2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14
Have You Been Tested?

I. Tests
A. Tests Are a Part of Life.
1. In school you have regular tests. Almost every class ends with a test.
2. End of Term Exams, SAT, ACT, GRE, IQ tests, Driving Tests, Eye Tests, ASVAB, Aptitude Tests, Relationship Tests, health inspections at restaurants, Competitive Sports as tests.
B. Is the Church a “Test-Free Zone”?
1. Many people believe that the assumptions of tests are the opposite of what the church is about.
2. Tests require an authority to implement, some criteria that has to be met, possible failure, etc.
3. This is major reason why so many men, especially young men, find the church so boring.
II. Tested (in 12:14-18): Authenticity
A. Paul’s Authenticity Has Been Tested
1. He’s not going to be a burden because he seeks not their cash but their souls (12:14).
2. He loved them more but was loved less (12:15), at least by some, because sometimes the most loving thing you can do for someone is what they don’t want.
B. Paul Loved Them
1. The authenticity of that love was proved by his willingness to sacrifice for them.
2. In a culture full of frauds, it’s easy to be cynical. Where nearly everyone is inauthentic, you don’t recognize authenticity when you see it.
3. They thought that maybe Paul is just very crafty; he’s deceived them. They are cynical people.
4. Have you been burned so often by people who claim to “love you” or to give you something for free that you don’t really believe it anymore?
III. Testing (12:19-13:4): Audacity (Arrogant or bold assumptions about oneself)
A. Is Paul Submitting to Testing from Them?
1. The authority does the testing. It’s not the students who test the teacher.
2. He’s been trying to teach them that their spirituality is wrong; that their love of swagger, is all misplaced; to show them what it means to take up your cross.
3. It’s not you testing me but me testing you (12:20).
B. The Sins of the Flesh (12:20): Pride (Audacity), all rooted in proud people being unwilling to submit, respect or tolerate one another
C. The Sins of the Flesh (12:21): sexual immorality, living for pleasure
D. Paul is coming for testing them.
1. They audaciously think they can continue testing him (13:3). They are seeking proof from him, as though they are in a position to seek proof.
2. The proof is he will not spare them. He is coming to test them. If necessary, he’ll expel them.
3. We will all be tested by God, right now by His Word; later at the judgment.
IV. Test Yourselves (13:5-10): Authority
A. Preparing for God’s Test
1. The best way to prepare for that is to test yourselves (13:5).
2. Some think that “being in the faith” means just agreeing mentally with a few basic doctrines, and that once you do that, then you are “saved.” So they don’t understand how they can fail the test.
3. Authentic salvation results in a real change that it will show in some definite ways.
4. It’s not just like having a change of opinion. There is new life that wasn’t there before.
5. If you are born again, the same Jesus who was raised from the dead is in you.
6. Do you test positive for the presence of Jesus?
B. The Church is for Testing
1. We come for the purpose of being tested, including all that go with tests: an authority that can implement the tests, criteria that we have to meet, the possibility that we could fail.
2. You need spiritual authorities who will ask you the hard questions.
3. Paul is the authority, the tester (13:10), and he still is today, along with the rest of scripture.
4. You need that authority to over-turn your audacity and authenticate your relationship with Jesus.
V. Benediction (“Good Word” 13:14): the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who makes it possible to experience the love of God the Father, from whom we get the fellowship – the relationship – with the Holy Spirit, who makes our fellowship with the rest of the saints possible. Do you test positive for this God in three Persons being with you?