The Defense of the Ministry (2:14-7:4)

The Nature Of The Ministry (2:14-3:18)

Paul’s Confidence And Commendation (2:14-3:5)

PROPERLY USING INFLUENCE: LIVING AS LETTERS

2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-6

Reading: Col 3:8-14

Song:

Theme: to use our influence to glorify God and save souls

A. The power of influence is staggering. For example, astronomers, watching the peculiar behavior of the planet Uranus, properly deducted that it must been under the influence of another heavenly body. Thus convinced, they pointed their telescopes in the correct direction and discovered the planet Neptune. The power of influence is staggering in our own lives from others on our behavior to our behavior on other people, through the situations we enter into in life.

B. Our influence is the effect we have on other people through our behavior, efforts and words. Spiritual our influence is the effect we have on others in conjunction with the gospel. Jesus described this influence using the metaphors of: “salt” (Mat 5:13); “light” (Mat 5:14-16) and “leaven” (Mat13:33). The apostle Paul described it using the metaphor of “letters” (2Co 3:1-6).

C. Let’s examine what Paul’s wrote about influence with this metaphor of letters. Have you ever thought about how powerful is writing word? There is great power in the written word to influence and lend legitimacy and authority. If people read the evidence of God’s word written on your heart through your behavior, from the examination, how would be the story your life influence other people? What does the message of our lives convey to other people concerning God's word?

D. From 2Co 3:1-6, we learn that it should be:

I. GOD CHANGED LIVES (3:1-3).

Commendation

A. ... Do we begin again to commend ourselves ... (3:1)?

1 ¶ Do we begin <756> (5731) again <3825> to commend <4921> (5721) ourselves <1438>? or <1508> need we <5535> (5719), as <5613> some <5100> others, epistles <1992> of commendation <4956> to <4314> you <5209>, or <2228> letters of commendation <4956> from <1537> you <5216>?

1. Paul didn’t carry any “epistle of commendation” with him from place to place (cf. Act 9:1-2; Rom 16:1; 1Co 16:10; 2Co 8:16ff). .

a. to commend, Strong’s - 4921. sunistaw SUNISTAO soon-is-tah’-o; or (strengthened) sunistanw sunistano soon-is-tan’-o; or sunisthmi sunistemi soon-is’-tay-mee; from 4862 and 2476 (including its collat. forms); to set together, i.e. (by implication) to introduce (favorably), or (figuratively) to exhibit; intransitively, to stand near, or (figuratively) to constitute:— approve, commend, consist, make, stand (with)

AV-commend 10, approve 2, consist 1, make 1, stand 1, stand with 1; 16 1) to place together, to set in the same place, to bring or band together 1a) to stand with (or near) 2) to set one with another 2a) by way of presenting or introducing him 2b) to comprehend 3) to put together by way of composition or combination, to teach by combining and comparing 3a) to show, prove, establish, exhibit 4) to put together, unite parts into one whole 4a) to be composed of, consist

5721 Tense-PresentSee 5774

Voice-Active See 5784

Mood - InfinitiveSee 5795

Count-647

2. Paul’s approval came from not from letters but from:

a. the Lord

b. his fellow apostles (Gal. 2:6-9)

c. the saints at Corinth to which he had already ministered.

(1) It would seem from chapter two, verse seventeen that there had been some had been preaching to take advantage of the saints and consequently had caused the saints at Corinth to develop scepticism toward anyone who preached Jesus (cp. 2Co 4:1-2).

(2) Seemingly trying to reestablish his relationship with them, Paul reassured those brethren why he didn’t need special papers.

d. Not only were the saints at Corinth letters in Paul’s heart but they were letters to other people.

B. Ye are our epistle ... Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ... (3:2-3).

2 Ye <5210> are <2075> (5748) our <2257> epistle <1992> written <1449> (5772) in <1722> our <2257> hearts <2588>, known <1097> (5746) and <2532> read <314> (5746) of <5259> all <3956> men <444>:

1. Paul confirmed his love for those brethren by informing them they were as an epistle written in his heart (v 2).

3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared <5319> (5746) to <3754> be <2075> (5748) the epistle <1992> of Christ <5547> ministered <1247> (5685) by <5259> us <2257>, written <1449> (5772) not <3756> with ink <3188>, but <235> with the Spirit <4151> of the living <2198> (5723) God <2316>; not <3756> in <1722> tables <4109> of stone <3035>, but <235> in <1722> fleshy <4560> tables <4109> of the heart <2588>.

2. Paul also wrote that they were an “epistle of Christ”

a. Letters usually carry the signature of the writer.

(1) Like a letter, Christians carry the name of Christ if indeed they live according to the gospel.

(2) The brethren at Corinth indeed lived as is proper and it was evident to all who viewed their lives (v 3; cf: Mat 5:13-16; Php 2: 13-16).

(3) Truly it is a spiritual pleasure to not only be associated with brethren as friends, but in fellowship with them through the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3).

b. In contrasting the Old Covenant with the New, Paul pointed out that under the New Covenant, God’s word was not written on stone (as with the commandments given to old Israel) but by, “the Spirit of the living God ... in fleshy tables of the heart ”(cf. Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:11).

c. Carrying Christ's signature or name entails we:

(1) are transformed into Christ's image (Rom 12:1-2; 2Co 3:18).

