I'm not sure all the Corinthians in the church were saved nor do I belive Paul thought so as well given his many rebukes to them. Especially this:
2Co 13:3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
2Co 13:4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
2Co 13:6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
Put another way, if Christ came to us and said, ""Do you want to go away as well?" would we answer, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
That is the test.
What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?...Depart from me; for I am a sinful man,O Lord.......I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(2 Samuel 9:8,Luke 5:8,Hebrews 13:5)
Amen to that! However that desperatly wicked and deceitfull heart that still has way too much sway on the mind wants nothing other than to avoid God's Word because it slowly but surely is coming to the realization that that word is indeed going to put it to the sword.It is deceitfull and it will cloak itself in all sorts of seemingly Godly works to that end.
"...have come to know..."
Such a small statement but that right there is the whole box and dice of "the work of God".Something we must do in order to cease from our own works and be found in Him not having our own righteousness but instead be submitting ourselves to His righteousness.(and as an added benefit we are guaranteed that we will never fall if we do it)
That's not to sound cocky but rather is the result of doing that work.To become "persuaded that He IS able"
Put another way, if Christ came to us and said, ""Do you want to go away as well?" would we answer, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Exactly. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It's a good thing God looks on the heart.
And those verses represent the key thrust of this thread/series.
I see no problem with following through with Paul's instruction.