Biblical Self‑Examination: A Path to Transformation

Why Spiritual Self‑Examination Matters

We live in a world where it’s easy to coast through life without asking hard questions. But Scripture calls us to pause, reflect, and examine our hearts before God. This isn’t about self-condemnation—it’s about growth, repentance, and becoming more like Christ.

Paul’s Command to Examine Yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5)

The apostle Paul asks us to do this very thing with regard to our walk with Christ. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, he says, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." Have you ever tested yourself to see if you are in the faith? How would a person go about doing this?

Examining Communion Practice in Corinth

Prior to this Paul also instructed the Corinthians to examine themselves about how they were taking Communion. Communion in the Corinthian church had become just a time to gather and overeat; its real meaning seemingly forgotten. The rich were overindulging while the poor sometimes went without.

Paul is asking them to think. Is your heart in the right place? Are you remembering the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross? Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Paul tells them, "For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves"(1 Corinthians 11:29).

Reflecting on the Prodigal Son (Lamentations 3:40; Luke 15)

In Lamentations 3:40, we read, “Let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the Lord.” Examination should bring us back to our first love. It should be a way that we grow by repentance and the forgiveness of our Father. In the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:17-20, the son is standing in the midst of the pigs and Scripture says, "When he came to his senses..." Sometimes examination is like that. We get far away from God, but then we 'come to our senses', realize we need to seek forgiveness, and return.

Assessing the Fruit of the Spirit in Your Life

One way to determine if we are in the faith is if we see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We know we can't be perfect but are we growing in sanctification? Are we becoming more like Jesus? Are we more loving, less angry, more patient, more kind, more gentle, and do we have more self-control? Do we show a more joyful and peaceful attitude towards the difficulties we face? We need a servant's heart.

Augustine’s Insights on the Examined Life

In his Confessions, Augustine dedicates a section to what he calls "The Examined Life." Augustine sees the change brought about in his own life due to Christ. He also realizes that without the Holy Spirit this change would not be possible. In our own strength we couldn't make these changes, but with the Holy Spirit the impossible becomes possible.

Biblical Self‑Examination: A Path to Transformation

Augustine talks about people who claim to be so weak because "we're just human," they simply can't avoid sin. That excuse falls short. The Holy Spirit makes a transformed life possible—this is the heart of biblical self-examination: a path to transformation that begins with conviction and leads to renewal.

When we become Christians, we don't simply know about Jesus and His example, but we should desire Him and love His example, just as a child wants to grow up to become like a parent because they love them. Paul tells us in Romans 5:5, "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." This love brings transformation.

Faith in Action: Going Beyond Knowledge (James 1:22–24)

This isn't change for the sake of change but change that will allow us to be a light to the nations. Our change is demonstrated not by the fact that we read our Bibles, or memorize a verse, but by our love in action. James 1:22-24 explains that it isn't enough just to hear the Word, we have to do it. We act on it. If we don't, James says, we are deceiving ourselves.

Practical Self‑Assessment: The Job Interview Analogy

If you have ever been on a job interview you know that a common question asked is, "What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?" This is the question most people dread because it requires us to do an honest self-assessment. It requires us to admit we have strengths, which for some people is very difficult, and it makes us look at our failings, which almost everyone hates to do.

Acknowledging Spiritual Gifts, Not False Humility

Some of us fall into false humility, thinking we can't have any strengths for Christ. But this is not true. We all have gifts. Acknowledging that a gift is just that, something given to us that we did not possess, allows us to accept that we do indeed have strengths in Christ.

Confronting and Overcoming Personal Failures

Our list of failures is often daunting. It is scary to admit that we have hung on to certain areas of life, literally resisting the Holy Spirit as He desires to change us. Maybe we like letting it all hang out sometimes, telling it like it is. Maybe we enjoy worrying because it makes us believe we really care. It's much easier to avoid self examination and just rock along pretending we are something we're not.

