September 22, 2024
Evening Service

2nd Corinthians 3:1  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 

2nd Corinthians 3:2  You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 

2nd Corinthians 3:3  clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 

2nd Corinthians 3:4  And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 

2nd Corinthians 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 

2nd Corinthians 3:6  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. 

2nd Corinthians 3:7  But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 

2nd Corinthians 3:8  how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 

2nd Corinthians 3:9  For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 

2nd Corinthians 3:10  For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 

2nd Corinthians 3:11  For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 

If we seeking praise of ourselves or give the appearance of seeking the accolades from our fellow humans, it brings about problems for our humility and spiritual condition of our minds. The thing that is pleasing to ministers or teachers of the Word is seeing the success of their teaching through the growth of those learning to give the praise and glory to God who is responsible for all things good. To see theirs spiritual lives growing in faith and trust in the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit to live a fruitful life committed to God.

Jeremiah 31:31  "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 

Jeremiah 31:32  not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 

Jeremiah 31:33  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

The law of Christ is now written on our hearts and the love of Christ we have been given is what we are to give to others. The law of the New Covenant is written on our hearts and not on stone as God gave to Moses, it is written on the heart of the flesh. Our hearts have been transformed to receive the law written on our hearts and the guidance of the Holy Spirit since the time Jesus ascended to His Father in Heaven. The Holy Spirit living in us is truly God indwelling in us; our bodies become the temple of the Lord in Heaven.

Ezekiel 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Paul correctly gives all the glory and honor to God and our whole existence is because of God, so the glory goes directly to Him only. The letter of the laws kills because it was dependent on blood sacrifices, but Christ willingly gave His life once for all time as the New Covenant. If we go strictly by the law, it will not allow us to grow, but since Jesus paid our debt and sent the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter, we have a spirit filled life and one leading to eternal life. Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God and forgiven for our sins, so the separation does not exist anymore. The Old Testament reprieve from sin was through the blood and death of sacrifices and the New Testament reprieve through Jesus sacrifice is final and not needing repeated. Jesus was also raised from the dead to have victory over death, the grave, and Hades to give hope to all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior, the Son of God! The law defines sin and makes known the wrath and curse of God, God is above us and against us, but the gospel message is of His Grace through Jesus and Emmanuel, God being with us. In the current covenant, the righteousness, grace, and mercy of God by faith is made known, the just will live by faith through belief in Jesus and obtain forgiveness and eternal life. The gospel has more glory than all of the law; Jesus fulfilled the law by coming to us in the flesh and gave His life as a ransom for all, so none should perish. The New Testament can also be a letter for killing if the gospel is ignored and not taken to heart. We must acknowledge Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit as God with us, and our Father in Heaven to depend on for the daily forgiving of our human sins through the blood of Jesus.

2nd Corinthians 3:12  Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 

2nd Corinthians 3:13  unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 

2nd Corinthians 3:14  But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 

2nd Corinthians 3:15  But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 

2nd Corinthians 3:16  Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 

2nd Corinthians 3:17  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

2nd Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

When teachers or ministers of the gospel message proclaim the Word of God, it is dutiful to use plain words and clarity in speech so it is easily understood. The believers in God of the Old Testament believers had only a brief partial view of the glory of God, Moses countenance was changed by being in His presence.

Exodus 34:30  So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 

The unseen truths are characteristics of the inward body and not only the outward appearance as the children of Israel observed with Moses. These are the obedience of the Word, the belief in our hearts of Christ, and the love he has shown to us so we can show the truth of Jesus to others. The gospel message of Jesus and the work he did on Calvary is purposely simple to understand so as not to confuse people on how to receive forgiveness of sins and believe in Jesus as God’s only Son. While living under the Law of Moses, there is a veil in place over their hearts, the veil is lifted by the teachings of Jesus and His atoning blood to be reconciled to God. When anybody chooses to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the veil of not knowing God’s truth is taken away. A result of believing in Jesus as The Way, The Truth, and The Life is that people are content because they are free in Jesus who pardoned them from their condemnation of their sins. We can have the light of our Lord to guide our ways in this world and not be consumed by the trials and tribulations that exist. Christians can focus on the love of Jesus and the personal relationship with Him to live a right life in the ways of the Lord. We should strive to live our lives in a worthy manner of the great love shown to us by our Savior. Our works do not do anything for our salvation, but if we have claimed the great and precious gift of forgiveness and eternal life from Jesus, we should have works that support our faith. Working diligently throughout our natural life to introduce others to the saving Grace of Jesus and His love. We have been forgiven and it will be our desire to see others receive the gospel if our hearts are aligned with Christ’s love. If we claim the great love of Jesus and His sacrifice, we should let His light shine in us and live a life that appeals to others to open the way for a witness of Jesus’ saving Grace. Remember it is God’s will that none should perish, but all should receive His Son in their hearts and receive eternal life.

2^nd Peter 3:8  But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

2^nd Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

2^nd Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.