self, or Him!

Deception is very real, it is destructive, it is personal, and it is attentive to those not vigilant in heart and mind. The fruit of deception can be eternal for those yet to receive Him in a genuine saving faith. And it is able to debilitate the immature in Christ; unless we heed the clearly given warnings that flow freely throughout the Word of God.

Process of Self-Examination

We are to examine and test the very place genuine saving faith resides within us—if indeed it is within. Whether we personally examine our hearts or not, God is very clear in His written word that He will (1 Chronicles 28:9).

 Our self-examination is never to be done through the approval of man, but by the refining fire of God’s Word. It will be painful for the majority, if not all who expose themselves to the surgical sword wielded by the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Only then are you or I able to reach the very depths that reveal our true relationship with Christ (Hebrews 4:12). Only then “may [you] know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). And as Christ spoke to the Jews that believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31). “If” Christ says to the believing Jews. ‘If’ used here is to identify a condition of genuine discipleship; that condition is to continue unabated (enduring; unceasing) in His Word.

And it is here that we find what we are to authenticate through the examination of that which is within ourselves, what we are to test for . . . an internal repentant faith that is expressed externally through obedience to the Word of God (Galatians 6:4), appearing as lights in a darkened world (Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 5:8-9), proving what is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). We do this, not for self elevation or the eye of man, but “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

There will come a day that you and I will die, as it is appointed for men to die once (Hebrews 9:27). At death, the physical body will be separated from the soul and spirit (James 2:26; Luke 12:20). This separation as the result of death will continue until the rapture of His church (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

When our physical body dies there are no, nor will there ever be any second chances, period! The soul and spirit of man, depending upon his relationship with Christ, pass immediately into the presence of Christ for the redeemed (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). The condemned (those that reject the calling of Christ), are kept in agony and torment (Luke 16:23-31), yet being consciously aware of what possibly awaits others they may know that have yet to experience death (Luke 16:27-28).

For each that die, there will also be a literal and physical resurrection of the body from the dead to be experienced by both man and woman—those with a genuine saving faith will be raised and conformed to His glory (1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54, Philippians 3:21), possessing eternal life (Matthew 25:46; John 4:36; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23); those that have rejected Christ to judgment (John 5:29; Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:13).

Every created being, from the angels to each man, woman and child, the saved and the unsaved, and the demonic, will all stand before Christ the judge of all; then “every knee will bow,” and “every tongue confess” (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11) that He is Lord. Then “each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12), and be judged (Hebrews 9:27).

Christ is not a babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger as depicted in the nativity scenes for almost two months of each year. Nor is He a tortured humble servant hung upon the cross to suffer death as payment for our sins. He is now as He has revealed Himself to John, not as a sacrificial lamb, but as King, as Lord, as the conqueror, as the judge! (Revelation 1:12-18) This is the Christ that will come again (Revelation 19:11-19). Then we will know . . . then we will understand.

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