QT 25/07/2024 Thu. 2Cor 3. The best proof of authenticity & authority. 真实性和权威性的最佳证明。
QT 25/07/2024 Thu. 2Cor 3. The best proof of authenticity & authority.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/2cor3
When your authority as a spiritual leader of God's people is being challenged, what will you show to answer it, letters of recommendation or introductions?
REFLECTION: What are your real credentials of ministry? Paper qualifications as proof or transformed people as proof?
To Paul, the Corinthians themselves were PROOFS of his competence as "ministers of a new covenant" (2Cor 3:6). Their existence as a church testified to the work of the "Spirit of the living God" (2Cor 3:3).
The rhetoric was this: Why ask for INK proof when the SPIRIT is the better engraver? Why ask for TABLETS/WRITING MATERIAL proof when HUMAN HEARTS are better evidences (2Cor 3:3)?
Such CONFIDENCE (in spite of a lack of written letters of recommendation) was from Christ (2Cor 3:4). This COMPETENCE came from God (2Cor 3:5). Paul went on to declare the superiority of the ministry of the Spirit over that of Moses (2Cor 3:7-11).
This gave Paul boldness (2Cor 3:12) to believe that God was STILL working among the Corinthians (despite their many major failures - see 1Cor). Paul wanted to free them and to transform them into God-likeness (2Cor 3:17-18).
This DYNAMIC process proves that their spiritual life is STILL ALIVE. It is NOT STATIC like ink or stone - which would mean that they are DEAD.
APPLICATION: The best testimony of one's spiritual work under the Holy Spirit is the lives of those whom one ministers to - the kind of lives that are STILL being transformed day by day "into his likeness" (2Cor 3:18).
As long as this transformation is STILL ongoing, one should not give up. The Corinthians of Paul's day still had a VERY long way to go, but Paul does not give up on them. Neither should you on those whom you lead.
星期四 2024年7月25日 今日读经：哥林多后书3章. 真实性和权威性的最佳证明。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/2Co/3/
当你身为神子民的属灵领袖的权威被挑战时，你会以什么来回应，推荐信或介绍信？
反思：你真正事奉的资格究竟是什么？是以纸上的文凭为证或是以改变的生命为证？
对保罗来说，哥林多人本身就是他成为“新约的仆役”资格的认证(林后3:6)。他们教会的存在显明了那是“用永活神的灵”的作为(林后3:3)。
有争议的论点是：为什么要白纸黑字的证据，圣灵的认证难道不是更好吗？为什么要写在石版上或写作素材上的证据，写在心版上的证据难道不是更好吗(林后3:3)?
这样的信心(虽然没有推荐信)是来自基督(林后3:4)。这样的资格是出自神(林后3:5)。保罗接着宣告圣灵的工作比摩西的工作更有荣光(林后3:7-11)。
这给了保罗莫大的胆量(林后3:12)来相信神仍然在哥林多人当中工作(尽管他们有许多失败的地方--见林前)。保罗想要解放他们并把他们变成主那样的形象(林后3:17-18)。
这种活跃的过程证明了他们的灵命还是活的。它不像静止的墨或石头---这表示他们是死的。
应用：一个人在圣灵的引导下，他最美好的见证便是他所服事的人的生命---这生命一天天“变成主那样的形象”(林后3:18)。
只要这改变仍继续着，就不应该放弃。保罗当时的哥林多人还有很长的路要走，但保罗并没有放弃他们。你也不应该放弃那些你带领的人。
圣灵的认证难道不是更好吗？为什么要写在石版上或写作素材上的证据，写在心版上的证据难道不是更好吗(林后3:3)?
这样的信心(虽然没有推荐信)是来自基督(林后3:4)。这样的资格是出自神(林后3:5)。保罗接着宣告圣灵的工作比摩西的工作更有荣光(林后3:7-11)。
这给了保罗莫大的胆量(林后3:12)来相信神仍然在哥林多人当中工作(尽管他们有许多失败的地方--见林前)。保罗想要解放他们并把他们变成主那样的形象(林后3:17-18)。
这种活跃的过程证明了他们的灵命还是活的。它不像静止的墨或石头---这表示他们是死的。
应用：一个人在圣灵的带领下所作的属灵工作的最好见证，就是他所服事的人的生命——这些人的生命仍然日复一日地被改变“变成主那样的形象”（林后3:18）。
只要这种转变仍在继续，就不应该放弃。保罗时代的哥林多人还有很长的路要走，但保罗没有放弃他们。你也不应该放弃你所带领的人。
只要这改变仍继续着，就不应该放弃。保罗当时的哥林多人还有很长的路要走，但保罗并没有放弃他们。你也不应该放弃那些你带领的人。
