Untitled Sermon (8)

English Standard Version Chapter 3

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Observation:

Historically, in Pauls time, itinerant ministers brought letters of recommendation to establish their legitimacy and authority.

Pauls is making the point that he does not need letters of recommendation to prove the validity and effectiveness of his ministry. He is very clear and makes a beautiful statement about their relationship. They are his letter, they are the proof of his apostleship. They should realize that their existence as a church is the result of Pauls apostolic ministry.

Verse three is very cool, he, Paul, makes the point that they are a letter from Christ, the Holy Spirit brought Christ to them and he the Spirit wrote their letter on the Corinthian believes hearts. He begins to draw distinctions between the law written on stone and the new covenant written on hearts.

This reminds me of verses that talk about Gods promise to give us a new heart.

Xref - Ezek 11:19; Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26

From the begining that was GOd’s paln for us. He wanted to take our heart of stone and give us a new heart that would love him and want to follow him.