We May Be The Only Bible Some People Read

II Corinthians 3:1–3
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There is a great truth here; every man is an open letter for Jesus Christ. Every Christian, whether he likes it or not, is an advertisement for Christianity. The honor of Christ is in the hands of his followers. We judge a shopkeeper by the kind of goods he sells, we judg … More

Example

Are we once again bragging about ourselves (v. 1)? Do we need letters to you or from you to tell others about us? These legalistic false teachers boasted that they carried “letters of recommendation” from the “important people” in the Jerusalem church. They said, “Where is his letter of recommendation? Does he have a letter of approval from the apostolic council in Jerusalem? If so, let him produce it, otherwise we will just consider him an unauthorized person."

Paul answers these false teachers by saying that it was not necessary for him to have credentials from church leaders. The Corinthians themselves whom he had led to Christ were a visible proof and demonstration of his apostolic effectiveness (v. 2). They were indeed an epistle, clearly legible to all who were willing to read and understand. It is really sad when a person measures his worth by what people say about him instead of by what God knows about him.

Paul makes a comparison between the law which was written on tables of stone and the gospel which is written in the hearts of men (v. 3). Even if the Israelites could read these tables of stone, this experience would not change their life. The law is an external thing, and people need an internal power in their lives to be changed. The test of ministry is changed lives and not press releases or statistics. We do not become believers by following some manual or using some technique. Our conversion is a result of God placing His Spirit in our hearts.

Application

As a Christian I may be the only Bible some unsaved folk will ever read! Because of this, I really need to watch my conduct and make sure it is an example that honors Christ.

II Corinthians 3:1-3 (English Standard Version)

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.

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