"Once saved, always saved," is a fool's anthem who understands not the covenant to which he is enjoined, nor the price at which it came. We are called to "walk worthy" of our calling in Christ, yet the fool uses the impossibility of perfection in walking worthy of God as the excuse to do nothing in service to Him. Yet if you claim victory in Jesus Christ, and trust in His blood to forgive you all trespasses, ought you not to run more eagerly toward His example, trusting equally in the Holy Spirit of God and His ability to finish that full work of salvation He authored in you through Jesus Christ ("being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform"). If this is not the overwhelming desire of your heart, there is something greatly lacking in your acceptance of the love that we bear of God through the sacrificial example of Christ.

Be not "fallen from grace," by failing to impart the love we bear through Him. "Abide in my love" is the call to His saints, for "by this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you have love one toward another." "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord" as a "little child" and commit no more offences one to another. "Rather take wrong" done against you and "overcome evil with good" that you may "as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men." Preach that all men should "forgive men their trespasses" against them, "as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you," or else "let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Take no part in the "falling away," with those who "depart from the faith" of the gospel but fulfill your vow unto God by the power of His Word and Spirit; "for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." For if you will only live as a hypocrite while professing Christ, see that you have become the "whited sepulchers" sporting "the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" who brought against Christ false accusations and who "shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." I pray for your "patience and faith" toward the love of God; that once you put your "hand to the plow" you may "endure to the end" that you may partake of the fullness of the grace of God which "passes all understanding."

All these are examples of "the great transgression" and "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit," the "sin unto death;" which is apostasy against Christ and God's salvation through Him. To repent of the truth, and willingly accept the lie: to have been granted the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in your life, proving the authenticity of God's Word, and to walk contrary to Christ; repenting of the good and exalting the evil, is to fall from grace and to have abandoned all possibility of reconcile ("If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me: And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." ).

Cleave therefore unto your Husband, latch onto that which is good, cast off that which does not praise God that you "grieve not the Holy Spirit," for "he which knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin." Paul, ashamed of his persecutions of the church, thought himself unworthy to be called an apostle, said that because he sinned in ignorance of the truth of God in Christ, he was forgiven by God's all sufficient grace. He also added that necessity was laid upon him to minister the gospel and declare the truth of Jesus Christ by whom he was saved and ordained, and that to fall away after tasting of the ages to come and partake in the Holy Spirit was to crucify the Son of God afresh, for which there is no redemption; these are the eternally "accursed" and damned. For if coming toward the cross of Christ is to know that "the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world," than to willingly depart from the faith is to be dead unto the LORD, and the LORD dead unto you.

"For which is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? Is it not he that sits at meat? But I am among you as he that serves." If God in His righteousness, who contradicts not Himself, says "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," look to your Savior as an example for those things that please God. For the Father spoke audibly saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" you then, who make you boast of salvation and call yourself a son of God, do then the works of your Father in the might of His Spirit and integrity of His Word as I have witnessed a Son of God do! For many love to recite John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"), yet how often have you heard 1 John 3:16 ("Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.")? Beware, it is Satan's perversion of ministry that reminds you of the blessings and gifts but ignores the commandments and obligations; as if it were not spoken by the same Word.

You who are stubborn in your denial of the obligations in the gospel of grace according to the example of Jesus Christ; know that God under no obligation did lay down His life for you as a means to make manifest His undying love toward you. Are you then to receive the everlasting life of God and give nothing unto God and deny the manifestation of His love and Spirit within you arguing that the gospel is the "free gift" of salvation. Even if you are truly blind to your commission, your commandment, your example, the yearnings of the Spirit of God within you to so manifest the love of God; then be condemned in that the likeness of God is that no obligation should have been necessary. God, under no obligation whatsoever, apart from your works of sin, as undeserving as you were, granted you grace by which you are called a son to God; this being the works of God, creates a precedent of grace according to His likeness and heritage that all His sons ought to follow in the righteousness of their Father (therefore our service in love toward Him cannot even be called grace, because since "He first loved us," it is offered by necessity and obligation to He who is worthy). For He that said, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham," said also, "As you have judged so shall you be judged." Therefore if the judgment of God be so, concerning the sons of Abraham, what does He reveal of the judgment of His own children?

