The early church used letters of commendation for those who visited other believers (Acts 18:2727And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: (Acts 18:27); Romans 16:11I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (Romans 16:1)). Did the Apostle Paul need an epistle of commendation to the Corinthians? No, because they were his letter of commendation, having been saved under his preaching. All men knew what manner of people they were before they heard the gospel, for Corinth was a wicked city, but now these believers were serving the Lord. They had a new life given to them. It was not received by law-keeping, but by the Spirit of God using Paul as the messenger of the gospel. Paul did not make out or even think that he was better than others, but he gives God the credit for all that was accomplished through the preaching of the gospel. The law could never give new life, but the Spirit of God could. Now that Christ has completed the work necessary for our salvation and the Spirit indwells us, we can understand many lovely pictures of Christ in the Old Testament. We are living in a most favored time of man’s history on earth! How we should delight to read the Bible often and practice it! As a result, we will be changed and become more like the Lord Jesus.
1. The faith of the saints in Corinth was written in Paul’s heart. Who else read their faith through their lives as if they were reading a letter? __________ 2 Corinthians 3:___
2. We are not sufficient to think anything correctly by ourselves, but who gives us sufficiency to think right thoughts? __________ 2 Corinthians 3:___
3. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives __________. 2 Corinthians 3:___
4. We can now understand beautiful truth from the Old Testament because the veil (which formerly had blinded the spiritual sight of the children of Israel) is now __________. 2 Corinthians 3:___
5. By the Spirit, if we behold the glory of the Lord, what happens to us? __________ 2 Corinthians 3:___