Divine Documentation - 2 Cor 3

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ² You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.--2 Corinthians 3:1-3


To My Girls,


Paul is being sarcastic here...and is carefully choosing his words.  Paul's ministry and his competency as a minister of God by the false teachers in Corinth was constantly being attacked.  The believers of Corinth knew and had first hand proof of Paul's sincerity and godly character...they had seen the Spirit of God work in their life as a result of his ministry of the word.  


Do we commend ourselves...are we boasting?  Do we need letters of commendation from man to show you that it is God who calls us to this ministry?  Do we need man's word to validate our ministry? Paul tells them that they are his epistles of recommendation...known and read by all men as they watched them live their lives.  You are our proof!  Look at the work that has taken place and look at the fruit among you!  Our ministry, Paul tells them, is reflected in your life!  


The bible tells us not to judge others but we can look at their lives and judge the fruit.  Remember that it was Aaron's rod that budded and blossomed...bore fruit...because it was Moses and Aaron that God chose.  


And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.”--Numbers 17:5


Jesus says something similar in regards to both fruit and choosing in John 15:16:


You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.




Again in Matthew 7, Jesus says this:


“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

and further on in chapter 7 this:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."

Not only that, Paul says, our letter of commendation to you is a living one...not written by human means but by the Spirit of the Living God on the tablets of your heart.  Paul's documentation was divine!  God's law was no longer on tablets of stone, but was written on tablets of flesh and was now of the heart.  The false teachers of Corinth claimed external adherence to the law of God as the basis for salvation.  The changed lives of the believers in Corinth, however, was proof that salvation was wrought by the Spirit of God using the word of God to effect an inward change of the heart.  


Praying that each of our lives would be a testimony to His grace...an open letter to those around us of God's love, mercy and faithfulness.  


Love
Mom