Passover Preparation:
[dokimazo] himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” We understand that the un- leavened bread represents Christ’s physical body, broken for our phys- ical sins (I Cor. 11:24; II Pet. 2:24), and the wine represents His blood, shed for our spiritual sins (I Cor. 11:25; Matt. 26:28). It is only God who has the power to forgive sins, and Christ has already paid the ransom of death required for us individually. Each year, we take time to remember God’s incredible love and mercy for His people. We reflect on Christ—the God of Cre - ation’s—selfless act of sacrifice. We also remind ourselves of the cove- nant we made with God the Father, and our Lord, Master, High Priest, and soon-coming King at baptism, as we rededicate ourselves to this way of life. We must make time for in-depth and thorough self-examination! Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines the word dokimazo as “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals,” and “to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem wor - thy.”
The Greek word dokimazo comes from the root word dokimos, which, according to Strong’s, means “prop- erly acceptable (current after as- say), that is, approved.” Thayer’s adds that the term also means “ac- cepted,” particularly in reference to coins and money. Therefore, once purified, weighed, and measured, the metal is deemed of sufficient worth and able to be used as an item of real, acceptable value. Until we subject ourselves to the fire of self-examination, we have no idea what our character is truly worth because it is masked by the sin that surrounds it. We must take the time to separate the two through intense study to determine how much godly character we have truly built. The more comprehensive our lists and our studies, the better the results of our character assessment. As we approach this coming Passover, and regularly throughout the year, never forget that we are all “smiths.” Al- low God and His Son to refine our character. Be sure to take the necessary time, with God’s help, to assay yourself, knowing that your very salvation depends on it (Phil. 2:12)!
Examine Yourself! Greg Kaidannek
E ach year, in advance of the Holy Day cycle, baptized true Christians must allocate sufficient time and en - ergy for self-examination. Human beings cannot remove sin from their lives on their own. We all need God’s help. Before partaking of the Passover’s yearly symbols, it is imperative that we individu- ally approach God, asking Him to reveal where sin exists in our lives. Through the guidance of His Spirit, we can turn to His Word, which will expose those impurities, bringing them to the surface so they can be removed. In I Corinthians 11:28, the Apostle Paul wrote, “But let a man examine
Taking time to review will reveal the purity in our character. The Bible contains many “lists” that can support us during self-examination. Below are a few examples addressing areas of life we need to overcome and/or grow.
• The works of the flesh – Gal. 5:19-20 • The works of darkness – Eph. 5:3-5, 8 • “Old man put-offs” – Eph. 4:30-31 • The fruits of the Spirit – Gal. 5:22-23
• The beautiful attitudes – Matt. 5:3-7 • The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20 • Marriage and family – Eph. 5:22-6:4; Col. 3:18-21 • “New man put-ons” – Eph. 4:26-29, 32
6
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online