2 Corinthians 3:6-18
Would you be shocked to learn that many Christian churches are promoting the ministry of death and condemnation? The Apostle Paul called himself an “able minister of the New Testament” and then proceeded to tell us what he DIDN’T preach. Try and figure out what it is that Paul refuses to preach, based on this statement:
“But if the ministry of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministry of the Spirit be rather glorious?” (2 Corinthians 3:7, 8)
What is the only thing in the Bible that was originally written and engraven in stones? Even our little kids in Sunday school know that it was the 10 Commandments. Paul says that these Commandments are “the ministry of death” and that they were glorious, but that the glory “was to be done away”. The New Testament of which he preaches is called, “the ministry of the Spirit” and is more glorious.
He goes on to call the 10 Commandments, “the ministry of condemnation” (verse 9), because all who looked upon their holy demands were condemned as law-breakers. He is not denying the power of the commandments, as evidenced by Romans 7:12, “Wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good”. He does however, deny that the believer has anything to benefit by knowing those commandments. To young Timothy he states, “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…” (1 Timothy 1:8, 9). Notice that the law is not for the righteous man, and you and I are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Some people prefer to function underneath the ministry of death and condemnation. Paul said that they have a veil over their face when they read the Old Testament, even though that veil has been done away in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). Whenever we live out from under that law, refusing the veil, we live free from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14) and we have liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
You may wonder how we can expect to live and look righteous if we don’t preach and teach the 10 Commandments. Paul expected this question, so he closes this great 3rd chapter with this verse:
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The “open face” is us without the veil covering us, free to live by faith in Christ, not beneath the condemning weight of the law. As we see Jesus within the Word of God, both in the Old and the New Testament, we are changed into His image from one moment of glory to the next. Literally, the Law makes us all cookie-cutter versions of one another, while grace makes us like Jesus!
Which do you choose to live under, the ministry of death and condemnation or the ministry of the Spirit?
Would you be shocked to learn that many Christian churches are promoting the ministry of death and condemnation? The Apostle Paul called himself an “able minister of the New Testament” and then proceeded to tell us what he DIDN’T preach. Try and figure out what it is that Paul refuses to preach, based on this statement:
“But if the ministry of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministry of the Spirit be rather glorious?” (2 Corinthians 3:7, 8)
What is the only thing in the Bible that was originally written and engraven in stones? Even our little kids in Sunday school know that it was the 10 Commandments. Paul says that these Commandments are “the ministry of death” and that they were glorious, but that the glory “was to be done away”. The New Testament of which he preaches is called, “the ministry of the Spirit” and is more glorious.
He goes on to call the 10 Commandments, “the ministry of condemnation” (verse 9), because all who looked upon their holy demands were condemned as law-breakers. He is not denying the power of the commandments, as evidenced by Romans 7:12, “Wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good”. He does however, deny that the believer has anything to benefit by knowing those commandments. To young Timothy he states, “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…” (1 Timothy 1:8, 9). Notice that the law is not for the righteous man, and you and I are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Some people prefer to function underneath the ministry of death and condemnation. Paul said that they have a veil over their face when they read the Old Testament, even though that veil has been done away in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). Whenever we live out from under that law, refusing the veil, we live free from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14) and we have liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
You may wonder how we can expect to live and look righteous if we don’t preach and teach the 10 Commandments. Paul expected this question, so he closes this great 3rd chapter with this verse:
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The “open face” is us without the veil covering us, free to live by faith in Christ, not beneath the condemning weight of the law. As we see Jesus within the Word of God, both in the Old and the New Testament, we are changed into His image from one moment of glory to the next. Literally, the Law makes us all cookie-cutter versions of one another, while grace makes us like Jesus!
Which do you choose to live under, the ministry of death and condemnation or the ministry of the Spirit?
