Inspection Time

Disclaimer: Neither I nor any human will ever compile a diagnostic instrument that will approach the precision, grace, understanding, and justice of God's judgement. What is helpfully offered here is a quick-but-scripture-based idea to help a person get an idea of what is called for in scripture.

First there was the sound of the trumpet, heard all over the world, all 24 time zones. Then the voice of Christ: "Behold, I come!" Next the angels came, the universe dissolved, and now . . . it's you and Jesus, talking about how your life went. Not how it was going to go, when you got around to it . . . but how it went.

Yes No 1. From Jesus: Do I know you? Are you covered with Me, because of having been baptized into Me after believed in Me, repenting of your past sins, and confessing Me as Lord? (Galatians 3: 27; Mark 16: 16; 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-10; Acts 2: 37-47; Acts 8: 26 - 40; Matthew 7: 21 - 23). If you know that Jesus' answer to this question would be "No," there is not much reason to complete the rest of this checklist.

Some would argue grace at this point, but the same amount of grace was offered by God to those whom Jesus knew and those He didn't know (Matt. 7: 21-23). God is gracious but no respector of persons (Acts 10: 34; Romans 2: 6, 11). What man does to accept His grace is the deciding factor.

Yes No 2. Do I willfully and cheerfully attend the worship services of the church (Hebrews 10: 25)?

Yes No 3. Do I worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23; I Corinthians 14: 15)?

Yes No 4. Do I love (agapeo') my fellow man (Luke 10: 27 - 37)?

Yes No 5. Am I trying to draw closer to God every day, letting Him draw closer to me (James 4: 8)?

Yes No 6. Am I trying to mortify sin every day? (Colossians 3: 1 - 20) . Am I letting God's ways become my ways? Or am I trying to make God repent?

Participation in the three-fold mission of the church

Evangelism

Yes No 7. Have I ever approached anyone in any way with the intent of leading them to Christ? (Matthew 10: 32, 33; 28: 19, 20)

Yes No 8. In my giving or by my presence or attention, have I helped evangelistic efforts such as World Bible School or Truth for Today? (2 John 10, 11)

Yes No 9. Have I ever invited anyone to go to church with me?

Yes No 10. Do I in any way encourage the efforts of those in my congregation who are directly involved in evangelism such as our preacher, prison ministry workers, missionaries, bus ministry workers, etc.?

Edification

Yes No 11. Do you read and/or study your Bible on most days? (2 Timothy 2: 15)

Yes No 12. Do you meditate upon God's word on most days? (Philippians 4: 8, 9)

Yes No 13. Are you progressing toward "being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: " I Peter 3: 15? What kind of progress are you making?

Yes No 14. Are you teaching others in any way, including example? (Matthew 28: 20).

Benevolence

Yes No 15. Do you participate in the congregational giving each Sunday, giving as you have been prospered (I Corinthians 16: 1, 2)?

Yes No 16. Do you visit or otherwise attend to orphans and widows (James 1: 27)?

Yes No 17. Do I share good things with those who teach me? (Galatians 6: 6)?

Yes No 18. Do I share of my goods and attention with people that may seem unloveable? (Lukle 6 : 31-36)?

Yes No 19. In my personal life, do I try to do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith (Galatians 6: 10)?

From the above, does it appear that you are at least have some representation in those major areas that the Bible talks about? Christ's inspection time could be any time.

Sid Womack