Nominal vs. Authentic Faith: Are You Genuine?

If more people would examine themselves as Paul asks them to, some might realize that they have no true relationship to Jesus. They are good because that's what nice people do. They go to Church because they always have. They made a profession of faith long ago and were baptized but it was just something you did and not something your heart desired. Their heart was never changed. It wasn't real.

Self‑Judgment and Discipline (1 Corinthians 11:31–32)

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 explains that we must judge ourselves rightly. We should welcome the discipline of the Lord because by it we grow in sanctification. It is good to pray and ask God to reveal areas in our lives where we have weaknesses. We often like to think we are a better Christian than we really are. The Psalmist knew this.

Heart Examination Prayer (Psalm 139:23–24)

In Psalm 139:23-24 he says, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive path in me, and lead me on the everlasting path." David invites God to do what he himself cannot—see into the hidden places of his heart. This is the kind of humility we need when we ask the Holy Spirit to show us what we’ve ignored, excused, or misunderstood about ourselves.

When the great prophet Isaiah was confronted with the purity and holiness of God, he exclaimed, "Woe is me, for I am undone" (Isaiah 6:5). But our gracious God took away his iniquity and purged his sin (Isaiah 6:7). And so He will do for us, if we truthfully repent.

Repentance Through Holy Spirit Conviction

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you your sin. For example, many of us speak casually without realizing how we treat the Lord’s name. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring it to your mind each time you speak like this, and He will. When we examine ourselves we should come to a place of repentance. It is not that we just know that we commit certain sins and feel sorry for it, but we turn from them.

Daily Spiritual Self‑Examination Practices

Self-examination isn't just a "one and done" thing. As Christians it should be a daily occurrence. We must face the truth about ourselves honestly, looking at our lives with humility. We need to look at our lives and see where pride has influenced us to think we are living a holy life when in reality we are not.

Identifying Hidden Sins and Blind Spots

Each of us will find areas that need improvement. Some people will have no problem with sexual sins but will have difficulty loving others as they should. Some will have no problem with overindulging in alcohol but will have difficulty controlling their tempers. If we examine ourselves properly we will see what we need to spend more time praying about and seek change. Maybe we have sins that are hidden even to ourselves.

Forgiveness for Hidden Faults (Psalm 19:12)

Psalm 19:12 prays that God would forgive hidden faults. These are the sins that we haven't even admitted to ourselves that we indulge in. Whether we knew about it or not doesn't absolve us of guilt. Only Jesus can do that.

Keeping Focus on God’s Love and Grace

When we inspect ourselves be sure to remember the focus is ever on God. Too much time spent just thinking about yourself isn't productive; it can even become depressing. We will never 'measure' up compared to the holiness of God. Always keep in the forefront of your mind the fact that God loves you. He died for you while you were still a sinner. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God began a good work in us and it is He who will bring it to completion.

David’s Prayer for Everlasting Guidance (Psalm 139:24)

The great King David, who had such a relationship with God that God called him a man after His own heart, pleads with God in Psalm 139:24. Here He asks God to lead Him, the great King of Israel, the mighty warrior, as he seeks God's guidance to the way everlasting. This is our goal. To be led by God in every decision we make, in every path we take, and in every interaction with others we have. God is so gracious to us. We examine ourselves, knowing He is there to correct us and train us in His ways with love and forgiveness.

People Also Ask

How can we tell the difference between conviction and condemnation?

Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit and leads us to repentance, growth, and restoration with God. It is specific, hopeful, and grounded in God's love. Condemnation, on the other hand, often comes from the enemy or our own self-doubt. It is vague, shame-inducing, and drives us away from God. Conviction says, “This needs to change, and I will help you,” while condemnation says, “You are a failure, and there’s no hope.”

Biblical self-examination helps us recognize conviction as a path to transformation, not a reason to give up. Romans 8:1 reminds us, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."