Have you ever needed a letter of recommendation for anything? It could have been a new job you were applying for, or it could have been when you were applying for college. Whatever the case, more than likely, sometime in our lives we will be asked to write a letter for someone else or need one for ourselves. This was a custom that was common during the time the Scripture we will read today was written. Although, even today, sometimes a written testimony didn’t mean very much.

(2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, recognized and read by everyone. 3 It is clear that you are Christ's letter, produced by us, not written with ink by with the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.

The Apostle Paul and his friends had started a church in the city of Corinth. Over time other prophets moved into this city and began to teach a false Gospel of Jesus. Because of their false preaching, they had now put the Apostle in a difficult place. Because, if he tried defending himself to these people, they would have accused him of pride and building himself up. But if he didn’t do something this group would continue to destroy the church at Corinth. Paul had only one choice; he had to defend against these false prophets. He did this in a very subtle way.

He began his defense by comparing his letter of recommendation with the “letters of recommendation” these false prophets were presenting. These false preachers had physical letters commending them and building them up. When word got back to Paul about what was happening, he wrote them and said, “Church you are my letters of recommendation.” Let’s not misunderstand, at times letters of recommendation were needed and Paul had written several, but it wasn’t always needed. That’s what I want to focus on for the next few minutes. What did Paul mean when he said, “You are my living letters of recommendation?” First, he said...

You are not what you used to be

Though some of these people were still living carnal (fleshly) lives, they were not what they used to be. Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. These were the things that used to define them. But now they had changed and were still in the process of changing. They were slowly leaving behind their former lifestyles.

Did you know this is what happens in your life and my life when we choose to follow Christ? We are not what we used to be! Once you identify with Christ you are marked by Him. You are no longer just a sinner, but a sinner saved by Grace!! Not only are you not what you used to be, but you are being transformed into the image of Christ daily.

Day by day you are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

Later in this same chapter in (v 18) Paul says, “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” This is a reference back to the OT and Moses. When he came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, his face shown bright because he had been with the Lord. He put a veil over his face when he met the people until the next time, he received instruction from the Lord. But each time he would go in before the Lord he would take the veil off again.

Paul is saying that as believers, we are like Moses in that we can approach the Lord with an unveiled face. And when we do, we are contemplating the Lord and this brings transformation. This transformation is begun by us turning to the Lord, “faith” (3:16). It is then empowered by God’s Spirit (3:17-18).

Spiritual transformation happens through our minds being renewed (Romans 12:2). Reading Scripture and listening to preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 2:7). Enduring hardship (Romans 5:3-4). And, being a part of a Christian community by Loving, Serving, Teaching, and admonishing each other (Galatians 6:2). Contemplating the Lord involves a life of faithful endurance, service, and prayer and a life that is alert to God’s presence through His people and His Word.