For we are the true Israel, born of heavenly Jerusalem, sons of Abraham and heirs of the blessing, and begotten of the Father through the Word of God, who reign in Christ being enjoined unto Him in matrimony. None is saved by genealogy, but by embracing the heritage of the Father following after His Likeness and transformed unto His glorious Image through the workings of His Holy Spirit. Not as priests of the law, but ministers of grace; partakers of that perpetual sacrifice as a royal priesthood under a blessed High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Missionaries sent into this world to minister the truth of God to those that seek citizenship into an enduring country; who pledge faith unto a truly majestic Governor and King, who reigns in righteousness and truth forever and ever.

Therefore we are commanded to walk in this world but not of it, to be not conformed unto the ways of this world, which perishes, but "transformed by the renewing" of our minds in Him; to lay down our lives as living sacrifices as is our "reasonable service" for He who first laid down His life for us. Therefore as He is faithful unto the Father, let us be equally faithful unto His anointed High Priest; being anointed in His pure and undefiled blood of a sacrifice without blemish. For the righteousness by which we are enjoined unto God is not by our works, but by the works of God through Christ Jesus; sanctifying us and cleansing us by the washing of His Word that the spirit and righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who cleave unto the Father through the reverencing and exaltation of His Word as the sovereign and supreme authority of all heaven and earth. For who can say they honor God but deny His Word which "proceeded forth" and came from Him? And who can honor Christ but those that honor His commandments and example? Such are the elect of God, who have chosen God in Christ, foreknown in the LORD before the world was.

Originally Posted by caprice09

"Once saved, always saved," is a fool's anthem who understands not the covenant to which he is enjoined, nor the price at which it came.

That seems little harsh, no matter your opinion you should be willing to speak the truth in love. As I have recently been convicted of the same thing I believe it is a "say ouch or say amen" moment form many of us.

I kind of like the "amen or ouch" approach. I don't mean to call people names (" But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."). The foolishness I refer to is regurgitating information without looking it up, or reverencing a few verses of the bible to neutralize entire books and volumes of scripture.

Originally Posted by caprice09

I kind of like the "amen or ouch" approach. I don't mean to call people names

Then simply apply some restraint and refrain from posting hastily.

jiggyfly: So then do you believe in a works based salvation?

Yes, jiggy, I believe that a Christian is expected to maintain their salvation through Jesus Christ.

I would like to ask you to explain the way that you view one of the verses that you posted above, jiggy, if that is okay? I am not interested in debating/arguing etc .... I am just genuinely interested in the way that people view scripture and their approach at interpreting it. For years I have been puzzled by the way that people get so many different things from the Bible when the verses seem to plainly say certain things to me and someone else obviously interprets them in a different way ( or totally disregards them altogether, I don't know ) that is not just a little different from the way that I interpret them but exactly opposite of the way that I interpret them.

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Do you not see this as being a condition to the previous verses, jiggy? And if you do see it as a condition, do you not see that YOU are the one responsible for "continuing in the faith grounded and settled, etc..."? The way that some people talk, IF I understand them correctly, they would explain this as being something that Jesus accomplished for them on the cross ( I guess? ), and maybe you see it this way too? Please explain this to me from your point of view. If Jesus somehow accomplished this for us on the cross, why mention it at all? Especially the way that it is worded? It says, "If ye continue etc ... " NOT "If you agree or let or believe that Jesus Christ will continue this for you." To me, this seems to clearly be something that is expected of ME. So, I interpret it this way. There are a plethora of other verses just like this one that I interpret in the exact same way. Do you understand what I am saying and why? I am in no way asking you to agree with me, I'm just trying to understand the point of view of someone who apparently does not interpret scripture the same way that I do.

