EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
The real measure of any
church is changed lives
___
2 Corinthians 3:1-8,11-13, 15-18
___By Mark Bumpus
___First Baptist Church, Mineral Wells
___A man on a tour of Europe had been led through one magnificent cathedral after another. The churches were ornate but empty. Finally, interrupting the local tour guide, he asked a burning question that had been on his mind for days, "Has anybody been saved in here lately?"
___The goal of the church is changed lives. William Barclay wrote, "We judge a church by the kind of men it creates."
___ Changed lives (2 Corinthians 3:1-3). The apostleship of Paul had been challenged by insincere peddlers of the word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17). These had infiltrated the 
Corinthian church with letters of recommendation which resembled impressive, but false, resumes. These charlatans wanted Paul, the founder of the church, to produce letters of testimony.
___It was a ludicrous request. Indeed, Paul had a letter--a human letter: the changed lives of the Corinthians. This was a letter not of paper and ink, but one engraved on the heart (v.3). Their lives had been transformed by the power of the gospel and in striking contrast with their former manner of living. The irrefutable result of Paul's ministry was the "church of changed lives"--greater than any monument that stood in ancient Corinth.
___ Agent of change (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). With genuine humility, Paul asserts it is the Spirit of Christ who has given new life to the Corinthian believers (v.6). It was God who appointed Paul (v.5), made him effective (v.6) and gave him confidence (v.4). He did not appoint himself (v.5). Nothing good was accomplished in Corinth apart from God.
___ Permanence of change (2 Corinthians 3:7-8,11-13). Jeremiah prophesied the law of God no longer would be external but written internally and permanently on the heart of the believer (Jeremiah 31:33). This new covenant "remains" (v.11) and does not fade. This assurance gave Paul "great boldness" in speaking (v.12). He was confident of the eternal nature of the Corinthians' new-found faith.
___ Effect of change (2 Corinthians 3:15-16). Turning to Christ in repentance leads to the removal of spiritual blindness (v.16). In salvation, minds are no longer hardened to Christ (v.14). The blinding veil that lies over the heart is removed (v.15).
___ Changed like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). As we allow God's Spirit to transform us "into his likeness with ever-increasing glory" (v.18), we are more like Christ today than we were yesterday and less than what we shall be tomorrow. Faithfulness leads to Christian growth. Bondage to sin and death is removed (v.17).
___Anybody been saved lately in your church through the music ministry, WMU, Brotherhood, discipleship training or pastoral and deacon ministries? Anybody been saved lately through your Sunday school class? Any non-Christians present today in your Sunday school class or worship who need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ? An aspect of every Christian grouping must be evangelism. We must always keep before us the goal of the church--changed lives!
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