You are an epistle of Christ

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 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 3v2-3

Part of Paul’s problem at the beginning of the letter was the fact that he was being attacked, accused, and belittled by the religious and community leaders in Corinth. He didn’t have the right paperwork and credentials to be taken seriously by many there. Paul had one thing though to back him up. The transformed lives of the believers there were testimony to him. They were all the paperwork he needed.

Paul takes it a step further though. The believers were not only letters of commendation for Paul, but they were also the letters of commendation for the reality of Christ in the lives of people. They were proof of what Christ can do. People can argue about our doctrine, our theology, and our Christian practice. One thing that no one can argue with is a transformed life. There is no argument, there is no debate. When Christ changes a life it is irrefutable proof. People may never open a Bible where words are in ink on paper. What they can read is the change of Christ written on our hearts.

Is my life a clear epistle of the transforming work of Christ? When people see me what kind of letter do they read?