(2) have Christ living in us (Gal. 2:20; Col 1:27).

(3) glorify Christ in our lives (Php 1:20).

(4) In the same manner Philip was able to see the Father through Jesus (cp. Jn. 14:5-9; 20:24-25, 26-31), people looking at us should see Jesus through our efforts to live properly.

(5) The next time your looking at yourself in a mirror ask yourself, "Does my speech, clothing, attitude and actions convey Jesus wherever I go or in whatever I do (cf. 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Jam 2:7)?

(6) Have you ever heard someone say, "I can tell it is true, it is written all over your face?"

(a) Through the boldness of Peter and John, the priests, the Sadducees, and others perceived that they, unlearned and ignorant men, had been with Jesus (Act 4:1-3, 5-7, 13).

(b) When people look at us, do they see the word of Christ written in our hearts through the actions of our lives?

Transition: Paul’s defense of his ministry opened the doorway for a discussion about the Christian influence and the need to convey the proper message of Jesus with our lives.

II. GOD CENTERED LIVES (3:4-6).

A. ... such trust have we through Christ to God-ward ... (3:4).

4 And <1161> such <5108> trust <4006> have we <2192> (5719) through <1223> Christ <5547> to <4314> God-ward <2316>:

B. ... our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament ... (3:5-6).

5 Not <3756> that <3754> we are <2070> (5748) sufficient <2425> of <575> ourselves <1438> to think <3049> (5664) any thing <5100> as <5613> of <1537> ourselves <1438>; but <235> our <2257> sufficiency <2426> is of <1537> God <2316>;

1. Paul made it clear his sufficiency was from Christ (elsewhere - 2Co 12:9)

2. The same is true for us.

a. Without Christ all are lost in sin.

b. All that are found in him have the power to overcome (1Jo 2:13-14; 4:4).

6 ¶ Who <3739> also <2532> hath made <2427> <0> us <2248> able <2427> (5656) ministers <1249> of the new <2537> testament <1242>; not <3756> of the letter <1121>, but <235> of the spirit <4151>: for <1063> the letter <1121> killeth <615> (5719), but <1161> the spirit <4151> giveth life <2227> (5719). {giveth life: or, quickeneth}

3. It was Christ who made Paul sufficient to be a minister of the new covenant (1Co 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Ti 1:1; 2Tim 1:1).

a. The meaning of, “not of the letter, but of the spirit“ was not a reference to the letter being the scriptures (strict, careful obedience) and the spirit, the unwritten message behind the words; and certainly not supposed words communicated by some means other than the written words of the Holy Spirit.

(1) For example as one man wrote, “I would not promote going beyond the "bounds of Scripture," if by that you mean the commands and guiding principles revealed therein. However, I believe we must also leave ample room for the personal guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives (which, of course, will be consistent with the guiding principles of the inspired written Word.” [Al Maxey, Reflections from Readers, REFLECTIONS, Issue #114, March 24, 2004]

(2) It was a contrast between the Old Testament (cf: Exo 28:11,12; Deu 27:8; Jos 8:32; 2Co 3:7) in part or in whole (letter) and the New Covenant (the spirit); the law of Moses and the law of Christ.

(3) The law of Moses ended (Col. 2:14) and the better law of Christ replaced it (Heb 7:12; 9:15-17; 10:9-10; Jam 2:12).

b. The significance was that the "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

(1) The law of Moses condemned.

(2) The gospel Paul taught (Gal 1:6-12) brought life from condemnation (Rom. 1:16; 8:1).

(3) It is a arrangement by which God revealed his plan for man's deliverance from spiritual death into spiritual life in Christ (1Co 15:1-4; Col 1:13; 2Th 2:14).

4. With the sufficiency Christ give all who are found in him, the message God wants heard can be heard in those who present it.

Conclusion:

Epistles can be presented with a forged signature or inaccurate message. Let’s work hard in our own personal lives to present our lives as an epistle of Jesus Christ to the world. We can do it with God Change Lives which come from God Centered Lives.

Other sermons in this series:

Properly Using Influence: Salt (Mat 5:13)

Properly Using Influence: Light (Mat 5:14-16)

Properly Using Influence: Leaven (Mat13:33)

Sources:

??, YOU ARE AN EPISTLE OF CHRIST

W. Winkler, The Christian And His Influence, Winkler Pub., p. 30.

Robin W. Haley , PAUL'S CONFIDENCE AND COMMENDATION; Bob Berard, THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW COVENANT; Garland Elkins , ANSWERING FALSE DOCTRINES RELATING TO 2 CORINTHIANS, STUDIES IN 2 CORINTHIANS, THE FIRST ANNUAL (1989) DENTON LECTURES, Dub McClish - editor, Valid Publications, Inc., PEARL STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST, Denton, Texas 76201

2 Corinthians, World Video Bible School / Video Bible Institute, Maxwell, Texas 78656-4231

in charity through Christ, Ra ym ond Wiis em an

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