"True Ministry"
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 (NASB)
(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on August 20, 2000)

Introduction: One of the greatest problems that the apostle Paul faced in his ministry was the opposition of false teachers or false Christians. These were men who professed to be Christians, but where in reality Jewish Legalists who had never totally accepted the gospel of grace. This Judaizers emphasized that salvation was by faith in Christ plus the keeping of the Law. Acts 15:1, "And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."" (NASB). They also taught that the believer is perfected in his faith by obeying the Law of Moses. They had a gospel of legalism. Their "gospel of works," always seemed to caught on, and it still is catching on today because of our "sin nature" enjoys achieving religious goals instead of simply trusting in Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us. One of their methods to prove themselves of having the "truth" was to discredit others who really served the Lord, as was the case here with Paul. Here in our verses this morning, we will see how Paul addresses what true ministry is all about when it comes to Christianity.
 

I. ....Will Very Seldom Measure Up To Man-Made Standards (v.1)
1. The false teachers accused Paul of not being as qualified to minister as them because he didn't have any letters of recommendation.

A. The phrase, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?" is a reference to him being accused of not caring for the Corinthians, his supposed abuse of his apostleship, and what they had claimed about him flip-flopping of what he had told them about his plans to visit the Corinthian church (chp.2).

1) "beginning, "archo {ar'-kho: v, indic, pres, mid, 1 per, pl}; rehearse from the beginning to begin.
2) "commend,"sunistemi {soon-is'-teh-ee: v, inf, pres, act}; to introduce (favorably), to exhibit, commend, recommend.
3) "again," palin {pal'-in: adj, adv}; renewal or repetition of the action, again, back, denoting a return to a previous state or activity (i.e., back to a previous subject or accusation).

B. By Paul's statement in the second half of this verse it become obvious that the Judaizers must have boasted to the Corinthians that they carried "letters of recommendation," and they must have pointed out that Paul didn't have any letters.

1) "as some others," i,e, the Judaizers
2) "letters of commendation"

A) "letters," epistole {ep-is-tol-ay': n, gen, f, pl}; a written message, "epistle", letter.
B) "commendation," sustatikos {soos-tat-ee-kos': adj, gen, f, pl}; of commendation, of speaking good words on behalf of another, a letter of recommendation.

A. Paul asked if he or other true ministers of the gospel "need....letters of commendation to you or from you?"

- "need," chrezo {khrade'-zo: v, indic, pres, act, 1 per, pl}; have need of, to be in want of, to make or have the necessity of.

B. The only thing that gave any of these false teachers any credibility to the Christians at Corinthian was their letters of recommendation.

- And it seems that some thought that these letters were are what gave credit to, or validated the ministry of these false teachers.

Application: The world longs for and looks for the approval of others. The world's standard for the "professional" are such things as degrees, accreditation agencies, etc... While there may not be something wrong with some of these things, it becomes a problem when the Christian world allows the world to set their standards. The Christian world has become so convinced of, or so desirous of world recognition that they have sold their souls and the gospel out. We forget that as Christians that our standards are not always the world standards. Just compare the Bible standards against the world's standards (abortion, drunkenness, premarital sex and even marriage, lying, and even our priories). Christians need to stop following the standards of the world and start following God's standards. This means we need to stop seeking the world's approval and seek God's approval. We need not to be ashamed of our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
 

- Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (NASB)
- 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 the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (NASB)
- 2 Timothy 1:13, "Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." (NASB)

II. ...Is Validated By Those Who Minister And In Changed Lives (vv.2-3)
1. It is validated by a minister's love for the people (v.2)

A. Paul's ministry was validated by his love for the Corinthians and the time that he had spent ministering to them (v.2a).

