The Greater Glory of the Gospel

Called and Enabled by God

2 Corinthians 3 1-6

v.1 In this verse Paul asks two questions to validate his ministry.

* Do we begin to commend ourselves again?

The word “commend” literally means to introduce or to represent as worthy. When Paul used “we” he probably was referring to himself & the preachers that assisted him (Titus, Timothy, etc.). The Corinthians had been under the preaching of Paul their entire existence as a church (1 Cor. 4:15). The false teachers were trying to convince the Corinthians that Paul was not worthy of following. Paul did not believe that he needed to introduce himself to the Corinthians again. They knew who he was and his commitment to Christ. Paul certainly had a list of reasons to “brag” as well as a host of accomplishments to put on his resume. He did not see the need, however, to do that.

* Do we need letters of commendation?

In Paul’s day letters of commendation were used to establish the credibility of a person. Paul used this system in order to persecute the early church (Acts 9:2). Paul commended Phebe in Romans 16:1-2. Paul did not need the church at Corinth to write him letters in order to establish credibility. Neither did he have to bring a letter to prove to them that he was a man of God.

This was probably the practice of the false teachers. They would bring forged documents to churches in order to get inside the church. When they were ready to leave they would get the church to recommend them to another church. Their ministry hung on the thread of a piece of paper. Paul’s ministry was anchored in his call. God had called him and sent him. He needed no commendation from man or the church.

v.2 Paul’s letter of commendation was nothing less than the changed lives of the Corinthians. Paul carried these letters with him everywhere he went. They were in his heart. The transformed lives of the Corinthians could be read even by the illiterate. Everyone could see the difference in the lives of the Corinthians. Paul faithfully preached the Word of God and the Lord transformed the lives of his hearers.

v.3 Paul explains that the Corinthians were letters written by Christ. Paul did not take the glory for himself. It was God ministering through Paul that transformed the lives of the Corinthian church. The Spirit of the Lord had written these letters. He had written them on the hearts of the people. Paul was simply a willing vessel that the Holy Spirit used. The false teachers may have had dozens of letters of commendation from leaders and churches to validate their ministry. Paul, however, had multitudes of people who had been saved by the grace of God to validate his. The false teachers’ commendations were in their pockets. Paul’s were in his heart and walking the streets.

When Paul mentioned the letters not being written in stone he was probably referencing the false teachers gospel of works. The law was known to be written in stone tablets. Paul’s enemies preached a salvation by works. That’s why they did not have the same results as Paul had. The law kills but the gospel brings life (6).

v.4-5 Paul was confident in his calling. He could only be confident in his calling through Christ. It is Christ who gave him the ability to approach God. Confidence in your relationship with God is not proud if it is rooted in Christ. Christ enables us to approach God. Paul did not need man to make him confident in his calling. He had Christ.

The word “sufficient” means competent, worthy, adequate, etc. Paul was an intelligent man. He had a rich Jewish heritage. He also had a very strong resolve. However, none of this made Paul competent when it came to the work of the ministry. Jesus gave him all he needed to be a minister of the gospel. Paul knew that he was nothing in and of himself (1 Cor. 9:16, Rom. 7:18, 1 Tim. 1:15). He gave God all the glory for the success he had. Without Christ in the equation Paul knew he was hopeless, helpless and hell bound.

v.6 Paul credited God with enabling him to be a minister of the gospel. The New Testament is the new covenant. The old covenant was the system of religion set up in the Old Testament. We read about it in detail in the first five books of the Bible. It was meant to show man his need for a Savior (Romans 3:20 Gal. 3:24). The new covenant is the fulfillment of the promise of a Savior. With the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ the Holy Spirit came to live inside of all believers. He enables believers to live holy lives. The old covenant could not do that. The law shows us our inability. The Spirit enables us. The “letter” refers to the written law. It kills in that it condemns us. The law is written proof that the entire world is guilty before God. It kills us with eternal death. The Spirit of God brings life through the gospel.

Paul was enabled by the Spirit through the gospel to be a minister. His ministry was entirely a work of grace. He had nothing to boast over except the Lord Jesus. His ministry was anchored in the gospel and empowered by the Spirit. God was the only reference he needed on his resume!

