“Known and Read by All!”
Text:
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
“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.”
History –
Chapter three
of 2nd
Corinthians starts with contrasts between ministries of Paul
(righteous), and ministries of Judaizing teachers (condemnation). These
Christians are the product of his ministry in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as
he has been commissioned to deliver to all as an Apostle; he is charged with
the ministry of reconciliation (5:12-21).
As such,
for them, the rest of this chapter deals with the glory of the new covenant
verses the passing away of the letter (the Law of Moses).
Introduction –
In our
opening text, these Christians are being described as living letters; which
is a metaphor for ‘US’. We are literally supposed to be a living book as an
epistle of Christ for all to see.
The
doctrine of Christ is a transforming rule and basis for the foundation of
every Christian’s life; so all can ‘SEE’ our Lord in us.
Problem –
Many
Christians are being read as a dysfunctional narrative – we do not make
sense, or we all read differently.
Consider
these very Christians in our text. We learn that in the first letter, they
were following after men instead of Christ (Chapters
1-4), there was immorality among them (Chapter
5), they were taking each other before secular courts to resolve
issues between them (Chapter
6), Their environment was so bad (immoral), and they still acted
like they had no idea concerning what had been given to them to avoid it;
abstinence and marriage (Chapter
7), they were torn over issues of expediency (Chapters
8-10), they had made common the holy memorial of the Lord’s
Supper (Chapter
11), they were misusing spiritual gifts (Chapter
12-14), and finally they even had issues with the resurrection (Chapter
15).
Some
Christians are missing text!
One part may match, but much more seems to be blank, non-existent.
Hebrews 5:12
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have
come to need milk and not solid food.”
In many
cases,
Christians claim the title of the epistle, but the content has a
completely different story!
2 John 9
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not
have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and
the Son.”
Solution –
Consider
these transitional characteristics that should be the content of our letter:
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God.”
1 Peter 3:15
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in
you, with meekness and fear”
The world
seems to be coming apart at the seams! The Christian should radiate a harbor
from the storm; for others to see and turn too!
Consider
the words our Lord to His disciples:
Matthew 8:23-27
“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
24
And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered
with the waves. But He was asleep.
25
Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us!
We are perishing!”
26
But He said
to them, “Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?”
Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27
So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the
sea obey Him?”
Does the writing in our letter project fear? Do we constantly fret over
physical things? Remember:
Philippians 4:11
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I
am, to be content”
People will
always now if we are content or not!
Some
Christian’s read as professional grumps (sour pusses!). Their countenance is
harsh, rough around the edges. The employees at the grocery store, post
office, detest them. Even their neighbors! These are ready for a fight at
the drop of a hat and because of their demeanor they are unapproachable.
Instead:
Philippians 4:4-5
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Brethren,
we are to pray for all men (1
Timothy 2:1), especially that they come to the knowledge of the
truth (1
Timothy 2:4). How is this to happen if we are unapproachable?
2 Timothy 2:24-26
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,
able to teach, patient,
25
in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps
will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26
and that they may come to their senses and escape the
snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
Some people
create joy where ever they go! Some people create joy when they go! Which
are we?
The world
is growing colder! That’s right, not global warming, but global cooling;
especially in the younger generation. Not temperature, but rudeness towards
others. We see this evident in speech, willingness to assist, treatment of
the elderly, etc…
There is a
great need today to demonstrate compassion and kindness to those around us
and our own children to learn from.
To learn to
generally care for others and to be hospitable –
Romans
12:13.
To learn to
elevate the needs of others above our own –
Philippians 2:3-4.
This is not
a generational thing, it is a Christian thing!
Courage is
not that which is demonstrated in a loud disposition, being brash, or a
braggart.
Courage is that which is demonstrated in the
‘STRENGTH TO BE DIFFERENT!’
Courage in scripture is best defined as a quiet confidence associated with
doing what is right based on a clear understanding of that which transforms.
The Apostle Paul boldly spoke the truth of the word, often to his detriment
(2
Corinthians 11:22-33). What was at the heart of his demonstrated
courage?
Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for
the Greek.”
There are many who think that the attributes that we have discussed thus far
are signs of weakness. The fact is they are all the demonstration of real
courage; to be different from the world, by a clear understanding of
priorities.
1 John 2:17
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will
of God abides forever.”
Conclusion
–
This is
not an exhaustive list of transformational traits that we, the children of
God through Christ Jesus, should be read as; however, they establish
precedence for the process of representing the letter we should be!
Philippians 1:27
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that
you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith
of the gospel”
Are we preaching a Gospel sermon every day, by the things we say and do? Or
does our life speak of a different subject?