Paul's Epistles - 2 Corinthians Part 5 – GREATER GLORY

INTRODUCTION

Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth began with letting the church know that Paul was happy to hear that the church had received and responded correctly to his first letter.

Remembering James 5:19, 20 " My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."  

Paul explained why he didn't visit them and that he was pleased they had responded well to his first letter, even though not all had repented.

Last week we looked at Paul encouraging the church to allow the offender of incest return to the congregation, because he had truly repented and turned away from his sin, therefore he had been forgiven. Paul said that his punishment by the church forcing him to leave the congregation was enough, and that since he had repented and was forgiven, they must allow him back.

Paul reminded them that it was not that long ago, they too were not living as God wanted them, and they repented, and were forgiven by Paul.

Paul reminds the church in Corinth, and us as well, that forgiveness to those who have repented is essential, not only because we are commanded to do so by Christ, but because when we forgive, we keep Satan from having a way to outwit us.

Satan will use our unforgiveness as a weapon against us in his schemes.

As long as we have unforgiveness against someone who has repented, we are being disobedient to the Lord, which in turn allows a foothold for Satan to work against us.

Satan is always looking for an area of our lives where we are being disobedient, which allows him room to work his schemes against us.

This week Paul explains how our presence as servants of Christ is a pleasing aroma to God, and a double edge sword to those who are perishing...bringing death and life...

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE II Corinthians 3:7-18

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! ¹⁰ For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

    I.      THE GLORY OF THE LAW OF MOSES

a.      The Old Testament

                                                                          i.      Old Covenant

                                                                       ii.      Law of Moses

                                                                     iii.      Ten Commands (commandments)

b.      Ministration of death (vs 7)

                                                                          i.      The Old Covenant does not save, but condemns

                                                                       ii.      It is the unobtainable measure of God's standard

                                                                     iii.      Showing all who wish to come to the Lord, they are not worthy of Him and His glory

                                                                      iv.      The Law of Moses showed man they needed a savior

c.      God's Glory

                                                                          i.      His ways are above ours

                                                                       ii.      God cannot be reached through the Law

                                                                     iii.      The Law only brings death and condemnation

                                                                      iv.      The covenant that condemn must come before the covenant that saves

II.      THE GREATER GLORY OF THE NEW COVENANT

a.      The New Testament

                                                                          i.      New covenant

                                                                       ii.      The ministration of the Spirit

                                                                     iii.      Not a covenant of law, but of Spirit

b.      Ministration of the Spirit

                                                                          i.      Because of what Christ did at the cross, it is possible for the Holy Spirit to do great things in us and our lives.

                                                                       ii.      Providing we keep our faith

                                                                     iii.      Evidently. some false teachers had come from Jerusalem, attempting to extol the so-called "virtues" of the law.

                                                                      iv.      They were trying to mix Law with Grace, which cannot be done

c.      God's greater Glory

                                                                          i.      If God's Glory is present in the ministration of death, how much greater is His Glory in the Ministration of life through the Spirit?

                                                                       ii.      The Glory of the Law of Moses cannot begin to compare with the Glory of the New Covenant.

                                                                     iii.      One brings death and condemnation, the other life and forgiveness

III.      THE TRANSFORMATION INTO HIS IMAGE

a.      The returning veil of the Old Covenant

                                                                          i.      We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.

                                                                       ii.      But their minds were blinded, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.

1.       The glory on Moses face faded

2.      It was meant to show that the Law would fade as well

3.      Which it did with Christ, who fulfilled it all

                                                                     iii.      They did not understand the Law was meant to be phased out

                                                                      iv.      Israel was still trying to live by the Lawand some were trying to force it into the New Covenant

b.      Christ removes the veil

                                                                          i.      VS 15-16 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 

1.       Anyone who does not know the Lord is still blind

c.      [S 15-16 s still trying to live by the Lawand some were trying to force it into the New Covenant

c.      stration of life through the SpAnd the Spirit of the Lord transforms us

                                                                          i.      Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

CONCLUSION

The Law only condemns, it brings death. This first covenant of Law had to come before the covenant to save.

With the New Covenant, obtained through Christ's payment of our debt through the crucifixion, any who come to the ministration of the Spirit, are saved through God's Grace, and there is no place for the Law of condemnation within the Gospel of Christ, other than to show our guilt and inability to measure up to God's Glory.

Through the Spirit of God, who is at work in all who are part of the New Covenant, we are being transformed into the Image of Christ.

The more we submit to the Lord's authority in our lives, the more we will experience change, both in our lives as well as in our minds.

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