Ministers Of A New Covenant
Lessons From 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
We continue this evening with our expository series through the book of 2 Corinthians.
Paul is writing again to the church in Corinth knowing that the majority had correct what was lacking with them spiritually but there remained this “loud minority” that was still causing issues.
In our last lesson from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 we discussed Paul’s message on “The Aroma Of Christ.”
The majority of people, unfortunately, love the aroma of death which is sin sin, but the faithful minority loves the aroma of Christ which is life (2 Corinthians 2:16).
And those that love “the aroma of Christ” are not peddlers of God’s word, in other words for profit but out of a sincerity and love for God (2 Corinthians 2:17).
That brings us to our next text from 2 Corinthians 3.
Paul begins by pointing out his love for Christ and sincerity in teaching God’s word is not about commending himself and his fellow missionaries, but they already know that.
2 Corinthians 3:1–3 (ESV)
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered 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.
They already know his love for God and his sincerity for the truth, which is why he calls them his “letter of recommendation” because he is the one that taught them the gospel.
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
Paul then takes this time to point out that “he and the faithful in Corinth” are both “Minsters Of A New Covenant” not ministers of the old covenant.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Here in we have yet another “parenthetical statement” by Paul.
He takes this opportunity, having just mentioned the Old & New covenant, to discuss the differences.
With that in mind let’s examine what he writes.
The Old Covenant
The Old Covenant
It Was Fading.
It Was Fading.
The Covenant God made with Abraham and the Israelites was not supposed to permanent but temporary.
2 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV)
7 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
2 Corinthians 3:10–11 (ESV)
10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Galatians 3:24–25 (ESV)
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
It was temporary because…
It Brought Death.
It Brought Death.
The biggest issue with the Old Covenant was that it brought death instead of life.
2 Corinthians 3:6–7 (ESV)
6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 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
2 Corinthians 3:9 (ESV)
9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
It was not just temporary and brought death instead of life, to this day…
It Restricts God’s Glory.
It Restricts God’s Glory.
Notice what Paul writes…
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 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.
2 Corinthians 3:14–15 (ESV)
14 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. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
Paul isn’t saying that the Old Covenant is responsible for restricting God’s glory in salvation but that people’s “hardened minds” concerning it, has made it something that restricts man from seeing God’s glory even today.
Summary
Summary
The old law most certainly had a purpose.
Its purpose was to prepare and guard mankind until the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25) could be brought forth and established as “all of mankind’s covenant” (Galatians 3:24-25).
However, that purpose did was not everlasting but rather temporary and it did not suffice for sin but rather brought death (Romans 7:10).
It’s because of these limitations within the Old Covenant that Paul points to how much better we find everything under…
The New Covenant
The New Covenant
It Is Unfading.
It Is Unfading.
Unlike the Old Covenant that was temporary and faded away the New Covenant is unfading and eternal.
2 Corinthians 3:10–11 (ESV)
10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Jeremiah 32:40 (ESV)
40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.
Hebrews 13:20 (ESV)
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant
This New Covenant is not one that is fading and temporary but everlasting and permanent because the thing about this covenant is that…
It Brings Life.
It Brings Life.
Unlike the Old Covenant which brought forth death this New Covenant brings forth life.
2 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)
6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:8 (ESV)
8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
The New Covenant brings life because it offers salvation.
2 Corinthians 3:9 (ESV)
9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
Jeremiah 31:31 (ESV)
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah
Jeremiah 31:34 (ESV)
34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
This New Covenant is not one that is fading and temporary but everlasting and permanent because of the life it offers through salvation by way of him who makes this covenant with us Jesus the Christ (Matthew 26.27-28).
That is why Paul then explains that instead of restricting God’s glory…
It Reflects God’s Glory.
It Reflects God’s Glory.
Again we read Paul’s inspired words, this time in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18.
2 Corinthians 3:16–18 (ESV)
16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.
Being part of the New Covenant means we reflect God’s perfect glory in our lives when we live for him.
Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Summary
Summary
The New Covenant, the covenant you and I are under today, is far greater than that of the day of Moses.
This New Covenant is unfading, is bringing life, and is reflecting God’s glory perfectly.
Conclusion
Conclusion
How great it is to be living today under such a covenant that we are.
We no longer “look forward” to that day when a covenant between God and man is better because we are living under that “more perfect” covenant today that is based on better promises.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.