2 Cor. 3:1-6

You may have noticed in yesterdays reading of vs.1-3 a reference to tablets of stone, something we did not talk about since it led to the following verses.  Paul is again lifting their vision to things much higher and nobler than the spat over why he didn’t come to Corinth. 

In this letter Paul is addressing not only an explanation of his decision but those people who had another agenda in even making an issue of his action at all.  They are deceitful teachers (4:2) who were peddlers of God’s word (2:17) and whose message apparently was based in a return to the Law of Moses as a rule of life.  That seems to be the reason, at least, why Paul turns the discussion of his ministry to the glorious nature of his ministry. 

Paul refers to his ministry as of the new covenant.  It is not the ministry of the old covenant that revolved around the tablets of stone.  Rather, as the Scriptures teach, it is of a covenant that involves God writing His law on the hearts of men (Jer. 31:33-34; Heb. 8:10-11).  This writing on the heart is the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Thus Paul tells the Corinthians they are a letter of recommendation written on the heart (v3) by the Spirit (v6).

Paul says the letter kills (v6).  The letter is the Law of Moses.  In what sense does it kill?  Paul argues this matter in Rom. 6-8.  Consider the following:

o   It reveals sin, Rom 7:7.

o   It increases sin, Rom 7:5,8.

o   It demands perfection (Jas 2:10; Gal 3:10-12) but provides no power (Rom 8:3; Heb 9:9; 10:1,4).

·        The law is external, Heb. 9:9-10.

·        The law is temporary, 2 Cor 3:7,11.

o   Thus the law frustrates the soul (Rom 7:24).

As Paul makes clear in Romans, the law is holy in that it speaks accurately about God’s will.  But without the work of the Holy Spirit it cannot give life.

All of this leads to the important observation Paul makes about his ministry.  He himself is not sufficient as God’s minister to make people a good letter of recommendation about Christ (2:17; 3:5a).  But, he says, our sufficiency is from God (v5).  And God had in fact made Paul sufficient for a ministry that brought life to people by the work of the Holy Spirit (v6).

This letter to the Corinthians is providing a needed opportunity for believers to examine their view of the Christian life.  Do you have the thought that you can please God by keeping His law?  Are you doing the best you can to be obedient?  You must understand that this is not enough!  As Jesus pointed out, this is in essence the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt. 5:20).  The only righteousness that will do is the perfect righteousness of Christ who fulfilled the Law (2 Cor. 5:21).  For now we must be willing to repent of the thought that our righteousness is sufficient.  Your letter of commendation must be written on your heart by the Spirit of God.