Fading glory to Greater glory
Apostleship Defense: 2nd Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:37
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Fake, false, forgery
Fake, false, forgery
What is the best way to tell is something is fake, false or a forgery? Yep you got it, you need to know the real thing, study the real thing so that if anyone presents anything else you would know it. Our passage Paul overcomes the peddlers of fake, false gospel (2Cor2:17) in a beautiful way.
They had attacked Paul integrity and character
They challenged his apostleship
They questioned if he cared for them
All the while many were peddling some other gospel that mixed grace and the Law. (2Cor2:17; Gal1:6-9)
17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
Paul and the mission team, coupled with the apostles were not selling the Word, peddling something to go with grace, they were with sincerity speaking in Christ in the sight of God for all to see.
This other gospel, anything beyond grace by faith, look what Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, so this was not an isolated issue, we have seen it here in Corinth, and all throughout the missionary trips in Acts.
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
No sooner than the gospel of grace by faith start to spread within the Gentiles that trouble came in the form of others (Judiazers) who demanded adherence to Jewish law along with grace.
some have entitled it as:
Gospel of Legalism
Now our passage really focuses on the Law of Moses and compares to the law of grace, but legalism can be much more than that. Demanding an adherence to certain standards outside of grace by faith for salvation. The church can be accused of legalism today (i.e. type of clothes; types of music, movies, even elements of worship)
These peddlers of false gospel were robbing the church of the glory found in Christ Jesus. He addresses the issue of stolen glory in our passage in comparing the legalistic mindset (Old Testament Law of Moses) and the New Testament mindset (Gospel of grace). Drawing from the Old Covenant (Law, works) and New covenant (grace by faith). The fading glory of the Old and the increasing glory of the new, so may we enjoy the ride.
From tablets of stone - to heart
From tablets of stone - to heart
The Law written on stones (Exo34:1; Eze11:19; Jer31:33) would be written on hearts and Paul draws from that, this is just so you have some references to go from.
1 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered.
The Old Testament Law of Moses was written on stone tablets
But even when that happen there was still forthcoming a new law that was foretold by the prophets and a new way it would be written.
19 “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
The new way would take the heart of stone and replace with a heart of flesh.
another good reference
33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
New way, God would write the law within them on their heart
(Transition) I am not sure how far we are going to get into this message today, it maybe split into two parts, we will see. So let’t to the first part of the passage.
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Some, Judiazers carried letters of commendation (v.1)
Remember Paul at one time carried letters of condemnation to the people, the letters came from the church in Jerusalem for persecution of those of the Way.
At this time Paul carries no such letters, not of condemnation or as the Judiazers are carrying commendation. They were quick to point out that Paul had no such letter (here is another attack on him)
One commentator said this.
“It is a sad thing when a person measures his worth by what people say about him instead of by what God knows about him.”
Paul needed no credentials, no recommendations or commendations, his life, his ministry and the church itself were the letter (v.2)
Letter written with Spirit of living God, not ink; Not on stone tablets but tablets of human heart (v.3) (Ref: 1Cor6:9-11).
When God gave the Law, it was written on stone tablets given to Moses and carried down, conveyed then stored in the ark of the covenant.
The Law was external that was to be applied to make internal but lacked any power to do that, it could not transform. (Legalism today cannot do it: legalism does not a Christian make)
The ministry of Grace through Faith, is written on the heart and uses the Word of God that can change and transform lives. It was the gospel of grace that changed the Corinthians life before.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
They were Paul’s letter of commendation, it was his life, his ministry that cared for them and he carried them with him wherever he went (v.3). They were the living epistles of Christ!
(insert: Living Epistle picture here)
The measure of a true ministry is not the number of baptisms in and of itself but the changed lives; not in the number of studies, but lives changed because of those studies. Not in the collection, offering, tithe given but the heart in which it is given. We are called to minister by the Spirit of God and leave the results up to God, He causes the increase (Act2:46) It is a sad truth that the Corinthians, just like the Galatians were following the boastful Judaizers.
Your life is a living epistle, what kind of epistle are you?
One to death - one to life
One to death - one to life
Paul’s life demonstrated that he did not live for himself, he died to self and living for Christ (Php1:21). He did not boast of self but of Christ and Him crucified (1Cor2:2). He did not live to please man but God (Gal1:10). He starts to draw comparisons now between letter (law) and Spirit (grace).
4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Paul did not boast of confidence in himself but in God through Christ. (v.4)
All adequacy is from God and not of ourselves (v.5).
In (v.6) Paul expresses he is a servant of a new covenant, not the letter that kills, but the Spirit that gives life.
Paul was good at giving glory to God and you can see that he points that all sufficiency all adequacy comes from God.
He did not rely, depend on himself and his works (as if under the law) but on God (as under the Spirit).
