Suggestion: Read the questions without answers page first. Watch the video. Try to answer the questions. Look over the answers below.

(Watch the video for these questions.)

(Questions without answers are here)

1. Quote (or give the gist of) 2 Corinthians 13:5
   1.  “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)
2. What are the 4 possible outcome categories of this command?
   1. We may really be genuine followers of Jesus, and after examining ourselves correctly, we realize that we are indeed genuine followers of Christ.
   2. We may be genuine followers of Jesus, but then examine ourselves incorrectly, and conclude that we may not be genuine Christians, when we really are. (These are Christians who are plagued with doubts about their salvation.)
   3. We may not be genuine followers of Jesus, examine ourselves correctly, and realize that we are definitely not true Christians. (Some people in this category may be close to trusting Jesus.)
   4. And finally, We may not be genuine followers of Christ, but when we examine ourselves, we examine ourselves incorrectly, and mistakenly think that we are genuine Christians. (This is an extremely dangerous situation.)
3. What may cause some people to doubt their true salvation?
   1. They lose their assurance and confidence in Jesus. They may become focussed on themselves and become less useful for the Lord
4. Why is it so dangerous to have false assurance?
   1. People think they are Christians when they are not. They may not realize their ultimate lostness.
5. What is a common misconception of the way we are supposed to “examine ourselves?”
   1. People who examine their memories in order to try to check the validity of their past experiences.
6. How do we know that becoming a Christian is not complicated?
   1.  2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
      (Matthew 18:2-4)
   2.  13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:13-15)
   3. And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
   4. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
7. If salvation is not complicated, why do some many get confused?
   1. Satan leads people to redefine key words.
8. How does Satan try to make salvation complicated?
   1. Imitation faith
   2. Imitation Jesus
9. How does Satan confuse people about faith?
   1. Intellectual assent (head knowledge)
   2. Talking to God a lot
   3. Praying a prayer
   4. Doing good deeds proves that we have faith
10. How does Satan confuse people about Jesus?
    1. He’s just a great man
    2. He’s an angel or someone who became God
    3. He’s not serious about sin or about God’s Word
    4. He wants us to have whatever we think we want to have (more money and material stuff, better friends, good job, good relationships, etc)
11. How do we know our good works can’t save us?
    1. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
    2. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
    3. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28)
    4. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:6)
    5. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-5)
    6. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
12. Why do people get confused about the value/place of good works?
    1. Good Works cannot help us attain salvation. They cannot cause salvation. But good works ARE the result of salvation. (Emphasis: RESULT not CAUSE)
13. How should we answer people who think they are so good that they don’t need salvation, or that they are so good they must be pleasing to God?
    1. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
    2. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1John 1:8)
    3. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
14. What are the two elements of the kind of faith that leads to salvation?
    1. Knowing and accepting the truth about Jesus
    2. Trusting/Surrendering our lives to Him as Savior & Lord. Loving Jesus above all else. 
15. How do we know that knowing and accepting the truth about Jesus isn’t enough?
    1. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder! (James 2:19)
16. How do some people try to use Jesus instead of trusting Him?
    1. Being only interested in things of this life (e.g., money, good job, people that love us, influence over others, good health, etc) and hoping that Jesus will work like a genie in a bottle to make sure we get what we want.
17. How should we answer Satan’s accusations about our temptations and sins?
    1. Jesus was tempted just as we are. It’s not sin to be tempted. When I do sin, and confess it, I claim 1 John 1:9
18. What are some common reasons that some Christians doubt their own salvation?
    1. Having vague or uncertain memories of initial salvation experience.
    2. Our struggles with sin
    3. Confusing temptation with sin
    4. Secular arguments against God & the Bible
19. What should I do if I begin to doubt that God exists or that the Bible is true or that Jesus really rose from the dead?
    1. Memorize and meditate on God’s Word. Learn the evidence that God has given (Veritas 2020)
20. Have you ever doubted your salvation? What do you think caused the doubt?
    1. (Answers will be personal)