A Living Letter
Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:3
As we read those words, we remember to whom Paul is writing. He is writing to the church in Corinth. Corinth was a wild city. It was like Spring Break in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
Paul is explaining to these Greek Christians what they needed to know about The Law to understand who they are in Christ. 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, 2 Corinthians 3:3. This was true of them then, and true of us today.
Most people in the U.S. know something about the law, that is, they can quote some of the ten commandments. In fact, they will often switch to King James English, “Thou shalt not kill.” Some will admit they have broken some of the Big Ten. But they will still maintain they are not all that bad. At least they haven’t murdered anyone.
The Bible says, if we have broken even one of the laws, we are guilty of breaking them all. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10. Oopps! This was true of the Corinthians then, and of Americans now. Actually, it is true of all people. Even those who think we are still obliged to keep the law to prove to God we are saved. Or, to stay saved. Or, to prove to others they are saved. If we love God, we keep His commandments. Loving God and others is keeping His commandments. That is what grace is all about.
This is true because we are sufficient in Christ. Our sufficiency is from God, 2 Corinthians, Verse 5. We are NOT sufficient in ourselves, Verse 5; to think of anything as being from ourselves, Verse 5. We are only sufficient in God. We are sufficient not only for our salvation, but as ministers of the new covenant, Verse 6. The New Covenant, because the letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life, Verse 6.
God did it all! God did it to you! He did it all for you so you can tell others about what God did. God wants you to take possession of your freedom in His Son Jesus. He wants you to own it (as they say). God wants you to accept you are righteous in Christ.
Now, please fully appreciate that statement of fact. You are righteous in Christ. God did not say, your righteousness is way over there in Christ, on a shelf, reserved for you in heaven. No, God said you are righteous in Christ right now. Because you are in Christ. Because you are in Christ you are righteous. You have been given the righteousness of Christ. Own it. Accept your free gift of righteousness—life in the Spirit—and testify to others how they can receive this great gift too! Be a living letter anyone can read.