1) "our letter,"epistole {ep-is-tol-ay': n, nom, f, sg}; a written message, "epistle", letter.
2) "written," eggrapho {eng-graf'-o: v, part, perf, pass, nom f, sg}; to "engrave", write in, enter into a register, record (used here as a spiritual impression made on the heart).
3) "in OUR hearts," kardia {kar-dee'-ah: n, dat, f, pl}; the heart, the thoughts or feelings, the innermost part of man (i.e., his will, desires, emotions, spiritual life, his very being).

B. Paul's ministry was validated by those who had accepted Christ and had grown under Paul (v.2b).

1) "known," ginosko {ghin-oce'-ko: v, part, pres, pass, nom, f, sg}: to "know", to distinguish between, to recognize, to know accurately, to ascertain.
2) "read," anaginosko {an-ag-in-oce'-ko: v, part, pres, pass, nom, f, sg}; read, used mainly of public reading, read aloud (i.e., the professing Christian is the Bible that men read aloud and known)

Application: Paul didn't need a letter to validate his ministry, because the Corinthians were a living, walking letter of validation. Paul's credentials where the Corinthian believers and the effects that he had on their lives. Whether you live for Christ or live like you going to hell you are sending a message to everybody that you come into contact with daily. Most of us see ourselves differently than how others see us. They can read us like a book and can see all our flaws, and they know us by our actions and words. What kind of letter are you showing people? Is it a love letter of Christ's love or a dirty book? Christianity has a credibility problem today because most Christians are living just like the world around them, and the world cannot tell us apart. Likewise, when it comes to Christian ministry, you can tell the true from the false by what they are producing.

2. It is validated by Christ's life changing power upon the hearts of the people (v.3)

A. The Corinthians were Paul's letter of recommendation because it was clear to all that the Lord had done a work of grace in their lives (v.3a).

1) Since Paul had been the human instrument in bringing them to the Lord, they were his credentials.

A) "being manifested," phaneroo {fan-er-o'-o: v, part, pres, pass, nom, m, 2 per, pl}; to render apparent, appear, manifestly declare, make manifest.
B) "you are a letter,"epistole {ep-is-tol-ay': n, nom, f, sg}; a written message, "epistle", letter.
C) "Christ,"Christos {khris-tos': n, gen, m, sg}; Christ, anointed, the Messiah, Son of God.

2) Christ is the One who had done the work in their lives, but He did it thought the ministry of Paul.

- "cared for by us,"diakoneo {dee-ak-on-eh'-o: v, part, aor, pass, nom, f, sg}; waited on, to act as a deacon, ministered to, served, cared for, provided for.

B. Paul's letter of recommendation wasn't written with ink on paper, but by the Holy Spirit upon the hearts of the Corinthians (v.3b).

1) The Judaizers were preaching the Law which could not save anyone, so their letters of recommendation were worthless and meaningless.

A) "tablets," plax {plax: n, dat, f, pl}; a flat stone to inscribe on, tablet.
B) "stone," lithinos {lith-ee'-nos: adj, dat, f, pl}; of stone, made of stone.
C) "human," sarkinos {sar'-kee-nos: adj, dat, f, pl}; fleshly, composed or made of flesh, rooted in the flesh (as the body that is capable of sensitive feeling).
D) "hearts," kardia {kar-dee'-ah: n, dat, f, pl}; the heart, the thoughts or feelings, the innermost part of man (i.e., his will, desires, emotions, spiritual life, his very being).
E) Romans 3:19-20, "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (NASB)

2) It is only the ministry of grace that can change lives.

A) "written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God"

-"written," eggrapho {eng-graf'-o: v, part, perf, pass, nom, f, sg}; to "engrave", inscribe, write in, enroll, enter into a register, record (used here as a spiritual impression made on the heart)].
- "not with ink," melas {mel'-as: adj, pron, dat, neut, sg}; ink, a dark liquid used in writing or marking.
- "but with the Spirit," pneuma {pnyoo'-mah: n, dat, neut, sg}; the Holy Spirit.
- "of the living," zao {dzah'-o: v, part, pres, act, gen, m, sg}; to live (not lifeless, not dead), active, powerful, efficacious.
- "God," Theos {theh'-os: n, gen, m, sg}; the supreme divine being, the true, living, and personal God.

