Sunday: Fruits of an Authentic Ministry
Daily Lesson for Sunday 30th of August 2026
Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-9. In what sense can we be an epistle of Christ?
Letters of recommendation were common in the Greco-Roman world. However, Paul did not bear such letters. The Spirit’s transformative power in the lives of the Corinthians was proof of his authentic ministry. Yet, Paul was sure that it was not through his intelligence or efforts that the church in Corinth came into being (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). He was not involved in self-promotion (2 Corinthians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 2:2).
Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com
Paul speaks about his ministry by briefly discussing the two covenants: the old one represented by Moses and the new one represented by Paul and his colleagues. A hasty reader may think that the old covenant gave no hope of salvation, but this is untrue. Salvation was available in the old as in the new covenant. The old covenant was the gospel in advance. “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed’ ” (Galatians 3:8, NKJV).
In 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, we can see that the old covenant is used to symbolize the legalistic experience of those who depended upon their own works of obedience as the means of pleasing God. The new covenant, however, represents the experience of those who rely completely on God’s grace to do all that God has promised to do for them and in them.
Paul is talking about two different responses, by believers and unbelievers, to the gospel. He is not talking about different gospels, one in the Old Testament and a different one in the New—for there is only one gospel, offered by God, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9, NKJV).
“This is not to deny that 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 contains some historical elements.”—Skip MacCarty, In Granite or Ingrained?: What the Old and New Covenants Reveal about the Gospel, the Law, and the Sabbath (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2007), p. 120. But Paul is using that history to make the point that some among them “are being saved” and some “are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15, NKJV). Because of the reaction, that of unbelief and lack of faith toward Moses’ ministry, his ministry can be viewed as a ministry of condemnation and death. Because the church at Corinth believed, Paul’s ministry among them proved to be a ministry of righteousness, a ministry of the Spirit who gives life.
This experience of salvation of the church in Corinth is the evidence of Paul’s authentic ministry.
Paul gives us the best argument for Christianity ever. We share the Gospel by our living. I don’t think I need to add any argument to that.
“The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3, NLT).
A genuine ministry transforms lives simply because Christ is at the centre. In my posting yesterday, I wrote, “The very essence of a genuine Christian ministry is Christ”. Authentic ministry must produce visible evidence in the lives of the believers. The transformed lives are tangible evidence that Christ has genuinely been preached. The lives of believers are visible letters through which Christ can communicate His gospel message to the world. The people whom we come into contact with might never read the Bible or go to church, but they observe our lives. They visibly observe how we treat people, how we react when we are annoyed, what our behaviour is when no one is seeing, how honest we are with money, how we treat the poor, how we keep our words, how truthful we are, how we treat our families, how we use power, and whether our public life reconciles with our spiritual confession.
Many people might never have the opportunity to preach a sermon, teach a Bible study lesson, or even contribute to a blog like ours, but their lives are testimonies to be heard by many. Our lives can either validate our Christian confession or demolish it. Yes, many people might never see us in our best behaviour while we are in the church, but outside the church. What life do we live after we have left church is the true test of who we are in Christ. This is what ministry is producing in us.
As Paul writes, “This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God”. The Holy Spirit is the “ink” that writes the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts (Galatians 5:22–23). Therefore, the fruits of an authentic ministry are not simply going to church or large congregations or impressive religious activities but to produce a people with transformed characters fit for God’s kingdom.
Hi people..re authentic ministry…
Stir up love….
Motivate,inspire,lift one another up.
Mark Finley, hope booklet.. chapter… staying healthy in a sick world.
Great read people…
It lifts us up where we belong.
Blessings reneanne Anderson.
