June 21, 2015
Morning Service

II Cor. 3

 

            The first letter to the Corinthians was carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus.  This second letter was written a few months later of the same year, around 57-58ad.  Paul was encouraged when Titus, and Timothy returned with the news that the church at Corinth was making progress the way he ask them too.

            In chapter two the Apostle referred to the man in I Cor. 5, and his punishment.  He also told them that he didn’t want to come to them with a reprimand, and harsh words.  He said he didn’t want to make them sad, and discouraged, but wanted them to be joyful in the Lord.  He finishes chapter two with this statement:

2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

It’s a continuation of thought when we go into chapter three, let’s begin.

 

2Co 3:1-18  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 

·         It’s a common practice for someone that moves to another city, or is traveling, to ask for a letter of recommendation.  A testimony from someone of authority, to their character, and faithfulness to the Lord.

·         This evidently has happened with some of the false teachers that came from Jerusalem, and was teaching circumcision, and the keeping of the law.

·         Paul is letting them know that he doesn’t need a letter of recommendation from anyone.

(2)  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  (3)  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.  (4)  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 

·         When you accepted the gospel I preach, you accepted the Holy Spirit into your life, and He changed you, so all those around could see you were different.  He made a change in your heart, and all could tell.  You are an open letter read by all men.

·         The same thing is even true today, you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, and you will receive a measure of the Spirit of God, and He will change your life.  We will see soon, that you become a new creature, or creation, old things will pass away, and all things become new.

(5)  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  (6)  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

·         Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you are Spirit, and they are life.”  We speak the words of Christ, therefore we minister the Spirit, and life to all who will accept it.

·         The letter killeth:  Paul said this to the church at Rome;  Rom 7:9-10  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  (10)  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

(7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance;

·         Exo 34:29-30  And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.  (30)  And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

·         BUT NOTICE:           

which glory was to be done away: 

·         The old covenant was types, and shadows of the coming Christ, in which, Jesus of Nazareth would fulfill.   Take time to read the letter to the Hebrews, it explains this very well.   

(8)  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  (9)  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 

·         The ministration of condemnation, which was the law showing you that you were a sinner, and the ministration of righteousness, which frees us from bondage of sin, because you don’t stand on your own righteousness, but on the righteousness of Christ, by faith.

(10)  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.  (11)  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 

·         Just another way of Paul telling how much greater is this new covenant, than the old.

·         The old covenant, the law, was a covenant of death, for the law condemned you, because you could not keep the law.  The new covenant frees you from the fear of death, and because of our love to Christ motivates us to a life that’s pleasing in His sight.  It’s all about Jesus, and what He has done for mankind.  He gave his life, and shed His blood on Calvary for all mankind’s sins.   Paul said, “you are complete in Him.”   Col. 2:10

(12)  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:  (13)  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 

·         Plainness of speech, we have nothing to hide, but to reveal Jesus of Nazareth, as the Christ.

·         When Moses first came down from the mountain, his face shone so brightly that the people were afraid, and wouldn’t look at him.  Eventually that brightness went away, or faded away just as the law, or first covenant was fading away.

(14)  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  (15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 

·         Paul speaks in the Roman letter, on how Israel has been blinded by God, so that the gentiles could be accepted into the family of God.  This all happens in the church of Jesus Christ.

·         Paul says, nevertheless, if they turn, and accept Jesus as the Christ, and obey the gospel, this vail will be lifted, and they will see that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed of God.

(17)  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

·         More than not, Paul is referring to the Spirit of life in verse 5.  And again, when we have Christ abiding within, we have all we need.  We are complete in him.  Please read Romans 8.

(18)  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.

·         Throughout the Word of God we see the glory of the Lord Jesus.  We also should recognize that He has called us out of a world of sin, to be a shining image of Himself, to this dying world.  What a challenge we have, and a responsibility to our Lord, and the world.

·         Living a life that’s sold out to God, is a life full of joy, and fulfillment.  No more chasing the things of the world, but the things of God.

 

OUR FATHER WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN, GIVE YOUR CHURCH THE POWER TO BE A SHINING EXAMPLE TO EVERYONE.    AMEN.