Testing for approval (δοκιμάζω) is to make a critical examination of a person or thing to determine its authenticity, drawing a conclusion about its worth. Therefore, it is testing to establish whether or not there is something of value within who or what is put to the test.
Today, the wrath of God is upon all ungodliness and those holding down the truth in unrighteousness, for they consider the knowledge of God to be of no value and are therefore given over to a mind that, when tested, fails because it is found to be full of unrighteousness, Romans 1:28. This lack of worth is seen in the conclusions that this type of unapproved mind makes, for they go against the facts presented and are not base on reality. Such as a man who claims there is no God; however, he is fully aware that the universe is more expansive than humans have currently examined, and therefore, making such a statement shows that his conclusions are not of any value. Or a scientist who claims humans came from evolution. A hypothesis that is its own worst enemy, for within its declarations, it ignores the facts and presents evidence for support that is contrary to its own theories, because the evidence actually shows that humans were created. Therefore, the mind can be in such a state from the result of rejecting truth and reality that when put to the test for approval, it fails.
A Jew who claims to rest upon the law and makes his boast in God, asserting he knows His desirous will and is able to discern for good all things for he is instructed in the law, yet breaks the very rules he states others must follow is only fooling himself, Romans 2:18. These types of people we see even in the Church today, who claim to follow Christ and understand Spiritual things; however, when put to the test they do not line up to the standard of who and what a Christian is. Today, we use the term Christian as a general reference to those who are saved. However, technically, this is a saved person who is living in a Christ-like manner, Acts 11:26. Therefore, only the one who has believed that Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and is feeling at ease in the Christ can be Christ-like, Galatians 2:20. Those who claim a gospel other than the one found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 are not saved, for it is the message by which we are saved. The new creation is the Church, in which Christ is the head and the Church is the body, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Within this new creation, all things have become new because we are born again, 1 Peter 1:23. Therefore, the old nature has been rendered ineffective, Romans 6:6, which is plagued with the sin nature passed down from Adam, Romans 5:12-21. Since we now possess a new nature, when we feel at ease with what God has done in salvation, we are able to manifest the life of Christ within us, Colossians 3:10. Therefore, this is a life that is living out from faith, Romans 1:17. Law is not out from faith; therefore, anyone teaching the Mosaic law for Christians today is not approved, Galatians 3:12.
When it comes to our works, we should be putting them to the test to verify that they are being done in a proper way, out from faith, not because of any quality of Law, 1 Corinthians 11:28, for our works will be declared on the day the Lord returns to take His church home and all that are not approved will be burned up just as all impurities when put to the test with fire, 1 Corinthians 3:13. Therefore, it is important that we have our faith to ourselves. That is, if we say we have faith, let us live out that faith unto God regardless of what others are doing around us, for happy is the man that does not condemn himself for what he approves, Romans 14:22.
One of the aspects of our salvation is that we possess a renewed mind. It is with this mind that we are able to put all things to the test to approve what is the desirous will of God for us, Romans 12:2. We were once children of darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Therefore, let us walk as children of the light, putting all things to the test, training our senses to discern what is proper from what lacks in character, so that our fruit is found to be of good quality as we seek to please the Lord, not taking part in the unfruitful works of darkness but exposing them, Ephesians 5:8-11. As we grow in knowledge and discernment, we will be able to approve the things that differ so that we live a life that is sincere and without offense, being full of the fruits of righteousness, Philippians 1:9-11. Not fearing trials and temptations that only serve to put our faith to the test so that it is found to be genuine and more precious than gold refined by fire, 1 Peter 1:7. Therefore, let us test all things and hold to what is proper while refraining from all appearances of malignant evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.
