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"Our sufficiency is from God."

Text: 2 Corinthians 3:5

WRITING UPON HEARTS

The ministry of writing upon hearts is certainly no easy task, not even for apostles of Christ! We have an invaluable insight as to the involvement of the Holy Spirit in this ministry.

“And we have such trust through Christ toward God.
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of
anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency
is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers
of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the
Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
2 Corinthians 3:4-6

1. “Such trust through Christ toward God”

a) The word “trust” speaks of “confidence” or “certainty”.

b) This is something that has been carefully cultivated through years of experience in serving God.

c) This persuasion is through Christ.

2. “Our sufficiency is from God”

a) The word “sufficiency” includes the idea of “strength”.

b) It is God who enables a person to become strong and capable.

3. “Who also made us sufficient as ministers”

a) The word “ministers” is a humble word.

b) It is often used to describe one who is involved in performing menial tasks.

c) Though Paul was an apostle of Christ, he saw himself simply as a “humble minister” of the Lord.

4. “Ministers of the new covenant”

a) It was the Lord Jesus who gave us the “new covenant” (Luke 22:20).

b) This covenant is to be distinguished from the “old covenant” (Mosaic covenant).

5. “Not of the letter”

a) This is a reference to the legalism of the old covenant.

b) The letter (reference to the letter of the law).

c) The letter kills.

6. “The Spirit gives life”

a) This is the essential difference.

b) The Spirit of God ministers to the heart seeking always to give life.