2 Corinthians 3:1

2 Corinthians 3:1 says, Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Paul asked if they needed to prove themselves again and have written letters of commendation to be accepted by the church.  When a person is truly being effective in reaching the lost for Christ, they should not have to prove themselves everywhere they go, nor should they need written letters of recommendation to be accepted.  Verse two adds, Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  Paul said that the believers in Corinth, and wherever he preached, were his epistle, written in his heart.  Those that we reach with the gospel of Christ are indeed our proof of our relationship to Christ, and they should have a special place in our hearts.  Verse three continues, Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  Paul declared that those who accepted Christ as Savior and Lord were His epistle, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God.  We no longer have the law written on tablets of stone, but we have the law engraved in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four states, And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:  Paul said his trust came from Christ and pointed to the heavenly Father.  As long as we put our faith in Christ we will never fail as witnesses for Him.  Verse five adds, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  Paul declared that they were not sufficient to do anything by their own ability.  Their sufficiency, or power, came from God.  If we begin to put our faith in our own ability instead of relying on the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, then we will soon fail.  Verse six says, Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  Paul said they were called to be ministers of the new covenant.  This is the covenant based on faith in Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit.  This covenant brings life, whereas the old covenant, based on fulfilling the law of God could only lead to death.  Verse seven adds, But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  Paul said that the law was glorious, in that it was given by God.  The failure of the old covenant was not because it was bad, but because it required total fulfillment at all times, and people were unable to live up to that requirement.  Christ fulfilled that requirement, and now all that is required is acceptance of the gift of salvation by faith.  Verse eight continues, How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  Paul asks if the giving of the law was glorious, then should not the giving of salvation through faith in Christ be even more glorious.  Verse nine concludes, For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  Paul said the if the giving of the law, which could only lead to death was glorious, then the giving of life through the righteousness of Christ should be more glorious.  The law of God pointed us to Him, but required our fulfilling it, which we cannot do.  Salvation by Christ relies on His fulfilling the law, which He did.