©2002 Pastor Tom Miles

2nd Corinthians Chapter 3

In chapter three we find Paul addressing the issue of Commendation of the ministry and it's workings in the New Covenant.

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul is saying he does not need papers or letters of commendation as his opponents seem to need.  He says the people are his commendation.  Paul is saying the work of the Holy Spirit in the Corinthians is all the recommendation he needs.  Their example of living shows they are not caught up in the fleshly worldly needs but are driven towards the Gospel of Christ and what the Holy Spirit desires for them.  There could be no greater commendation than to be talked about by your congregation and followers in a positive manner.  It was a sign of the fruits of the laborers work for Christ.  Each Believer is an open letter of Christ and should display the love of Christ constantly.  If Christ truly lives in you and you in Him others should read you like an open letter.  Christ should be first and foremost glowing from you.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Paul does not boast here instead he simply speaks the truth that any true Believer can speak.  Paul recognizes that he is nothing without God but through God he can do all things.  His confidence is in God not in self.  To be a true and beneficial witness for Christ we need the strength and wisdom that can only come from God.  If we try to rely on our own strength and wisdom we will have nothing but struggles and failures.  If all you do is strive to keep the laws of the Old Testament you will never survive the onslaught of the devil against you.  You must take the Old Testament and the New Testament for now after Christ He is the only way to salvation.  The promise of eternal life comes through our acceptance of Jesus and our faith to walk with Him at all times.  The Holy Spirit with us gives us the power we need, but only if we are willing to accept it.

2 Corinthians 3:7 The law fades away but Christ remains forever because He is the fulfillment of the law.  Paul speaks here about the Ten Commandments and Moses having his face veiled so the people would not look upon the glow of God on his face.  It was also veiled so they would not see the glow leaving.   (Deuteronomy 9:10 & Exodus 34:29-35)  The Ten Commandments helped man see his sin but did nothing to help man break away from sin.  Only through Christ can we have the power to break free from sin.

2 Corinthians 3:8 “The ministry of the spirit” which is the ministry of the Gospel brought forth by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit gives life instead of death.  We receive life through Christ and live in His glory because the Holy Spirit is given to us, in fullness and with a power, that has never before been known.  While Christ walked on the earth man didn't have the fullness of that power but now that Christ went through the death, burial, and resurrection He lives and places His Holy Spirit full of power and abundance in every believer willing to step forth in faith and receive it.

2 Corinthians 3:9 Paul says that if the ministration of condemnation (Old Testament) had its splendor, how much more than would the ministration of the righteousness (New Testament) have its splendor.  The law was great, needed, and brought about recognition of sin and pointed us towards Christ.  And now with the New Testament it points us towards eternal life because through Christ it has been fulfilled.  By faith we can now be justified which means we can be made right with God!  We are the righteousness of God in Christ!  (Hebrews 12:18-21 and Romans 3:20; 5:13-20; 7:7)

2 Corinthians 3:10-11 In that the Old Testament ceased to be glorious in comparison with the greater glory given in the Gospel of Christ in this respect the Law and ten commandments along with their leaders were all done away with, totally abolished but only if we look at their ministry and value, separate from the whole!  In other words if we take only part of the old and put it with only part of the new it's worthless but when taken together as a whole it is glorious.  The law gives temporary victory but Christ gives permanent victory.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Now realizing that we have such a hope in Christ we can use the same boldness of speech that Moses and others used with even more authority.  It's our duty as Believers to bring forth the truth of the Gospel and the completeness of the whole Testament through Christ so that all will be able to understand and receive salvation.  Our speech should be bold, clear, concise, hiding nothing whatsoever so that all that hear can receive the truth if they so desire.

2 Corinthians 3:13-18 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments Paul makes reference to his face glowing from being in God's presence (Exodus 34:29-35).  Moses had to wear a veil so the people would not be terrified of the brightness that radiated from his face.  Paul also says that the veil kept the people from seeing the radiance fade away.  Moses and the veil gives us an image of the Old Covenant fading away and the people's minds and reasoning being veiled because of their refusal to repent, their hard hearts, and their pride.
They were not able to recognize the references to the Messiah in the scriptures because of the veil.  Paul says that when anyone becomes a Believer, Christ then removes the veil (3:16).  When Christ removes the veil we receive eternal life and freedom.  We no longer have to struggle with trying to be saved by keeping the law.  For those that try to receive salvation by keeping the Old Testament law without the addition of Christ they will be bound by traditions, rituals, ceremonies, and rules.  But with the gift of the Holy Spirit available through the fulfillment of the law by Christ we have freedom from sin and condemnation.
We are no longer under condemnation we have been set free (Romans 8).  God through Christ frees us from our burdens because where ever the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.  God's glory through Christ is forever; the glory through Moses was temporary.
Looking at God through unveiled eyes we can draw closer to Him and see much clearer who and what we are in Him.  As we draw closer to Him our knowledge in Him will grow and the Holy Spirit will move us to change our ways and life.  We will find ourselves becoming more and more like Christ.  And then without the veil we can find ourselves like mirrors reflecting God's glory in all we do and say (Romans 8; Philippians 3:21; Galatians 4:19 and John 3:2).

Father, lead us into the unveiling so we can walk closer to You.  Draw me nearer to You, dear Lord.  I want to be an image of You in everything I do and say.  This is my prayer for self and for the people.  Give them the understanding that the whole must be accepted, but it is only through acceptance of Christ who fulfilled the law that we are saved.  Nothing else will save us, thank You for loving us so much in Jesus name, amen!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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