Bold Ministers of the New Covenant
Notes
Transcript
Bold Ministers of the New Covenant
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
This morning, our text is going to show us how we can also be bold ministers of life change. Notice verse twelve of chapter three, “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” The boldness is a result of the hope we have in the new covenant. The new covenant hope gives us a confident expectation that at the end of redemptive history God is going to bestow upon his people all the blessings that come from the New Covenant, which is the consummation and fullness of our salvation in Jesus Christ.
In verses seven through eighteen, Paul is contrasting the old and new covenants. If you are confused about the old and new covenant, then it might help you if you understood it as the old and new testaments.
Paul is contrasting to two covenants, most likely, to refute the false teachers who were elevating Old Testament Law about the New Testament law of the Spirit and grace. As we observe the contrast, we see begin to understand what the New Covenant is all about. Firs, we see that the new covenant is more glorious in nature than the old covenant.
1. The new covenant is more glorious in nature than the old covenant
1. The new covenant is more glorious in nature than the old covenant
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
In these five verses, we have the Greek word “doxa” used ten times. We translate it glory. Paul is focusing on the glorious nature of the new covenant. In comparing the two covenants Paul used a logical argument that was commonly used. He argued from the lesser case to the greater, to drive his point home. There are three things Paul points out about the glorious nature of the new covenant. We see that the new covenant is about life, not death.
a. The new covenant is about life, not death
a. The new covenant is about life, not death
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
Paul is talking about the law, and how it brought death. The Law prescribes death as a penalty for sin. When we break the law we sin. The Law’s purpose was not to bring life, but death. It was designed to reveal our sinfulness, and show that we have fallen short of God’s perfection. Sin once, and we all have, and you have fallen short of the glory of God.
There is no life in keeping the law because we can’t. We have to keep it perfectly to have life, and we can’t. Only Jesus kept the law perfectly. He was without sin. For many Jews, they believe that the law is life. Therefore they try to live their lives keeping the law thinking that they will find life. You have to keep it perfectly to find life, one slip up and you are dead.
What is interesting his what Paul says about the “ministry of death.” He says, “it came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to and end.” The Old covenant, the “ministry of death” was so glorious that Moses had to put a veil over his face. But God never meant the ministry of death to be permanent. It was coming to an end.
The Law’s purpose is to reveal our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. The Law was a tutor teaching us about our sinfulness, and pointing to Jesus Christ as the answer. If the ministry that brought death was glorious, then how much glorious is the ministry of life, that comes through the death, burial, and resurrection of the author of life? The new covenant is about righteousness, not condemnation.
b. The new covenant is about righteousness, not condemnation
b. The new covenant is about righteousness, not condemnation
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
The ministry of death brought condemnation. The law points out that we are lawbreakers condemned before God, and objects of his wrath.
In contrast, the new covenant is the ministry of righteousness. It is the ministry of vindication. The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why we should not be ashamed of the gospel, but bold ministers of the gospel.
When a person places faith in the gospel he is given Christ’s righteousness, which means that we stand before God, no longer condemned, but acquitted of all sins. God sees the righteousness of Christ; therefore, he sees us a perfect. He sees believers as if they never ever sinned. We call it justification.
The fact that the new covenant brings life and righteousness reveals that it is far more glorious than the ministry of death and condemnation.
Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
The old covenant was a flashlight that pointed to the new covenant. When the new covenant arrived and was initiated by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the glory and splendor of Christ overshadowed and overpowered the glory of Moses and the old covenant.
The reason for this is found in 2 Cor 1:20
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
The old covenant was all about promise, the promise of a messiah. The new covenant is the fulfillment of God’s promises. They are all Yes in Jesus! The new covenant is more glorious in nature because it is permanent, not passing.
c. The new covenant is permanent, not passing
c. The new covenant is permanent, not passing
Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
The new covenant, which is all about God’s free grace and forgiveness, is God’s last word. It is forever. Is through the new covenant that we will have constant exposure to the glory of God. That is why Paul said in verse twelve, “since we have such a hope.” The confident expectation of experiencing God’s glory forever and ever, and church, the best of God’s glory is still to come! Next, we see that the new covenant is more powerful than the old covenant.
2. The new covenant is more powerful than the old covenant
2. The new covenant is more powerful than the old covenant
In verses thirteen through eighteen, Paul continues to contrast old and new covenants. This time he is focusing on the powerful effects of the new covenant. The first effect of the new covenant upon a person is an unveiled heart.
a. Unveiled heart
a. Unveiled heart
not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Paul is speaking figuratively here. The Israelites could not see the glory of God on Moses’ face because of the veil. In the same way, on account of their hardened minds and hearts, Israelites can’t see the glory of God in Christ. They can’t see that the Old Covenant is about death and condemnation. They can’t see that the old covenant points to Jesus. This is not only true of Israelites who don’t accept Jesus, but of anyone who rejects Jesus. They reject because their mind and hearts are hardened and they can’t see the glory of God in Christ. But fortunately, they don’t have to stay in that condition.
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
When Moses turned back to the tabernacle he moved the veil and saw the glory of God. When a person turns from sin and self and turns to the Lord, the veil is removed from our hearts and we are able to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus, forever!
Can you remember the day that the veil was removed from your heart? I remember my very well. I was in Dallas, Texas in a two-room apartment, kneeling by my bed. I was reading the fifth chapter of the book of Matthew from this bible. I was given this Bible the Christmas of 1986 from my brother and sister-in-law. In it they wrote, “May you find your strength in the Lord and discover a new life.” A little over four years later, I was reading these words from Matthew 5:1-10. When I finished, I said, “Lord I want to be a Christian, but I can’t do it. I need your help.” That was the moment that the veil was removed, and the word of God came alive. That was the moment that I saw the glory of God in the face of Jesus. And I continue to be exposed to God’s glory everyday with the confident expectation that one day I will experience the fullness of God’s glory. The next powerful effect of the new covenant is freedom.
b. Freedom
b. Freedom
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
The freedom that Paul is speaking of is the freedom we receive from the Spirit of the living God who indwells the believer.
The Spirit of God frees us to obey the law of God.
The Spirit of the living God liberates us from the power of sin so that we can love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves.
The Holy Spirit frees us to forgive the unforgivable, to return good for evil. Where the Spirit of God is there is Freedom, indeed! The culminating effect of the new covenant is transformation.
c. Transformation
c. Transformation
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
When we turn to the Lord and behold his glory we are transformed.
We are changed. We begin a process of transformation from the inside out.
The glory of transformation begins when we come to Christ and is completed when Christ returns, for then we will be glorified. The Spirit of God brings about the transformation.
The Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The old covenant did not have the power to bring transformation.
The new covenant powerfully changes lives. The gospel is so powerful that it can take the proudest person in the world, the most self-centered person in the world, the most cruel and evil person in the world, the most self-righteous person in the world and transform him into the image of Christ.
The new covenant can change you! It can change your life! It can change your marriage. I can change your destiny.
Has the veil been removed from your heart? Has the Bible come alive to you? Has you held the glory of God in Christ? Is your life being transformed? No? Then turn to the Lord today and the veil will be removed. Yes? Then be a bold minister of the new covenant knowing that it powerfully changes lives.
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