In the lesson study, it talks about the “Paul speaks about his ministry by briefly discussing the two covenants: the old one represented by Moses and the new one represented by Paul and his colleagues”
Consider the following:
As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation. { PP 370.2}
Another compact—called in Scripture the “old” covenant—was formed between God and Israel at Sinai, and was then ratified by the blood of a sacrifice. The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the “second,” or “new,” covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant. That the new covenant was valid in the days of Abraham is evident from the fact that it was then confirmed both by the promise and by the oath of God—the “two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie.” Hebrews 6:18. { PP 371.1}
But if the Abrahamic covenant contained the promise of redemption, why was another covenant formed at Sinai? In their bondage the people had to a great extent lost the knowledge of God and of the principles of the Abrahamic covenant. In delivering them from Egypt, God sought to reveal to them His power and His mercy, that they might be led to love and trust Him. He brought them down to the Red Sea—where, pursued by the Egyptians, escape seemed impossible—that they might realize their utter helplessness, their need of divine aid; and then He wrought deliverance for them. Thus they were filled with love and gratitude to God and with confidence in His power to help them. He had bound them to Himself as their deliverer from temporal bondage. { PP 371.2}
But there was a still greater truth to be impressed upon their minds. Living in the midst of idolatry and corruption, they had no true conception of the holiness of God, of the exceeding sinfulness of their own hearts, their utter inability, in themselves, to render obedience to God’s law, and their need of a Saviour. All this they must be taught. { PP 371.3}
It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth,that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud. Genesis 9:14.
If you want to see a rainbow you have to have the sun behind you when you look at a rainstorm….the far side of a raindrop acts as a tiny mirror and that is why you need the sun behind you if you want to see the rainbow.
Richard Dawkins..the magic of reality.
Glass darkly.. rainstorm… Son…behind us… mirror..law.. rainbow of promise. The reality of magi ..east..small cloud.
Authenticity…
Blessings for the week.
Hi people re authenticity.
Yes magi from the east focused on the star and not the cloud.
Reneanne Anderson
Authentic Christian ministry is patterning our lives after Christ who went about doing good. That’s why Paul could encourage the church to follow him as he followed Christ. God’s grace is sufficient for us because of God’s grace and mercy we acknowledge the good works which God has given us to perform and we follow Christ’s example in serving others.
The author of our Lesson study says- ” The experience of salvation of the church in Corinth is the evidence of Paul’s authentic ministry.” I politely disagree.
What if the Corinthian believers had not heeded Paul’s admonition , would their response negate the authenticity of his message ?
Had the people of Nineveh not repented in sackcloth and ashes to Jonah’s message, would that response have negated the authenticity of Jonah’s message ?
The Jews , God’s chosen people to whom Jesus was specifically sent at that time, rejected Him and crucified Him on a cross. Does that indicate that the life and message of Jesus communicated to the Jews were not authentic ?
Steve, I totally see what you are saying. However, just because something is true, doesn’t always mean the reverse is false.
I think the faith of the Corinthians did provide evidence of Paul’s ministry. But it is only one piece of evidence – it’s not the only piece. People can heed the message of false teachers too, but that doesn’t support their ministry. And yes, as you say, just because a person is ineffective does not mean God is not working through them.
Paul’s ministry was authenticated by many things, of which I believe this is one.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” This quote is famously misattributed to Francis of Assisi. Regardless of who spoke it the principle it seeks to convey is clear. All words and no action is just noise. For the gospel to reveal the power of God it must first be revealed in the life of the preacher. Paul was the real deal. What he said is what he lived. He was as we say today, the real deal.
It is amazing how God took a mercenary and turned him into a missionary. One that persecuted and prosecuted the early fledgling church, to one that promoted it. That right there reveals the power of the gospel to change hearts and lives.
Granted the use of words is necessary in proclaiming the gospel. However those words lose their effectiveness, their power, if they aren’t infused with love and backed up by actions. Then we can be ever so eloquent but in the words of Paul, a “Resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 1:13). In other words, we are just making noise out of place. Genuine love and concern for the recipients of the gospel infuses the preaching of the word with the power of God.
In other words, we have to put shoe leather, or if you prefer, “gumboots” to our faith. Live the gospel like Paul did. The world has enough noise in it.
Regarding the EGW comment that a pastor will know if he’s called to the ministry by the souls who are converted, have you ever heard of a pastor leaving his work as a minister of the gospel when after a series of meetings no one asked for baptism? no one changed their lifestyle?
I do not believe that God leaves His people on a quip, because He is the Alpha and the Omega. God gave us the ability to reason and He never took away the enemy’s ability to deceive with might.