B) The ministry of the law is not able to save anyone, but only the ministry of grace through Christ and not the feeble attempts of works by men.

- Romans 3:27-28, "Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." (NASB)
- Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (NASB)

C) There is only one ministry and message of Salvation.

- Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (NASB)
- John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'." (NASB)

D) There is only one way to be saved.

- Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NASB)
- Romans 10:9-13, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved." (NASB)

III. ...Is Accredited By God Himself (vv.4-6)
1. It finds its confidence in God and not men (vv.4-6a).

A. It is God who empowers and accredits ministries not people (vv.4-5).

1) Paul's trust was in God (v.4).

A) "confidence," pepoithesis {pep-oy'-thay-sis: n, acc, f, sg}; confidence, trust, reliance.
B) "through Christ," dia {dee-ah': prep, gen}; through, by means of, by reason of, on account of, because of.
C) "toward God," pros {pros: prep, acc}; to the advantage, to, towards, with, with regard to.

2) Paul's sufficiency to minister came from God and not in what other men said (v.5).

A) "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves"

- "adequate," ikanos {hik-an-os': adj, nom, m, pl}; sufficient, enough, worthy, adequate.
- "ourselves," eautou {heh-ow-too': n, pron, gen, m, 1 per, pl}; ourselves, one another, each other.
- "consider," logizomai {log-id'-zom-ahee: v, inf, aor, mid, dep}; to suppose, to determine, judge, think.
- "anything," tis {tis: adj, pron, indef, acc, neut, sg}; anything, something, certain things.

B) "but our adequacy is from God,"

- "adequacy," ikanotes {hik-an-ot'-ace: n, nom, f, sg}; sufficient, ability or competency to do a thing, adequacy, as a state of being qualified for something.
- "is from God," ek {ek: prep, gen}; of, out of, from, by.

B. It is God who enables someone to minister to others, not people (v.6a).

1) Paul realized that to be divinely commissioned was to be divinely equipped.

A) "made us adequate," ikanoo {hik-an-o'-o: v, indic, aor, act, 3 per, sg}; to make sufficient, render fit, to equip one with adequate power to perform duties, make able.
B) "servants," diakonos {dee-ak'-on-os: n, acc, m, pl}; one who executes the commands of another, a servant, minister, helper, one who renders helpful service.

2) Paul realized that to be divinely commissioned was to proclaim a divine message.

A) "new," kainos {kahee-nos': adj, gen, f, sg}; new, recently made, what was not there before, fresh.
B) "testament,"diatheke {dee-ath-ay'-kay: n, gen, f, sg}; a disposition, arrangement, a testament or will, a covenant, agreement.

A. The message that the false teachers brought was in the flesh and could not save anyone.
B. The only ministry that can and still brings hope and life is the gospel of grace, everything else is just ink on worthless paper.

1) "the letter kills,"

A) "letter," gramma {gram'-mah: n, gen, neut, sg}; a letter, any writing, a document or record (used here as a reference to the Old Testament's Law)].
B) "kills," apokteino {ap-ok-ti'-no: v, indic, pres, act, 3 per, sg}; to kill, to destroy, to allow to perish (used here as referring to the Law and its inability to save people...instead it only made sin known to the sinner but could not save him).

2) "but the Spirit gives life."

A) "Spirit," pneuma {pnyoo'-mah: n, nom, neut, sg}; The Holy Spirit.
B) "gives life," zoopoieo {dzo-op-oy-eh'-o: v, indic, pres, act, 3 per, sg}; to produce alive, to cause to live, make alive, give life.

INVITATION:

1. What is the message that is written upon your heart this morning?

2. How does your book read to others?

3. For those who are ministering, who are you relying on to give your ministry validation?

4. The words and printed messages of this world, or the Lord almighty?