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9 Questions to Examine Your Heart

by Marci Ferrell
Christian Living Encouragement Ministry Spiritual Discipleship

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9 Questions to Examine Your Heart

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:14-26

As professing Christians our walk should measure up to our talk.  Our women's bible study group is working through the book of James and chapter two reminds us that if our faith does not result in a changed life it is a false profession.

“It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”

~ John Calvin

In the above text of James he reminds us three times (James 2:17, 20,26) that “faith without works is dead”.  James is not contradicting Paul where we know as believers that we are saved by grace not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9) but when we trusted in Christ we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”  (Ephesians 2:10).

When God opened up our eyes and heart to the Gospel and granted us repentance and faith we were at that moment justified.  Justification is the act where God declares the sinner righteous based on Christ's finished work on the cross.  It is nothing we do but what God does for us as the sinner when we trust Christ.  Justification is a one time event and results in a changed life that obeys God's will and is demonstrated or lived out by our works.

As we mature in our walk with the Lord we will continue to grow in obedience to the Word of God.  Our faith is not dead but alive and the doctrines we know and love will be lived out in our everyday lives.  True saving faith changes us and is evident by our works.  

Below are nine questions to help us examine our hearts to make sure we possess true saving faith.  There is nothing more important in life than your eternal destiny so take the time to ponder, pray and search your heart as you read though each of the questions.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

~ 2 Corinthians 13:5

9 Questions to Examine Our Hearts

1.  Was there a time when I honestly realized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and God?

2.  Was there a time when my heart stirred me to flee from the wrath to come? Have I ever seriously been alarmed over my sins?

3.  Do I truly understand the gospel, that I have sinned against a perfect and Holy God?  That I have broken all of the Ten Commandments?  I have lied, stolen, lusted, blasphemed the name of God, coveted, not honored my parents. Do I believe that Christ died for my sins and rose again?  Do I understand and confess and repent of my sins and realize that I cannot save myself?

4.  Did I sincerely repent of my sins and turn from them?  Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it?

5.  Have I trusted in Christ and Christ alone for my salvation? Do I enjoy a living relationship with Him through the Word and in the Spirit?

6.  Has there been a change in m life? Do I maintain good works, or are my works occasional and weak? Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord? Can others tell that I have been with Jesus?

7.  Do I have a desire to share Christ with others? Or am I ashamed of Him?

8. Do I enjoy the fellowship of God's people? Is worship a delight to me?

9. Am I ready for the Lord's return? Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?

~ Questions adapted from Be Mature by Warren Wiersbe

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24

Please be reminded we are all at different stages in our walk with the Lord.  There are degrees of sanctification but it is a good thing to examine our hearts and take a true spiritual inventory of our standing before God.

“Although we are sure that men are not saved for the sake of their works, yet we are equally sure that no man will be saved without them.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Related Links
What is the Gospel?

Need God

Are you a Sinner?

Related posts:

  1. Questions to Examine Yourself to See if You are in the Faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)
  2. Blessed are the Pure in Heart
  3. Getting to the Heart of Our Idolatry with X-Ray Questions
  4. Keeping a Quiet Heart


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Marci Ferrell
“Designed for good deeds. It’s as simple as th “Designed for good deeds. It’s as simple as that. It was God’s idea. He did the designing. He expects us to work, just as the designer of a precision instrument if he understands the principles involved and designs it accordingly, expects the thing to work. It is no great credit to the instrument if it does.”⁣
~ Elisabeth Elliot⁣
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The quote is from EP 6: What Does Self-Discipline Look Like in Our Homes come listen in at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
Self Discipline is essential to spiritual growth a Self Discipline is essential to spiritual growth and it is useful in our lives in so many ways. Living lives that are disciplined means saying, “yes” to God in every area of our lives. Jesus is our ultimate example of what it looks like to live a disciplined life.⁣
⁣
Come listen to EP 6: What Does Self-Discipline Look Like in Our Homes? at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
One of my favorites from Corrie ten Boom:⁣ "Look One of my favorites from Corrie ten Boom:⁣
"Look around you and be distressed, look within you and be depressed. Look to Jesus, and be at rest." 🥰
Journaling is often viewed as just a way to rememb Journaling is often viewed as just a way to remember or keep track of life's events. Many people who aren't Christians keep a journal. As a Christian, I've been thankful to keep spiritual journals (consistently at times and inconsistently at times) because it has helped me see God's grace and mercy at work in my life over the years of walking with Him.⁣
⁣
Please read the rest of Journaling Tips from Elisabeth Elliot at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
“Journaling is a way of slowing life down for ju “Journaling is a way of slowing life down for just a few moments, and trying to process at least a sliver of it for the glory of God, our own growth and development, and our enjoyment of the details.” ⁣
~David Mathis⁣
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Come listen to EP 57: Spiritual Journaling (Spiritual Discipline Series) at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
Spiritual journaling is a way to slow our lives do Spiritual journaling is a way to slow our lives down and ponder deeply over the events of the day. In my life journaling has helped me to grow spiritually by discerning my thoughts and motives. It has shown me areas where I need to give thanks and praise to the Lord. My journaling time has reminded me of situations or people I need to be in prayer for.⁣
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Come listen to EP 57 on Spiritual Journaling at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
“True freedom from the bondage of technology com “True freedom from the bondage of technology comes not mainly from throwing away the smartphone, but from filling the void with the glories of Jesus that you are trying to fill with the pleasures of the device.”⁣
~ Tony Reinke⁣
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Come listen to EP 33: Is Your Smartphone Changing You? at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
We're chatting about our use of technology on the We're chatting about our use of technology on the flashback episode and pondering the question: Do we master our smartphones or do they master us?⁣
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Please come listen to Is Your Smartphone Changing You at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
Christ will hold us fast. But we need gospel frien Christ will hold us fast. But we need gospel friends to hold us close.⁣
~ Albert Mohler⁣
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Come listen to EP 4: What Does True Biblical Friendship Look Like? at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
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