So God gave humanity, as well as other worlds, the ability to learn. God presented the ten Commandments as a glimpse of His love in a learning-tool format. The old testament, used as safe guard. As is today, the commandments were to keep God’s people safe, if they believed the promise. Thus, pointing to the Savior that was promised to our first parents. There is no other reason to keep the commandments, if there was not a savior to come and a new life promised. Which brings us to the new testament, the announcement of the promise. A savior who exhibited the love of God, who lived in the flesh to show us how to live to be reconciled to our creator. And the enemy of souls again tried with all the might that he had, to annihilate humanities ability to reconcile God and man. But he failed, praise God.
Brings me back to the initial question: In what sense can we be an epistle of Christ? We can be an epistle by choosing to keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.
Hi people authentic ministry… creatives…
Throughout the blitz the king wore military uniform but the queen followed the advice of Norman Hartnell…how should the queen be dressed? In black? Black does not appear in the rainbow of hope. The queen wore dusty pink,dusty blue and dusty lilac. The gentle colours Hartnell recommended….comforting, encouraging and sympathetic.
Reneanne Anderson
Hi people
Reference for previous comment..
Miss dior…Justine picardie..
Harrowing story of Dior’s sister’s imprisonment by Nazis.. lightened up.
Reneanne Anderson
Nowadays, some people may still believe that we can be perfect while living on this planet (1 John 1:8; Ecclesiastes 7:20). However, we know that our justification before God can only happen through Jesus’ sacrifice (Romans 3:24; Galatians 2:16). Does that mean that obedience to the Law cannot save? (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:11) Obedience may not come first, but as a consequence of God’s Grace towards us. (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:15) Should I accept His Grace, my belief becomes materialized in my work. (James 2:17; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13)
In 2 Corinthians 3:1–9, Paul uses a beautiful picture: our lives can become a “letter” from Christ, an epistle that people read even when they never open a Bible.
Paul’s point is particularly powerful because a letter is written for someone else to read. Likewise, our ministry must not be merely about what we profess with our lips; our lives are supposed to make Christ visible to those around us.
And there is an important qualification: we are not the author of the letter. Christ is. The Holy Spirit writes His character upon our hearts. We are the living parchment through which others encounter Christ.
That is why Paul says, “our sufficiency is from God” (verse 5). We cannot manufacture Christlike character by our own strength.
In short: An epistle of Christ is a life in which Christ has written His character so clearly that others can “read” something of Jesus by the way we live.
“We may be the only Bible some people ever read, but Christ must be the Author of what they read in us.”
I agree that the Corinthians’ faith was evidence of God’s work through Paul’s ministry. But Scripture gives us Noah, Jeremiah, and Elijah—faithful servants whose ministries often produced very little visible response. So fruit can be evidence of God’s working, but the amount of visible success cannot be the ultimate measure of a ministry’s faithfulness.
1. What does it mean to be an “epistle of Christ”?*
In Paul’s time, preachers carried letters of recommendation to prove they were real. Paul said he didn’t need that. The changed lives of the people in Corinth _were_ his letter.
In other words: People should be able to read Jesus in your life the way they read a letter.
Paul was also clear – this change was not because he was smart or a great speaker. It was God’s work, not his. He was not promoting himself.
2. Old Covenant vs New Covenant – what is Paul really saying?
Paul compares Moses (old covenant) and himself (new covenant).
This does NOT mean there were two different ways to be saved. There has always been only ONE gospel – salvation by grace through faith. Even Abraham was saved by faith. Galatians 3:8 says God “preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand.”
So what is the difference?
– Old Covenant experience:Trying to please God by your own obedience and works. This leads to condemnation and death, because we can never be good enough.
– New Covenant experience:*Trusting completely in God’s grace to do in you what He promised. This leads to righteousness and life through the Holy Spirit.
Main Point:
The same gospel can have two results depending on how people respond:
– Some reject it – for them it becomes condemnation.
– Some believe it like the Corinthians did – for them it becomes life and transformation.
The fact that the Corinthians were saved and transformed was the proof that Paul’s ministry was authentic and from God.