[John 3_19-21]

It's a "cart and a horse" thing.

The Pharisies used the Law and or visible performance or non-performance of the Law to exault themselves and in effect, turn the Hebrew people away from a loving relationship with God.

Too many of today's religious leaders would rather control thier congregations with doctrine and "tests" than simply share the Word, and let the Holy Spirit guide.

[xzins]

Nonetheless, Paul wrote what he wrote. He doesn’t ask your pastor or religious leader to examine you; he instructs YOU to examine YOU to test to see if your faith is genuine.

Using the Word of God as a measure by which to conduct that test makes much more sense than either (1) ignoring Paul’s instruction and pretending it isn’t in the Bible, or (2) devising one’s own personal little test that is not connected to the Word of God.