Peace be unto you.

He keeps us We DO NOT KEEP OURSELVES! He does it All that Why He gets all the glory ! Salvation is a Free Perfect eternal Gift ! Our Spirit is the one that is GOD temple HE never leaves or forsakes! God sees All mankind in the flesh as sinners! Our flesh is no better after Salvation ! Only our Spirit is perfect [without sin] and CANNOT SIN! The flesh mind and body can sin if we allow it ?

1Pe_1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1Jn_3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Our Flesh is Never perfected !it dies because of it sin nature ! We never die [our Spirit once born of GOD perfect Seed]

Our flesh returns to the dust of the earth .It part of this planet ! He has New bodies ,crowns ,robes and much more awaiting Us in new Jerusalem! The new body is like our LORD Jesus Body ! We see in daniel and Revelations How his eternal body looks !

We also see those who already went to New Jerusalem are given Robes to wear! Revealing they must already have there New bodies to wear robes ! We also see they are talking with Jesus and each other!

1Jn_3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.


Ecc_3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Ecc_12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.


Dan_7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.


Rev_6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Rev_7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev_7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev_7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Also reveals we go right to New Jerusalem when we leave these bodies!
It also appears the great tribulation was still going on as these were talking !

Rom_7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:

He does not use old stuff to make new things! He never uses our flesh body again!

Listen when the catching away takes place many of our flesh bodies will still be here dead! We the Spirit within is what goes HOME too New JERUSALEM!

Heb_12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Rom_1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son,
Rom_8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:


Eph_2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1Co_15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

It the spirit body He changes1 our flesh is the same old flesh ! It dies because of Sin!
Joh_11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Heb_13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Lovingly in our LORD JESUS!

Originally Posted by Stickz

Yes, jiggy, I believe that a Christian is expected to maintain their salvation through Jesus Christ.

I would like to ask you to explain the way that you view one of the verses that you posted above, jiggy, if that is okay? I am not interested in debating/arguing etc .... I am just genuinely interested in the way that people view scripture and their approach at interpreting it. For years I have been puzzled by the way that people get so many different things from the Bible when the verses seem to plainly say certain things to me and someone else obviously interprets them in a different way ( or totally disregards them altogether, I don't know ) that is not just a little different from the way that I interpret them but exactly opposite of the way that I interpret them.

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Do you not see this as being a condition to the previous verses, jiggy? And if you do see it as a condition, do you not see that YOU are the one responsible for "continuing in the faith grounded and settled, etc..."? The way that some people talk, IF I understand them correctly, they would explain this as being something that Jesus accomplished for them on the cross ( I guess? ), and maybe you see it this way too? Please explain this to me from your point of view. If Jesus somehow accomplished this for us on the cross, why mention it at all? Especially the way that it is worded? It says, "If ye continue etc ... " NOT "If you agree or let or believe that Jesus Christ will continue this for you." To me, this seems to clearly be something that is expected of ME. So, I interpret it this way. There are a plethora of other verses just like this one that I interpret in the exact same way. Do you understand what I am saying and why? I am in no way asking you to agree with me, I'm just trying to understand the point of view of someone who apparently does not interpret scripture the same way that I do.

Peace be unto you.

So glad you asked Stickz, I am happy to express my understanding of this scripture.

To keep things within the context I'll post it again.
19 For God in all his fullness

was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled

everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.


21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Col 1:19-23 (NLT)

or if your a KJV fan,

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 1:19-23 (KJV)

In verse 23 I believe the faith that we are to continue in and the hope of the gospel that we are not to be moved away from is right there in the previous verses. Look at verse 21 and 22. How were we made right with God? Doesn't it say by Christ's death? We were God's enemies and not by any doing of our own but rather by Christ's death we are made holy and blameless before God.
So if one was found moving away from the hope of the gospel what would it look like? Paul mentions it many times and the next chapter of this same letter.

