Paul turns the tables on the Corinthians as he wraps up his letter to them. While they have been examining him and the authenticity of his apostleship, he now writes, “Examine yourselves.” He sits them down and says, “Test yourselves.”

And what hits me this morning is not only does he exhort them to take “the test”, he also provides them with “the key” — all the answers needed to grade the test, to verify the answers, and to determine the score.

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!

(2Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

Jesus Christ is in you . . . that’s what I’m chewing on this morning . . . that’s “the key.”

It’s a subjective examination, a conscience-exploring scrutiny, an inward inspection. Not determined by performance metrics, but by an inner reality — Jesus Christ is in you.

That’s the mind-stretching reality for the true believer, for those who have been “crucified with Christ” — that it is no longer they who live, but Christ who lives in them (Gal. 2:20). It’s their union with Christ — the reality that they abide in the Son of God even as He abides in them (Jn. 15:5) — which becomes the basis for self-examination.

Though I wake every morning battling with the flesh, needing to continue to put to death my old nature, do I find myself increasingly thinking like Jesus, feeling like Jesus, and acting like Jesus? Am I more dependent upon Jesus? Is my decision-making less driven by the question, “What should I do?” and more and more characterized by, “Jesus, what should we do?”

Is the manner in which I conduct myself showing evidence of the fruit that comes from abiding in the Vine, the fruit born of being indwelt by His Spirit (Gal. 5:22)? That because Jesus Christ is in me, I can see proof I am becoming more characterized by love, joy, and peace. That because it’s no longer I who live, there’s a patience and kindness and goodness that is showing it’s sourced from Someone other than me. That through my union with Christ, faithfulness, and gentleness, and self-control are showing signs that they are increasingly an innate part of me. Or, should I say, part of us?

We should examine ourselves to see whether we are walking in the faith. We should take the test. But let’s not forget the key. It’s not about how am I doing, but about how is He doing in me and through me. For we know that the “final exam” will verify that salvation’s work is complete when it reveals that we have been “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).

Jesus Christ is in you . . . that’s the key.

The Source of abounding grace. The Savior worthy of everlasting glory.

Amen?