Are you a written Epistle? 2 Cor 3:1-6 Devo

Introduction: Are you a written Epistle?

Can Christianity be seen in your life 24/7?

Do you live the Christian life all the time or only around other Christians.

There are many people in the world who claim to be faithful Christians come Sunday morning, but by Monday there Facebook status shows otherwise.

There are many who claim to be faithful Christians around other Christians but when around coworkers and family they take off the spiritual wardrobe.

Paul tells the breathren at Corinth In 2nd Corinthians chapter three that they are a written Epistle!!

Remember the problems at Corinth, most of us would not even apply for a job near this place but Paul treats them as a brother should and preaches to them in love.

Their were some major problems there, but we will run into problems everywhere we go. But just because there are those people that cause problems, doest take away the fact that there will still be a bunch of good breathren at these places.

As Gospel preachers many of us can have a major effect on a congregation through our teaching in and out of the pulpit.

Our breathren need to see the Gospel lived in our live 24/7 and then they will be willing to listen.

we see Paul tells the church at Corinth that they are the written letter in their hearts.

First, we will see we are written Epistles (2ndCorinthians 3:1-2).

Second, we will see we are written Tablets (2ndCorinthians 3:3).

Finally, we will see we are Minister of the New Testament (2ndCorinthians 3:4-6).

Thesis: As Christians we should have Gods Word written in our hearts which can be seen by the whole World which is showed outwardly by how we live our lives as New Testament ministers.

I. We are written Epistles (2nd Corinthians 3:1-2).

a. Vs. 1 We don’t need to commend ourselves or need letters of commendation to or from anyone. They did not need praise from anyone, what are false teachers normally about?? bringing praise to themselves, and boasting. There were many false teachers at Corinth trying to dicredit Paul Apostleship.

b. Vs. 2A They were epistles written in our hearts. (Our: Paul and Timothy).

i. The Church at Corinth did not have the NT Bible.

ii. Paul preached the Gospel to them is how they received the Word. And Paul preached to them through the Spirit.

c. Vs. 2B They are epistles read and know to all men by the way they conducted themselves. Paul spent a year and a half here with the breathren, he worked with these breathen and seen the power of the gospel change them. they were differnt, they were now a holy and peciluar people.

App: As Christians today Christianity is to be written in our hearts,

God has always wanted man to love him with all their heart soul and might (Deut 6:5). The world should be able to look at us and known by the way we conduct ourselves that we are different, set apart from the rest of the world.

II. We are written Tablets (2nd Corinthians 3:3).

a. Vs. 3A They were declared to be the epistle of Christ minister by us (us: Acts 18:1- Paul, Silas, Timothy, Aquila, and Pricilla).

b. Vs. 3B The Epistle Paul delivered was not written with ink but delivered unto them through the Spirit of the living God (Acts 18:5 Paul was pressed by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ).

c. Vs. 3C Paul did not give them tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of stone. The table of stones would be like the ten commandments Moses received on mount Sinai. Paul preached the Gospel to them from his heart to their heart, there was neither ink nor stone involved. Rom 1:16-17

App: As Christians today we receive the very same message through the inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16-17). We do not need any other letter, any commentary, nor tablets of stone. We need to teach the Gospel!! What a blessing it is today to have the Bible nice and bound in one book!!

III. We are Minister of the New Testament (2nd Corinthians 3:4-6).

a. Vs. 4 Notice they have trust in God through Christ.

b. Vs. 5 They get their sufficiency from God and not of themselves.

i. Paul gave credit where credit was due, it was the Gospel of Christ where they get their trust. But it all comes from God the source. and not any other man or letter.

c. Vs. 6A They are ministers of the New Testament.

d. Vs. 6B They are of the Spirit which gives life and not the letter which killeth.

i. The letter being the OT which pointed people to the Law and the works of the law, the Law had a purpose, and it was to point out what sin was and keep Gods chosen people set apart from the rest of the world to keep the seed (Jesus) line pure.

ii. But once Jesus came, we are under a newer and better covenant the law of Christ. It is where we receive the gift of salvation from God which is offered to all and not just the Jews.

App: As Christians we must remember we are ministers of the New Testament which we received through the Gospel. Now we are in trusted with the Gospel and to take the message to others. But we must live that message in our Lives. People should just be able to look at us and know we are differnt.

Conclusion: We see Paul tells the church at Corinth they are to have Gods Word written in their hearts. They are to be a written epistle.

God has always wanted His Word in our hearts and not just an outward appearance.

But Gods Word should also be seen in how we conduct ourselves on a everyday bases. Many of the Jews lived hypocrite lives because they were just an outward appearance of living as religious men but inwardly were full of dead men’s bones.

God’s Word is not just ink we read on paper, but it is alive and transforms our minds if we continue to study it and grow in the Word.

It is the Word that has power and how God works in us is only through His Word.

We need to get into His Word until His Word gets into us and allow it to transform us into the Christians we were called to be.

First, we saw we are written Epistles.

Second, we saw we are written Tablets.

Finally, saw we are Minister of the New Testament.

Are you an Epistle and can Christ be seen in your life?