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Col 2:6-23 (NLT)


So the one who has moved away from the hope of the gospel is the one who is trying to gain/maintain right standing with God by their own good works and no longer depending, trusting, and resting in Christ's work @ the cross, so deceived, thinking that by following the ordinances and commandments of the old covenant with Israel they will be pleasing to God. This I believe is also confirmed in other scriptures such as Paul's letter to Galatia.

1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?
5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”
13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
Gal 3:1-14 (NLT)


I hope I have succeeded in conveying my understanding of Col. 1:23 to you clearly. What is your understanding of Col. 1:23?

Originally Posted by spirit1st

He keeps us We DO NOT KEEP OURSELVES! He does it All that Why He gets all the glory ! Salvation is a Free Perfect eternal Gift !

Hallelujah! Yes indeed Gary!

The Gospel was taken All over the world ! Everyone had a chance to accept it! Salvation is only too those accepted What Jesus did and Him in his rightful place as Lord! We see many have rejected it and are not going to Heaven[New Jerusalem]

Rom_10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Another thing ? The carnal thinker will never know much truth! We need the Holy Ghost to open our Eyes to the spiritual trues!

1Co_2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Many count on others books to ngive the correct understanding to the meaning of words! as if they were perfect whoever wrote these others books?! None are ! That why GOD gave Us [those born of GOD] a part of His very being to understand the cdorrect understanding! It even affends some! We refuse to count these commentaries or other books as perfect Truth! I have had lots of people feel i am wrong, not accepting some of these books as perfect truth! It comes down to no longer accepting the bible , but accepting these others books as perfect! Telling Us what each word means! Which there is no one alive to know what the Words met back 2000 or 4000 years ago?
i would guess ? Many might be correct? Who knows! But the point is , We get the writter of the book dwelling in us !I know He used people !But people who were obeying HIM ! The scriptures will ,only fit together perfectly One Way! When we find scriptures that disgree with other scriptures ? Then we have the wrong understanding! God made the bible this way too found the wise!

This is the way the HOLY GHOST TEACHES US!
1Co_2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Which Jesus was and is our Example !He was taught from a baby by the Holy ghost as We should be1 but it all by Faith !
Everything we get Heavenly is by Faith !The Just live by Faith ! Once we reveal the correct understanding ,revealing the scriptures ! then the Holy Ghost can deal with that person to get them to SEE! Some times it takes years to get them to accept the Truth? That why we never argue or try to force it on anyone ! Salvation begins a learning process! I doubt it ever ends while in the flesh?
2Co_13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen

1Jn_4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Gal_1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Eph_4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:


1Jn_2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

We have the treacher! The POWER of GOD within each of Us! To teach us guide us reveal the future to us and give us the gifts and comforter not know of Heaven and earth! It all for us as needed !

1Jn_2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
He can protect us and heal us and everything!

God given us Everything we will ever need !

There is something that most do not want to concider. That is are we to question our salvation, even though the scriptures order us to do just that!

2Co 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2Co 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
2Co 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
2Co 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
2Co 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

vs 5 is plainly spoken. Examine yourself to know if you are in the faith. When this verse is read, does a pride well up that says "of course I am saved"! Or does a holy fear come upon
you. Does this cause a deep examination and searching for true salvation. Does it cause the response of going right to God and pouring out, crying out for true salvation, or have all
become callous to being stirred to repentance.

It is one thing to be secure in salvation due to knowing full well that there is nothing good in us. That Jesus covers all things in order to be in communion with God, and the mindset of a
hard heart that will not consider the possibly that they are fallen away, or may be falling away. It is not out of a fear that self is examined, but out of obedience to God that we come to
Him and ask the questions.

Is it a one time examination, or should there be a check from time to time. Coming to God through Christ in humility of soul.

Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Confidence from the Spirit of God is different from prideful confidence that will not bow down to the searching and testing of God.

Bachan-try/test/examine
H974
בּחן
bâchan
baw-khan'
A primitive root; to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively to investigate: - examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).