Thoughts To Consider

1. Never trust a minister who does not live a godly life.

2. We should not judge ministers by what the world says about them but by their faithfulness to the Word of God.

3. The best reference is found in faithful service.

4. Never give a man the credit for the size of his church.

5. Faithful ministers stick with the gospel.

2 Corinthians 3 7-18

v.7-8 The ministration of death is the old covenant. It is linked so closely to death because of its lack of ability to save. The law condemns. It reveals to mankind its guilt before a Holy God. The law shows us that we are dead in our sin and trespasses. Primarily, the death it speaks of is a spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.

The law, however, was glorious. It revealed a lot about God. It shows that He is holy and just. The ministry of the old covenant is necessary. The law is what drives us to repentance. Without repentance there is no salvation (Rom. 7:7).

When Moses came down from receiving the law on Mount Sinai, his face shone brightly with the glory of God (Exodus 34:29-35). The children of Israel were afraid to approach Moses because of his countenance. In fact Moses had to wrap his face in a veil in order to converse with the Israelites.

The law was indeed glorious. However the glory of the law was surpassed by the glory of the new covenant. It is called the ministration of the Spirit because the new covenant brings the Spirit of God into the lives of believers. The Spirit brings life. The law brings death. The law reveals God’s holiness and anger against sin. The Spirit reveals His love and forgiveness.

v.9 In this verse the old covenant is called the ministration of condemnation. In other words the old covenant condemns. The new covenant is called the ministration of righteousness because it brings the righteousness of Christ to the believer. The old tells us we are not righteous. The new enables us to become righteous. Therefore, the new exceeds the glory of the old. It tells us more about God than the old did. It also does more for man than the old did. It justifies sinners, not just condemns them.

v.10-11 The fading glory in Moses face represented the fading away of the old covenant. The law had a purpose and it still does today. The purpose of the law is to show man his need for a Savior. When man sees his need he comes into the new covenant by placing faith in Christ. The glory of knowing Christ is much greater than the glory of the old covenant. The brightness of the new causes the old to simply fade into the background.

The new covenant will remain. It will not be replaced by something greater. The gospel is and will be the same for every region and time. Nothing can be more glorious than the truth of the gospel.

v.12 Paul’s hope was a certainty that everything God said was true. His sins were forgiven and he had a home in heaven. Christ had promised this and Paul unashamedly proclaimed it (John 14:1-3, Rom. 1:16). The term “plainness” speaks of boldness. Many of the false teachers were still hanging on to the old covenant. It angered them that Paul preached salvation by grace through faith alone. However, Paul’s confidence in the truth of the gospel enabled him to preach the gospel with certainty and boldness.

v.13 When Moses spoke with the people after receiving the law he veiled his face. The people could not stand the glory of the old covenant. Paul would not veil the gospel however. He would give it to them in its fullness. Veiling the gospel would be the same as altering it. He would not add to or take away from the salvation message.

v.14 The Jews never understood the true meaning of the law. The reason was because their minds were blind. Their pride would not allow them to see their sin. They saw in the law a way to become righteous. They saw what was not there. They invented a system of religion based on the law in which to become righteous. In doing so they missed the true glory of the law. The law was meant to humble them, yet it made them proud and self righteous.

v.15-16 To this day many of the Jews still do not see the glory of the law. If they would allow the law to lead them to Christ the veil would be removed. Then they could see the true purpose and glory of the law.

v.17 This verse clearly tells us that the Holy Spirit is God. It also tells us one of His functions. He sets the believer free. The Spirit of the Lord brings about the new birth in the life of a believer. He sets him free from the bondage of sin. He also reveals through the gospel that he is no longer held captive to the law. Forgiveness is immediate. The new covenant brings freedom the old brought bondage.

v.18 Our face is not veiled. We shine with the glory of the new covenant. In the person of Christ we see God. When one looks into a mirror he usually sees himself. In this mirror is the image of God in the face of Christ. The image is the character of God. Believers continually submit to the Spirit with the purpose of transforming their image into the image of the face in the mirror. In other words, as we gaze at Christ we are striving to become more like Him. This is the process of sanctification. Rather than running from the glory of God as the Israelites did, we are gazing into it. The old covenant would not have allowed that. It would have only shown us our hideous image in the mirror. The new covenant allows us to see the fullness of God in Christ through forgiven eyes. Glory to God!