PLEASE read listed verses.

2 Cor.3:1-6. Verse 4: "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."

This is an awesome text. What kind of church would Christ "manifestly declare" to be His epistle (letter)? Notice He did not merely write TO them. He declared that they ARE His letter for all men to read.

People make bad remarks about the Corinthian believers. About this letter of Christ written by the Spirit of God! They infer that He disavowed them, and so should we. NOT SO! He did correct their errors, but He didn't disapprove His grace that worked in them.

1 Cor. 1:4-9 refers to God's grace that worked in them. Chapter 12:7-11, defined it.

In our text, Paul said God gave him grace to minister to them. Such grace that the Spirit of the Living God wrote on the fleshy tables of their hearts. What did He write? He wrote the grace of God, as noted above. Per Hebrews 8:10, God said He would write His law upon people's hearts. That case referred to the House of Israel. The point is that God does write on people's heart. He does it through ministry of His choosing.

Again, 2 Cor.3:3-6. God gave them abundant grace, per 1 Cor. 1:4, and the "gifts of the Spirit" (1Cor.12:7) operated in their meetings. 1 Cor. 14:26. That did not happen because they were morally flawless. It was purely God's grace. See 1 Cor. 6:11. It still is.

God wrote in them, 1 and 2 Corinthians. He wished all men to read them, and for the same grace to be in all believers. They were God's LETTER to all men. He didn't write only to the first century believers.

Those people had God's grace working in them. It pleased God to make them an EXAMPLE to all men. He wrote 1 Cor. 13 to them, and to us. He worked to perfect their "walk" in Christ. He wrote to establish Divine nature, and character, and power in them.

They are God's approved example for every one. Let us beware that we do not despise or reject what they ARE! This is an awesome text.

Dare we scorn God's grace that worked in them? Dare we repudiate God's grace that worked in them? Should we despise His grace which still works in believers today? I BELIEVE THAT NOT!

We should learn from their example and SEEK the grace of God that worked in them! Note 1 Cor. 12:31, 14:1; 14:26-31, 14:37-40. Be not deceived by those that say: "speaking with tongues isn't for us; or its of the devil"

FACT VERSES

Fact verses state facts that God and Christ did for us. They are not always promises. They're conditions that God and Christ caused, without human aid. Jesus showed this premise in Acts 1:7.

FACT: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1.

FACT: "...by Him were all things created...". Col. 1:16-18.

FACT: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,...". Eph. 2:10

FACT: "But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him." 1 Cor. 12:18.

FACT: "And He is the propitiation (atoning victim) for our sins:..." 1 John 2:2.

FACT: "For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.

The FACT and extent of God's grace is so great, that its often hard for us to grasp it.

Think of it! The Creator died on the cross for us, was made sin, went to hell, and rose from the dead on the third day.

In the words of the Hymn: "Oh, the grace that drew salvation's plan: oh, the grace that brought it down to man. Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary."

FACT: "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb.7:25.

Fact: "... and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

This ministry letter is sent out to bless and encourage all that read it.

I love you, God bless you.

Pastor Poole