Since the apostle Paul himself could examine himself and determine he was still wretched... well, if we think we are soooo holy we do not need to examine ourselves for any impurities, we are being far too bold... to put it mildly...
WE NEED TO EXAMINE YOUR WRETCHED MAN
There are two Greek words that are often translated alike, or similarly, yet, the difference is interesting and informative. These words are: Dokimadzo, and Piradzo
II Corinthians 13:5
"Examine (piradzo) yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove dokimadzo) your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (adokimos)."
Both these words are translated "prove" (John 6:6, Luke 14:19), and both are translated try" (Rev. 2:2, I Cor. 3:13), and also, both are translated "examine" (I Cor. 11:28, II Cor. 13:5).
Yet, they are not perfectly synonymous.
Dokimadzo , in Classical Greek, is used for putting money to a test to determine if it is counterfeit by aid of a test. That which endures such a test is "dokimos" and that which fails such a test is "adokimos". Such a test is made with the desire to find something genuine. For if one owns a coin that needs testing for legitimacy, surely there is hope that it is genuine. We are told in II Cor. 13:8 to "prove" ourselves. I.e. to test, with the hope of finding ourselves to be genuine.
The other word has a bit of a different meaning. Piradzo, means to pierce or search into, or attempt to search out something that is evil for the purpose of removing it. It is used of God when He tempts us. He is searching inside of us, to find something evil within the carnal person, something unrepented of, something hurting our walk with Him. God has the intent to remove it, though He does not remove the carnal man. James says we should "count it all joy, when you fall into divers (many) temptations (piradzo). (James 1:2)
II Corinthians 13:5
"Examine (piradzo) yourselves, (means we should pierce our own selves searching within to find any sin, which may need repented of, and removed from our lives) whether ye be in the faith, prove (dokimadzo) your own selves. (this means that then we should put ourselves to a test, now to expect to be found the genuine article, and not a counterfeit) Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (adokimos)." (This is the word that is the antithesis of dokimadzo, and instead of being genuine, it means that one may be a "counterfeit").
Do we periodically piradzo ourselves? Many a "saint" goes for long times without searching within ones thoughts, deeds, motives, and actions, to see if all is pleasing to the Lord Jesus.
Communion is meant to be a time for self examination. And yet, many take communion oft, and never really pierce or cut deeply, into the soul seeking diligently to ascertain if any, even the slightest bit of evil is inside.
Many do not mind a dokimadzo occasionally, for it is an external test of authenticity, expecting a positive result. It should only be done, after the piradzo examining is done first.
We see many who have not searched themselves with the intent to remove the hatred, bitterness, jealousy, deceptions, ill will, etc. We wonder how they can think they are really "Christ-like" ones. They have forgotten that repentance is vitally necessary. They do not see a need for it in their own lives. For they do not see sin.
The person has been, at salvation, cleansed of all sin that doomed their soul. Yet, the carnal man was not removed from their person. The spirit of the person struggles to serve the Lord. The carnal person is still that wretched person that Paul admitted. We need to examine ourselves on a regular basis to be sure that carnal person is not defiling us. Paul instructs us on the methods to do such personal catharsis cleansing on a regular basis.
Some have checked the outside of the cup as did the Pharisees, but they have not searched inside, to find in the inside of the cup the filth and degradation. We need to periodically, even daily, examine our soul, for the defiling of our person. Paul called himself a wretched man, for he realized that the old nature was still present, seeking to control and contaminate his witness. We need to humble ourselves to admit we are not perfect. We still, till the rapture, fight the wretched person within us. God does not remove that carnal nature, but He has put in the Word many instructions for how to be victors over it.
The wretched man is good at pretending to be spiritual, righteous, holy, and pure. His deception is very good, for he even fools himself.
The Bible tells us that 'the heart is deceitful, and desperately wicked.'
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
The words 'desperately wicked' are the Hebrew word (605) anash. This is a primitive root word most often translated 'incurable'. It also means 'feeble', 'sick' and 'woeful.'
This 'deceitful' inner person, in each of us, cannot be trusted, for it is 'deceitful above all things'. There is no one we can trust less than our inner person. It is desperately wicked, and will remain so until we get our new heavenly bodies. Till then there is an inner war of our resurrected spirit who wants to serve God, and our carnal self that wants to please itself.
Since it is not removed at salvation, this battle continues after salvation. Untold harm has been done by the carnal soul to the person in which it dwells. The 'adamic nature' as it has been called, is not idle, but looks for every opportunity to defile our walk with the Lord.
Paul was speaking of that part of him when he said 'O wretched man that I am'. We often want to hide the existence of our wretched man. We would like others to think that we are the 'infallible', sanctified, too holy to be ever temtped by sin, person.
That idea that we can be perfect here, before the coming of Jesus to rapture us, or before our death and homecoming to heaven, is a most stupid idea. Yet, many a Christian has allowed the 'deceitful' and 'wretched' person in them to convince them of such.
John spoke of some who let their deceitful person convince them of that when he said:
1 John 1:8-10 (KJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Many are deceiving themselves today, and are thereby not repenting ever of sins of the 'wretched' man. The 'jealousies' will they call 'love'. The 'anger' will they call 'righteous indignation.' The 'hatred' will be justified'. The 'pride' they will call 'holiness'. Fooling themselves, the 'deceitful' and wretched man has brought many to pits of despair.
That is why we need to 'examine' ourselves. For the 'ourself' in us, is deceitful, and so incurably wicked. We long for heaven, wherein the 'wicked man' can be destroyed and replaced with a righteous spirit.
It is time to let the 'spirit' bring us to a place of 'no condemnation', by remaining in close fellowship with the Lord. We can overcome this 'wicked' person in us, by repentance of the evils into which the wretched man tries to lead us.
What we are healed of, in our person, is the damage this deceitful and desperately wicked wretched person does to us. The sins that it engenders need repentance, and a catharsis needs to take place often within us. The incurable wretched person will remain until it is removed at the rapture time, or when we die and go to heaven.
Romans 8:5-16 (KJV)
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The Spirit of the Lord dwells in our spirit, and leads us toward the Lord.
The wretched person of our soul still seeks selfish things. We are to be spiritually minded, not carnally minded. It is a constant choice. Sometimes, we fail.
We have an Advocate, a Helper, and He leads us back into fellowship with the Lord. The blood of Jesus cleanses our person, and a catharsis healing continues to restore us to the Lords presence. We need this Spirit of God to help our infirmities.
Romans 8:26-28 (KJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