The claim of the Judiazers and legalists today are that the law (works) can make you spiritual, but Paul points out that is it fully by God’s grace, through faith that we are saved aside from any works.
Grace not works that saves (1Cor15:10)
letter of the law kills, spirit of grace saves
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
As we look at our passage as a whole today you wil be able to see the contrast of:
Old covenant/letter of the Law vs. New Covenant/spirit of grace
This is not two ways of looking at things, literal and spiritual, this one way brings death and the other gives life.
One is ministry of death (Gal3:21-25)
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
The law could not give life. But the gospel brings life because of the work of Jesus on the cross.
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Paul was not discounting the law and the importance of it, it was needed
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
The law brings sin to the attention of the sinner in other words kills them and they know their lost state , helpless, then the grace of God came come in and save the sinner.
John the baptist spoke of the judgment coming to open the door for Jesus to bring the spirit of grace. (Mt3:7; Eph1:7-8)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
and then in looking at Ephesians
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
There are those who preach a message of grace plus. It is grace plus obedience that saves you, it is by doing things certain ways, doing certain things saves you. It brings guilt, sorrow, shame and steals to grace of God so joyously given, rich, life giving grace received through faith that brings obedience and not the other way around.
(insert Internal transformation impacts external)
The Old Testament Covenant Law with its emphasis on the external (works) was preparation for the New Testament Covenant of Grace with the emphasis on the internal transformation that in turn will impact the external.
Fading glory - Greater Glory
Fading glory - Greater Glory
From the fading glory under Moses to the increasing, greater glory under Christ.
7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.
11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Paul illustrates with ministry of death (law; works) written on stones and its glory and ministry of the Spirit with even more glory.
Paul contrasts the ministry of condemnation, and its glory (v.9) and the ministry of righteousness (grace) has abounding, surpassing glory (vv.10-11)
well, I do not think there is anyway we are going to get through everything in the rest of this chapter today so we are going to split into two parts. I will cover these verses now and next week pick up with the rest (vv.12-18)
These verse make up the thrust of this chapter. This is the main point that Paul is trying to make in overcoming the Judaizers. If you wanted to study out more you and draw from the giving of the law (Exo34:29-35) and our passage, but for time constraints we are not going to read those verses today.
Paul, again, is not denying the glory of the law or the old covenant at all, what he is affirming now is that the New Covenant of grace through faith was far superior and went on to build his case in these verses.
New Covenant glory- Spirit life, not death (2Cor3:7-8)
Moses upon receipt of the law shone the glory of God on his face.
Paul argues from the lesser to the greater; if there was glory in the law which brought death, how much more glory is there in ministry that brings life.
Legalists, Judaizers like to bring the glory of the law (obedience; works) and minimize its weaknesses.
Paul in writing to the Galatians showed the following points we should quickly look at
Law cannot justify the lost sinner (Gal2:16)
Law cannot give give a sinner righteousness (Gal2:21)
Law cannot give the Holy Spirit (Gal3:2)
Law cannot give an inheritance (Gal3:18)
Law cannot give life (Gal3:21)
Law cannot give freedom (Gal4:8-10)
Now I suggest, urge you to take the outline home with you, look up the scriptures from Galatians to gain a deeper understanding of the weakness of the law (obedience, works).
New Covenant glory brings righteousness, not condemnation (2Cor3:9-10)
Purpose of law was not to bring salvation; for there is no salvation through obedience.
The Law brings condemnation in the mirror to see how dirty our sin really is.
The New Covenant produces righteousness and changes lives to the glory of God. Man’s greatest need to enter into the kingdom is righteousness. Righteousness only comes through faith (ref. Gal2:21)
21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
It is only when we trust Jesus, when we live by faith in God’s grace do we experience the joy of the Lord and acceptance.
Lost glory (v.10) is pale because of the glory that surpasses it (v.10)
So the law (obedience/works) produces guilt and condemnation it is like:
Bond of indebtedness (Col2:14)
A guardian who disciplines us (Gal4:1-5)
A yoke too heavy to bear (Gal4:1; Act10:10)
(Transition) and just one more thing from this part of the passage)
New Covenant glory is permanent, not temporary (2Cor3:11)
quick note: Paul is writing in a time that scripture is still being written. A time when the old was passing away and the new had come. The temple still stood until AD 70. Nation of Israel still existed and the spiritual Isreal was being discovered.
Judiazers wanted the people to mix law and grace, old and new.
Paul’s point is why go back to something that is temporary, fading away?
Now in 1 minute or less
Law of Moses had a glorious past but it has no glory today. the light is gone, all that remains are the shadows (Col2:16-17)
The ministry of grace is internal(vv.1-3) brings life (vv.4-6) and involved increasing glory (vv.7-11)
(Pray) (Close)